Senior Community Organizer
FUREE is looking for an experienced, senior level community organizer with a solid background in organizing in low income and working class communities of color and a demonstrated capacity to build grassroots leadership. We are looking for a bold, dedicated, passionate, experienced person who is looking to learn and grow as an organizer and leader, and who is looking for the opportunity to work in a growing organization of local and national prominence doing cutting edge racial and economic justice organizing. Our campaigns include organizing against gentrification and for community-led accountable development, building the power of young people of color to organize sustainable youth employment, and a civic engagement project in low-income and working class communities of color.
FUREE is a multi-racial, women-led membership organization in Brooklyn, New York. FUREE is organizing to build a strong base of low-income women of color to build power to change the system so that all peoples’ work is valued and everyone has the right to exit and remain out of poverty. Our guiding principle is that the people who are directly impacted by the policies we are seeking to change should lead the organization.
- Building a Strong Base of Members: The Senior Organizer will recruit members utilizing various methods, maintain recruitment and contact records, assess potential members and meet turn out goals to meetings, actions and other organizational activities.
- Developing the Skills, Leadership and Consciousness of our Members: FUREE believes that those who are directly impacted by negative public policy and practices should lead the organization and given training and support in order to lead social change work in the communities we serve. The Senior Organizer will identify potential and emerging leaders from our membership, create individual leadership development plans with current and emerging leaders that will build their political framework and community organizing skills including participation in political and community organizing education. The Senior Organizer will encourage participation and building organizational ownership amongst members.
- Campaign Strategy, Research and Development: Build strong, active campaign committees to scale and scope including working with members to lead community mobilization efforts, campaign strategy and research and co-facilitating quarterly power-mapping with leaders to evaluate campaign progress. The Senior Organizer will also be responsible for organizing media work on the campaign including training members on framing, messaging and obtaining media coverage.
- Strategic Ally Work: Strengthen current and introduce new collaborations with ally organizations and individuals to increase our ability to build power for our members and to build a broader racial, gender and economic justice movement.
- Political Education: Work with FUREE staff and leaders to build and integrate a deeper political vision into our on-the-ground organizing and to educate members, leaders and community residents about the political context of FUREE’s campaigns.
- Organizational Sustainability: Collaborate with staff and members on organizational activities, events, and meetings; recruiting campaign members to contribute to organizational communications including website, social networking applications and video; collaborate with members to build a broader social justice vision and theory of change; engage in grassroots fundraising activities including recruiting campaign members to lead grassroots fundraising efforts; preparing periodic reports of activities and consistently utilizing political, professional and personal development opportunities provided by FUREE.
- 4 or more years of strong community and/or labor organizing experience, preferably with low-income communities and a demonstrated capacity to effectively carry out the above responsibilities
- 2 or more years of strong experience of leadership development and political education training facilitation
- 2 or more years of supervisory experience
- A well developed personal framework/theory of social change and a strong commitment to racial and economic justice as well as to FUREE's mission
- Demonstrated knowledge of Brooklyn or New York City’s political and economic climate
- Demonstrated knowledge of accountable development organizing frameworks
- Ability to communicate, motivate and listen to people from all walks of life
- Experience with grant reporting and grassroots fundraising
- Strong writing skills including messaging and framing for various audiences
- Ability to work evenings/weekends as necessary
- Computer literate particularly Microsoft Office and database applications
- Bilingual English/Spanish
Women of color, immigrants, differently-abled, and people of color from low-income neighborhoods in Fort Greene, the borough of Brooklyn or other NYC communities are strongly encouraged to apply. FUREE is a positive and inclusive women-led, supportive work environment.
This is a full time position with a competitive salary, health and dental benefits. Great opportunities for growth, development and leadership.
To respond: Send resume, cover letter, salary history and 1 personal and 3 professional references to info [at] furee [dot] org or mail to 81 Willoughby Street #701, Brooklyn, NY 11201. Please type “Senior Organizer Search” in the subject heading. In your cover letter, specify why you are interested in this particular job with FUREE.
We will respond ONLY to eligible applicants. Please do not call to inquire about application status.
Deadline to apply: August 30, 2010
