Organizing Strategy and Practice

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Economic Justice Organizer - SPACEs in Action

Safe Place for the Advancement of Community and Equity In Action

Full-Time

Posted: 09/24/2019

Location:

Washington,

Salary is negotiable and commensurate with experience.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The EJO will report to the Executive Director of SPACEs In Action/SIA and will:

  • Work with leaders to build and implement the strategic vision for emerging campaigns to address the issue of generational poverty in the DC metro region.
  • • Build a base of community leaders and leader-driven teams
  • In partnership with others, research and define what will constitute a campaign “win” and secure support of the campaign
  • As part of the larger effort described above, make a substantive contribution to a local community campaign and our national opportunities. This entails functioning as the staff lead for one local organizing campaign. And having primary responsibility for outreach, recruitment and turnout with respect to the local and national campaigns.
  • Provide assorted training to individual leaders and partner organizations with respect to outreach and recruitment, campaigns and strategic communications, just to name a few topics.
  • Cultivate relationships with and represent SIA in assorted city-wide and region-wide coalitions and alliances. This may entail significant local travel between and among the jurisdictions that encompass the Washington, DC metropolitan area. And will require that the EJO own or have access to a private vehicle to facilitate local travel
  • Serve as a compelling – and, when necessary, provocative — spokesperson for a unique approach to addressing concentrated and generational poverty.

Experience

  • Knowledge of community organizing and issue campaigns — at least one year —including but not limited to one-on-one relational meetings, power mapping, direct action, training, group management/facilitation and outreach and recruitment.
  • At least one year of experience working within a not-for-profit social justice organization.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • Knowledge of strategic campaign planning.
  • Effective understanding of the dynamics of race and racism in the U.S. and how both play out with respect to individuals and institutions (systems and structures).
  • Effective customer service skills. Ability to communicate with volunteer leaders and organizational staff with sensitivity. Experience in dealing with a variety of personalities and educational levels.
  • A strong track record of outreach and leader engagement in campaigns, mobilizing people into action, and building community leadership.
  • Knowledge of how to develop a power analysis and campaign strategy.
  • A strong unwavering commitment to addressing concentrated and generational poverty through organizing and building people power to win.
  • A demonstrated commitment to social justice, strong analysis of systemic oppression based on race, class, gender, sexual orientation and gender identity, and an understanding of challenges facing communities of color and low-and moderate-income families.
  • Driver’s license and vehicle (see above for more details)
  • Dedication and ability to work flexible hours (including evenings and weekends)
  • Excellent organizational skills and good attention to detail
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills
  • A high level of self-motivation and a proven ability to work independently, as well as, collaboratively
  • Problem solving skills.
  • Capacity to engage community members one-on-one and run meetings and trainings.
  • Comfortable working in community and organizational environments characterized by VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity). If you require predictability in your day-to-day work and rigid systems, this position may not be for you.
  • Strong commitment to innovation and experimentation – a commitment to creating, testing, “failing” and learning from “failure.”
  • Ability to work well with diverse groups and populations

Organizational Relationships

  • The EJO will work closely with: a) Executive Director of SIA; and b) volunteer community leaders and organizational partners.

Physical Demands

  • Job requires an ability to stand or ‘be on your feet’ for at least 3 consecutive hours for the purpose of performing outreach and recruitment tasks and/or group facilitation/training. Job also requires an ability to stand at a copy machine or other device for 30 minutes or more. Lastly, the job requires significant local travel within the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Thus, the Lead Organizer should expect to spend anywhere from 30 to 60 consecutive minutes operating a vehicle.

Work Environment

  • The EJO will work out of the SPACEs office in Washington, D.C. The office is handicap accessible and ergonomically friendly. In addition, it has adequate lighting and AC/heating conditions. The Organizer will occupy a desk or cubicle in an environment that has a low level of background noise.

Application Process

Send a cover letter and resume to LaDon@SPACEsInAction.org SPACEs In Action, a project of Fusion Partnership, is an “at-will” and equal opportunity employer. Applicants and employees shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender (including pregnancy and gender expression) identity, color, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law or ordinance.

Reasonable accommodation will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the application process. Please advise in writing of special needs at the time of application."

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