Overview

Do you have a passion for mentorship, project development, and social equity? You might be just the person needed to help develop this new program! We are looking for outreach volunteers to network with nonprofit organizations, professional businesses, and the community at large. The Lidi Wellness Community Development Program (Dream Team) helps entrepreneurs with barriers to launch their own businesses or non-profits.

We are developing a liaison/proxy program at Lidi Wellness for entrepreneurs with barriers. By working directly with a client as their proxy, you will help define the framework to define and expand the Community Development (Dream Team) program for future entrepreneur clients with special needs. Essentially, you will be their external brain and hands. 

To achieve our goal, we need to develop our program base! 

Tasks

This role is dynamic and will evolve as the trial program progresses. Duties may include anything required to set up and manage an organization, as well as duties related to developing and expanding this proxy program. Program development activities could include:

• Creating and deploying surveys/research material
• Contacting non-profit organizations that serve people with barriers
• Contacting established businesses to find professionals willing to provide short-term support
• Conducting street interviews with at-risk populations
• Filling out forms
• Updating the website/social media accounts
• Tracking, assessing and reporting key client indicators and factors, such as mood, impediments, and progress
• Managing client resources such as time, energy, and community support
• Researching grants, legal requirements, networking opportunities, and other information

Program tasks as needed:

• Compiling, prioritizing, and organizing large volumes of ideas
• Identifying client goals, breaking down steps, maintaining timelines
• Accompanying the client to meetings and other appointments, taking notes
• Reporting your own experience and notes about what the program should look like
• Help the client manage and prevent episodes/relapses where appropriate (you are not a health professional)
• Providing encouragement, being a sounding board, troubleshooting
• Helping the client stay on track and pivot when things change
• Other duties that contribute to the success of the proxy project and the client’s startup

If you are mentally and emotionally strong and stable enough to provide support to someone who is struggling, you may be a good fit for this role. This is a life-affirming organization with aim to empower everyone to help each other thrive.

Clients such as these may be managing various barriers/risk factors: newcomers, people with moderate to severe issues with mental/emotional health, housing instability/homelessness, exiting the legal/corrections system, physical disabilities, addictions, and other limitations.

The program meets any entrepreneur where they are at, helping them believe in themselves and their ideas, and giving them the support they need to make progress toward their goals. Anyone can be an entrepreneur, but everyone finds success with varying levels of external support!

Your Qualifications:

Must have:

• Strong and stable personality
• Outgoing and comfortable reaching out to strangers
• Confidence when dealing with rejection
• Experience working with diverse and at-risk populations
• Ability to manage unexpected and varied obstacles
• Strong sense of and commitment to confidentiality
• Positive views of the impact groups listed above (newcomers, homeless, leaving prison, mental/emotional/physical disabilities, etc.)
• Ability to travel within Calgary
• Creative problem solver
• Ability to abstract and simplify disorganized ideas
• Patience, resilience, self-esteem, self-respect

This is a contract volunteer position that will be evaluated on a month-to-month basis to ensure there is a good fit between you and the program. As the program grows, we will be looking for long-term volunteer staff. There's potential to move into a paid role once the program development is complete. Hours will be casual to start, somewhere between 5-15.  You will help to shape your volunteer experience! 

This work will be mostly in person. We meet at the Central Library for now, as there are no company-owned premises. You must be able to travel within Calgary. There will be some independent work that can be done remotely.

Thanks for your interest in this project! However, only those selected for interview will be contacted.