Careers at Neutral Ground
The kind of people who do this work
Neutral Ground hires people with lived experience, cultural competency, and relational instinct. The team includes community intervention workers, case managers, mentors, school-site specialists, and operations staff. What ties them together is not a credential - it is a commitment to showing up for young people and families in communities that are often overlooked.
The people who thrive at Neutral Ground are those who understand the weight of the work and choose to carry it anyway. They are people who have navigated the same systems and streets as the youth they serve, and who bring that understanding into every interaction.
The credible messenger model
Neutral Ground's staff model centers credible messengers - individuals who bring lived experience and deep community trust to their work. This is not a credential-driven hiring model. It is a relationship-driven one.
Credible messengers are effective because the people they serve already trust them. They are from the same neighborhoods. They have faced similar challenges. They speak the same language - literally and figuratively. When a young person is making a decision that could change the course of their life, they listen to someone who has been where they are, not someone reading from a manual.
This model is central to everything Neutral Ground does. It is why schools invite NG onto their campuses. It is why families open their doors. And it is why the organization has been recognized as California Nonprofit of the Year for Assembly District 68.
Internship pipeline
Neutral Ground partners with Cal State Fullerton's Human Services department to host 120-hour internship placements. Interns gain hands-on experience in violence prevention, case management, and community-based programming alongside staff who are actively doing the work every day.
This is not an observation-only internship. Interns are embedded in programming, attend community events, and work directly with youth and families under the guidance of experienced staff. It is a pipeline for people who want to build careers in community-based work and social services.
Interested in joining the team?
If you are interested in open positions, internships, or want to learn more about working at Neutral Ground, reach out directly.
Email About Open Positions