Job Title: Community Organizer
Reports to: Director of Organizing and Policy
Hours: Full-time, 40 hours/week
Job Description:
Neighbors Together is a dynamic community-based organization committed to ending hunger and poverty in the Ocean Hill, Brownsville and Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhoods of Brooklyn, three of the lowest income areas in New York City. Our dedicated 12-person staff works closely to serve 80,000 meals annually through our Community Café, connect hundreds of individuals and families to vital resources beyond food (such as housing and job training), and engage our low-income members in community organizing and advocacy to transform public policies that create hunger and poverty.
Neighbors Together seeks a self-motivated, outgoing Community Organizer to work closely with our Community Action Program (CAP) team to conduct outreach, base building, training, education and leadership development among our members. The organizer will be responsible for membership involvement in city, state, and federal campaigns and coalitions working on issues related to our mission of ending hunger and poverty.
The full-time Community Organizer will co-facilitate meetings with our part-time Community Organizer and member leaders, and implement actions and leadership development trainings throughout the year. Additionally, the full-time Community Organizer will work with the Director of Organizing & Policy, our part-time Community Organizer, and member leaders to further current campaign work.
Key Responsibilities: The responsibilities of the Community Organizer include but are not limited to:
- Conduct outreach at Neighbors Together, local shelters, drop-in centers, food pantries, and other locations to promote Neighbors Together’s programs and organizing campaigns.
- Conduct regular outreach and base-building to increase member participation in CAP, Neighbors Together’s city and state level campaigns, and facilitate campaign related meetings, including but not limited to our VALUE in Housing campaign and Housing Justice for All’s “Our Homes, Our Power” campaign.
- Plan, attend, and execute campaign related events, including turnout, prepping members and preparing campaign materials.
- Cultivate members to take on leadership roles in CAP. Identify and develop member leaders through one-on-ones, facilitation of Neighbors Together’s Leadership Development Training series, Neighbors Together’s Apprenticeship Program, and other tools for member engagement.
- Facilitate or co-facilitate campaign related meetings to engage members on policy, strategy, actions, political education, etc.
- Partner with other organizations to offer initiatives at Neighbors Together that speak to our members’ needs and interests.
- Network and coordinate with other groups that are organizing to end homelessness and create affordable housing in New York, and attend campaign meetings on behalf of Neighbors Together.
- Maintain updated statistics about member involvement in CAP using our online database.
- Collaborate with Neighbors Together staff to provide holistic support to all members.
- Actively participate in organizational planning with Neighbors Together staff.
Skills, Abilities & Qualifications:
- 1-2 years previous experience working as a community organizer with low-income people.
- Prior experience working with people directly impacted by homelessness, mental illness, substance use, and/or history of incarceration preferred.
- Outgoing personality and ability to work with people from a variety of backgrounds.
- Excellent organizational skills with ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, interpersonal skills, and self-motivation.
- Positive, proactive and solution-oriented team player.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.
- Strong self-starter and problem solver, flexible and ability to think creatively.
- Comfort with public speaking, social media and digital communication.
- Special interest in building power among low-income people of color to fight for social, economic, and racial justice.
- Ability and willingness to work flexible hours including evenings and some weekends.
- Spanish fluency a plus, but not required.
Compensation & Benefits
- Competitive Salary ($45,000-$50,000 annually)
- Medical, dental, vision and life-insurance benefits offered
- 10 paid sick days per year
- 15 vacation days the first year, 20 annually after
- 10 paid holidays
- Additional 3 weeks for organizational holiday and summer break closures
To apply, please email your resume and cover letter to:
Amy Blumsack, Director of Organizing and Policy
amy@neighborstogether.org
In your cover letter please describe your experience working as a community organizer, what you learned from that experience, and your philosophy of community organizing among low-income people. Cover letters that do not specifically address these three points will not be considered.
Please include “Community Organizer” in the subject line.
