TomTod Ideas
tomorrow’s ideas from
today’s middle schoolers

Juggler of Time and Space (Space Space Space Space Space)
aka Logistics Juggler

TomTod Ideas is a Northeast Ohio-based, innovative 501(c)(3) nonprofit, bent on empowering middle school students to explore and launch ideas that put empathy and imagination into action. We do this through a variety of mentor-based, experiential learning adventures that connect the energy, imagination and intuition of middle school students with the wisdom, resources, and experiences of adults.

We are hiring a team member passionate about working behind-the-scenes, enabling our organization to more effectively empower early adolescents while shifting cultural conversations on youth ability, education, and the common good. This position will have core responsibilities in creating and maintaining organizational systems, working alongside the Executive Dreamer to provide supportive assistance, regular communications with a variety of programming partners and volunteers, and coordinating programmatic logistics alongside the Adventure Curator team.

Position Type: Part-Time, 20 hours per week
Pay Range: $12 per hour
Location: Canton, OH
How to Apply: Submit a cover letter and resume to jdh@tomtodideas.org
Application Deadline: Open until position is filled

For more information on TomTod Ideas, see our website at www.tomtodideas.org and view the
following short videos:

• www.tomtodideas.org/pk16
• www.tomtodideas.org/turnsfive

TomTod Ideas is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

715 Market Ave. N
Canton, OH 44702
330.617.4753 www.tomtodideas.org

Empowering middle school students to explore and launch ideas that put empathy and imagination into action.

TOMTOD STAFF DNA

Any TomTod staff member should be:
• a self-starter with high ability at self-discipline and self-direction.
• a team player who readily operates in a collaboration-oriented atmosphere that includes a high level of interaction with constituents from a variety of roles (volunteers, mentors, board members, funders, community members, educators, etc). Able to facilitate consistent yet
personalized communication across these diverse groups.
• able to operate in an environment with a diverse set of challenges, balancing multiple tasks simultaneously while prioritizing intuitively.
• focused on building a team culture, with high values on excellence, experience, and empowerment.
• a creative thinker and innovation-oriented; able to solve problems and think creatively about tackling obstacles in a variety of forms and from various angles.
• proactive and mature in dealing with conflict, personnel issues, and community engagement.
• able to efficiently organize, communicate and delegate tasks, while working alongside volunteers to see ideas through to completion.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Candidates should:
• exude high organizational capacity.
• be energized to engage in a high amount of verbal and written communications with community partners and volunteers.
• show eagerness to continue learning.
• be adept at writing in a variety of formats.
• have the ability to dodge flying foam animals deftly (or at least not complain if unsuccessful).
• demonstrate a strong attention to detail and follow through.

LOGISTICS JUGGLER

Programmatic Logistical Support
The Logistics Juggler will:
• help to manage scheduling for staff and facilitate communications with school partners.
• coordinate What If 101 guest speakers and field experiences in consultation with the Adventure Curator (AC) team.
• coordinate What If You Could team meetings in consultation with AC team and team mentors.
• oversee camper registration and parent communications for Camp What If.
• follow up with programming and other leads as necessary.

Organizational Administration
The Logistics Juggler will:
• work with the Executive Dreamer and Operations Navigator to create and implement organizational systems that support TomTod’s work.
• provide administrative and logistical support to the Executive Dreamer.
• make and receive phone calls.
• be able to navigate or quickly learn needed technologies (MacOS, Flipcause, G Suite, etc).
• handle other tasks and responsibilities as determined.

Volunteer Management
The Logistics Juggler will:
• cultivate volunteer recruitment.
• communicate with volunteers to schedule and complete appropriate tasks.
• coordinate with TomTod team members to facilitate volunteer support of their work.
• curate an environment where volunteers are empowered and valued.

TOMTOD IDEAS CORE PROGRAMS

What If 101
Our What If 101 cohorts are school-based collaboratives that walk middle schoolers through the ideation process while connecting with relevant topics. Over the course of either a semester or year-
long implementation, TomTod staff and partnering educators lead students through an idea-creation process while complementing existing class curricula, with a focus on critical and creative thinking
skills and social-emotional competencies. Students participate in a variety of engaging activities, learn from guest speakers, research ideas, travel to locations outside the classroom, and use the information and skills they acquire to formulate ideas that serve others. What If 101 is cooperatively
designed and implemented with school partners to enhance 21st century skill sets, develop social emotional competencies, and to explore community connectedness.

Camp What If
Overnight and day camps helping middle school students explore possibilities and create impactful ideas for their communities. Using a design-thinking inspired approach, campers learn skills such as teamwork, creative problem solving, digital literacy, research techniques, interviewing practices, public speaking and civic awareness. Every camp ends with a celebration of the experiences and knowledge campers have attained with community members, friends, and families attending to hear idea pitches
presented by campers. Day camps focus on the assets and challenges of particularly locales/city centers. Overnight camps are more topically focused. All camps use collaborative spaces from partnering organizations (such as Stark Library, the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park
and Malone University.)

What If You Could (WIYC)
A project-based mentorship experience, WIYC helps students launch meaningful, personally crafted ideas. WIYC walks students through idea development, conducting research, setting goals, iterating and proving their concept, and then setting it in motion to make a difference in the world. Students form peer teams and are connected with skilled mentors who bring insight and resources to join up with each student’s creative drive and passion. Not every project results in a “successful” launch, but even obstacles are viewed as learning opportunities. Often originating out of a Camp What If session or What If 101 cohort, WIYC projects have helped shape communities locally and globally and continue to have a deep impact on all involved as well as the community at large.

TomTod’s 10 C’s
4 informed by 21st Century Learning
(http://bit.ly/21stCResearch):
Creative Innovation
Collaboration
Communication
Critical Thinking

6 informed by Positive Youth Development Research
(http://bit.ly/PYouthD):
Connection
Competence
Character
Contribution
Caring
Confidence