Position: Chief Executive Officer

Location: 212 Holland Street, Somerville, MA 02144

Reports to: 3LPlace Board of Directors

Organizational Overview and Mission:

3LPlace is a warm, diverse community that embraces neurological differences and encourages self-determination. 3LPlace supports individuals with developmental challenges who are on a journey of life-long learning.

Our mission is to support adults with developmental disabilities to lead and sustain meaningful lives in the community beginning with their transition from high school to middle age and beyond; to develop best practices/models/content that is supported by evidence-based research; and to share what we develop and discover with the broader community for replication.

Founded as a nonprofit in 2009 and located near vibrant Davis Square in Somerville MA, 3LPlace came about through the efforts of a group of parents seeking more options for their own maturing children. These parents knew first-hand that for too many developmentally challenged young adults, reaching the age of 22 means losing the support and services that make continued growth possible.

We begin by building a thorough understanding of each individual, particularly about their interests and passions in life. We believe that those personal interests can be harnessed to accelerate self-determination, independence skills, friendships and social behavior.

The personal goals of members and the learning content that supports those goals are organized into five domains at 3LPlace:

First, self-care and personal responsibility. We focus on supporting skills development for independent living such as nutrition, sleep, hygiene, shopping, cleaning, cooking, budgeting, and more. We also address positive mental health routines and activities.

Second, vocational readiness. We work with members to develop pre-vocational skills and to identify job interests and goodness of job fit. We support the development of any advocacy/accommodations plan that may be needed at a work site. Finally, we link our members with employment agencies such as the Mass Rehab Commission, Best Buddies, and Jewish Vocational Services.

Third, citizenship. 3LPlace members are citizens of many communities – their cities or towns, their state, their country, and the world. They are also members of their families and communities such as 3LPlace. We believe every citizen must understand their rights and responsibilities. Values such as kindness, acceptance, and honesty are also emphasized. Community safety and navigation are critical parts of this domain.

Fourth, social connectedness and communication. Members of 3LPlace often value this domain the most. We work to create and sustain friendships, both one-to-one and as part of a community. Engagement, reciprocity, communication, and self-advocacy are all an important part of this domain.

And, finally, there is creative expression. 3LPlace creates time and a safe space for members to reflect and express themselves. We offer many opportunities for creative expression.

Overall, 3LPlace is a joyful place humming with activity.

3LPlace offers a ground-breaking and highly personalized programming structure. Our members decide what they want to explore based on their own interests, goals, timing, and budget.

Our menu of day, evening and weekend programming is based on our unique 3LPlace Curriculum. The Curriculum, a comprehensive and ground-breaking framework for self-determined learning, growth, and participation, was developed by a collaborative writing team guided by experts from Tufts, Lesley and Harvard universities as well as educators, clinicians, agency staff, and neurodivergent individuals. Applying our curriculum, we have developed over two thousand lesson plans, tested and refined by real life application.

Our members include autistic individuals (speaking or non-speaking), Down syndrome, as well as various other challenges. At 3LPlace we don’t focus on any particular diagnosis. Rather we seek members who have in common a readiness to grow their abilities and choose a path of a meaningful, gratifying, healthy and connected life.

Self-determination is at the heart of our program. We begin by putting the individual at the center of the process, focusing on what is most meaningful to them, including environment, aspirations, friends, and families. We identify each individual's strengths and challenges and support them to learn, develop skills, participate in activities and achieve realistic, meaningful measured goals.

Equally important is the need for all people to belong to a community that values and accepts and celebrates their contributions. 3LPlace's work occurs in the community - the individual's immediate community of teachers, friends, and families, as well as the larger community that includes employers, shopkeepers, people on the street, bus drivers... The Greater Boston area is our most important classroom, and we spend much of our time learning in that context.

Job Brief:

We are looking for an experienced and visionary Chief Executive Officer to lead 3LPlace into the next phase of growth, sustainability and impact. The CEO will set and execute our strategic direction, ensure financial stability, and oversee organization management. We need a leader with a strong background in nonprofit management, excellent interpersonal skills, and a deep commitment to our mission.

Responsibilities/Goals:

● Drive organizational growth and sustainability while maintaining cohesive community commitment.

● Refine 3LPlace measures of success, at individual staff level, management level, Board level, and organization mission level.

● Oversee the organization’s financial health, including annual budget allocation and financial planning.

● Enhance programming design and delivery.

● Enhance fundraising/development activities.

● Lead, mentor, and motivate staff and directors.

● Foster a collaborative, effective, and community oriented work environment.

● Represent the organization in public forums, media, and community events to raise awareness and support for our mission.

● Continue positive relationships with state governmental and nongovernmental partners and advocate for public policy changes that impact the mission of 3LPlace.

● Over next 3 years, working with Board, deliver upon three key strategic objectives:

Financial sustainability for both operating and capital spending.
Design and begin implementation for replication of 3LPlace model.
Design and implementation of 3LPlace learning products dissemination.

Qualifications:

Experience: Minimum of 5 years in a senior leadership role in the nonprofit sector. A proven track record in mission delivery, strategic planning, fundraising, and financial management.

Skills: Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills. Ability to inspire and manage a diverse team. Experience in working with boards, other nonprofits, local businesses, and stakeholders.

Knowledge: Deep understanding of nonprofit governance, diverse business functions, development strategies, and financial management. Familiarity with disability advocacy is a plus.

Attributes: Passion for supporting self-determination and equity for neurodivergent individuals, combined with the ability to inspire action that supports those goals.

Why Join Us?

Joining 3LPlace means becoming part of a passionate and dedicated community committed to making a real difference. As our CEO, you'll have the opportunity to shape the future of an impactful organization, drive meaningful change, and work with a diverse and engaged community.

Please apply through Idealist.

3LPlace

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