Careers at Access Living
Position: Community Development Organizer – Immigration and Latinx
Basic Function:
Development and implementation of community organizing campaigns on issues related to immigration justice, Latinx communities, and their intersection with other disability issues. Base-building and recruitment of grassroots leaders of all ages, particularly from the immigrant and Latinx community, to build Access Living’s capacity for advocacy mobilization through our community group Cambiando Vidas (CV). CV is part of the Access Living coalition Power to the People (PTP).
Specific Duties:
- Base Building: Recruit new grassroots leaders for CV through a combination of the following: social media, tabling at community events, phone banking, canvassing, one-on-ones, house meetings, presentations at/referrals from AL independent living services, etc.;
- Training and Leadership Development: Train people with disabilities on immigration and Latinx issues advocacy, including direct action;
- Campaign Development: In coordination with MOCD and with the input of CV consumer leaders, support organizing campaigns to improve the lives of immigrants and Latinx people with disabilities;
- Coalition Building: Increase CV’s power by building and cultivating and sustaining relationships with community groups and advocacy organizations to create broad coalition support for disability rights issues;
- Internal Collaboration: Coordinate with other Access Living departments as needed, to recruit members for CV as well as to effectively support immigrants and Latinx people with disabilities;
- Community Education/Outreach: Conduct education efforts around disability and immigration/Latinx-specific issues, including through the use of media; provide internal and external workshops as needed;
- Miscellaneous Duties: Conduct written regular project activities reports; ensure compliance with grant requirements through regular data entry; act as a spokesperson for Access Living on immigration/Latinx issues as assigned; and execute any other duties as assigned.
Education and Training:
Bachelor’s degree or applicable life/work experience. Good communication skills, both for public presentations and written reports. A writing sample in English and in Spanish is required. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Proficiency in Google shared documents and video platforms including but not limited to Zoom, Webex, etc.
Physical Demands:
Must be able to travel extensively within the City of Chicago, as well as occasional travel outside of Chicago. Will need to at least supervise logistical supports for group meetings/events.
Experience:
Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish required. Extensive experience (3-5 years) in community organizing strongly preferred. Knowledge of immigration justice issues, Latinx issues, disability issues, and/or independent living philosophy is strongly preferred. Understanding of social media is required. People of color, people with disabilities, and people from other multiply marginalized communities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Equipment Operated:
Computers, copier, scanner
Working Environment:
Access Living operates under a hybrid office plan. Staff members are required to come into the office two days out of every week and may work remotely the other three if they so choose. Access Living’s office environment is one of shared work space with individual cubicles.
Access Living requires all staff members to be fully vaccinated (as defined by the CDC) against COVID-19. Disability and/or religious vaccine exemptions are considered on a case by case basis.
Supervised By:
Manager of Organizing and Community Development
Number of Employees Directly Supervised:
None, though this position may occasionally supervise interns.
Salary:
$50,000 – $53,000
How to Apply:
Send a:
- Cover letter
- Resume/CV
- 1-5 pages of writing sample(s), preferably related to this position. Sample(s) should show proficiency in both English and Spanish
Email your application materials to mgarcia@accessliving.org.
People with lived experience of disability, people with first-hand experience with the criminal justice system, people of color, people who are LGBTQIA+, immigrants, and others from underrepresented groups strongly encouraged to apply.