The Cultural Relations Navigator plays a key role in fostering cultural responsiveness and inclusivity within YW's Crisis Shelter and across the organization. This role bridges cultural gaps by advocating for marginalized communities, ensuring programs are accessible and responsive to diverse needs, and fostering understanding among residents, staff and service providers. Through education, community partnerships and direct client support, the Navigator helps create a welcoming environment where all individuals feel heard, valued, respected and empowered. The Navigator reports to the Director of Inclusion and will work closely with internal teams to promote culturally safe and trauma-informed practices to enhance cultural understanding and facilitate meaningful community engagement for YW clients.

This role is 37.5 hours per week, including some evenings and weekends. Primarily based at the Crisis Shelter with some travel, it involves frequent exposure to individuals experiencing trauma, crisis, and mental health challenges.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

• Build relationships with shelter residents, staff and service providers and foster an inclusive and culturally responsive shelter environment.
• Provide education, training and support to staff, ensuring culturally appropriate and trauma-informed approaches in service delivery.
• Mediate and address cultural misunderstandings to promote respectful and supportive interactions.

• Support shelter residents in navigating services while understanding and respecting their cultural identities, beliefs, and experiences.

• Identify and address systemic barriers that impact the accessibility of YW's programs and services for diverse populations.

• Advocate for marginalized women, their families and communities by addressing barriers to access and ensuring their voices are represented in service planning.

• Ensure women and their families who access the crisis shelter have access to a range of supports and services across YW Calgary; connect residents to culturally relevant resources, programs, and peer networks to support their social and emotional well-being.

• Work across departments to ensure policies, materials and communications are inclusive and culturally sensitive.

• Support language access initiatives, including translation, interpretation, and multilingual resources.

• Assist with data collection and reporting to track and evaluate the impact of inclusivity and belonging initiatives.

• Act as a liaison between the shelter, greater organization and diverse communities and cultural groups to enhance accessibility, inclusion, and representation; ensure strong, reciprocal relationships that foster trust, collaboration and meaningful engagement.
• Act as a role model to team by practicing and integrating equity, diversity, and inclusion principles in one's role, responsibilities, and relationships.
• Understand YW Calgary's Health, Safety and Wellness (HS&W) policies, practices and protocols; ensure work is performed safely and in alignment with YW's HS&W culture.

WHAT YOU'LL BRING:

• Bachelor's degree or diploma in Indigenous studies, health care, social work, or related discipline; equivalent traditional rites of passage, community advocacy and involvement will also be considered.
• Indigenous ancestry and background is an asset.
• Two to three years of recent experience working with Indigenous people and communities; strong connection with Indigenous ways of knowing and being.
• Knowledge of health and wellness issues impacting Indigenous women and communities, as well as Indigenous services and resources available in Calgary and surrounding areas.
• Strong relationship-builder and systems navigator who understands how traditional cultural beliefs, values and other intersectional identities influence and impact access to services.
• A well-developed understanding of and commitment to anti-oppressive work, trauma-informed care, and intersectionality.
• Demonstrates sensitivity, compassion and consideration for the well-being of others.
• Communicates effectively and contributes to a culture of psychological safety by being self-aware, seeking feedback, collaborating and embracing productive conflict.
• Passionate about ending domestic violence against women, including transgender, two spirit, intersex individuals whose gender expression is feminine.
• Brain Story, ASIST, NVCI and First Aid CPR Level C training are required upon hire.

If you want to change lives, we want to hear from you.Deadline: April 18th 2025Apply today by submitting your resume, cover letter, and salary expectations.Check out our website for more information about YW Calgary: www.ywcalgary.ca

YW Calgary is committed to providing an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplace where all employees, volunteers and clients feel valued and respected, whatever their race, religious beliefs, colour, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, age, ancestry, or place of origin.