Youth Program Volunteer - 2026 Minneapolis

About the role

Project for Pride in Living, Inc. (PPL) serves individuals and families facing poverty, limited education, and other barriers to self‑reliance. PPL seeks an energetic volunteer interested in working with diverse communities to support youth programs at PPL housing sites in Minneapolis. The volunteer will engage with youth in the PPL Youth Enrichment Series, which runs 3‑6 week cycles throughout the year and covers topics such as art, science, music, cooking, social justice, community service, and more for ages 5‑18. Activities occur both at housing locations and off‑site, and volunteers are asked to commit to a longer timeframe when possible to build consistency and relationships.

Responsibilities

• Assist with art enrichment, literacy and writing activities, and other physically and mentally stimulating youth experiences.
• Help create a positive, supportive, and engaging environment where youth can learn, grow, and explore.
• Support youth social‑emotional development and build trusting, non‑judgmental youth‑adult relationships.
• Follow activity plans prepared by PPL staff or program partners.
• Celebrate accomplishments, redirect behavior as needed, and maintain a safe, productive setting.

Requirements

• Enthusiasm to learn alongside young people.
• Patience, understanding, and flexibility to adapt to each youth’s needs.
• Interest in working across age groups and areas of interest.
• Ability to work independently and maintain consistent weekly attendance.
• Commitment to empowering others by sharing skills and knowledge.
• Passion for working with youth from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Comfort interacting with parents/guardians to support youth success.
• Physical demands: regularly required to sit, bend, and communicate; occasional lifting/moving of 10–25 pounds.
• Work environment: moderate noise levels; reasonable accommodations available for individuals with disabilities.

Schedule

Volunteer shifts are weekly evenings, one day per week, with most shifts occurring between 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.