Seeking: Full-Time Community Development Organizer in Economic Justice
Position Snapshot
In this role, the Economic Justice Community Development Organizer recruits and supports Access Living grassroots leaders in the development of a new disability economic justice organizing group. As a new facet of Access Living’s work and strategic goals, economic justice
- Department: Advocacy
- $50,000-$53,000 starting salary
- Hybrid work environment – In office two days per week, three remote, with flexible bank of additional remote work days to use throughout the year as desired.
- To apply, please submit BOTH a cover letter and resume/CV to mgarcia@accessliving.org.
Basic Function:
The Economic Justice Organizer will focus on development and implementation of community organizing campaigns on economic issues related to disabled people of color that are aligned with Access Living’s strategic plan. The position will support Access Living’s work addressing the disability racial wealth gap, as well as the deep poverty experienced by thousands of Chicagoans with disabilities. The Economic Justice Organizer will be responsible for base-building, recruitment and disability-centered leadership development of grassroots leaders of all ages, particularly disabled Chicagoans of color, through developing a new economic justice organizing group at Access Living. The group will be part of the Access Living coalition Power to the People (PTP). The Organizer will work closely with our Economic Justice Policy Analyst, three other Access Living organizers, and other Access Living staff working on economic justice pathways for disabled Chicagoans with disabilities.
Specific Duties:
- Campaign Development: Recruit and support Access Living grassroots leaders in developing a new disability economic justice organizing group, gather input from leaders and help them shape their issue ideas towards a timeline, key campaign goals and with an array of appropriate tactics that actively empower/include all members. Ensure that the group’s campaigns are consistent with Access Living’s mission and the leaders’ core goals, in coordination with the Manager of Organizing and the Economic Justice Policy Analyst;
- Base Building: With the goal of representation of diverse Chicago disability and racial/ethnic communities, recruit new grassroots leaders for the economic justice group through a combination of virtual and in-person approaches;
- Training and Leadership Development: Train people with disabilities on disability movement lens and economic justice struggles, including building organizing skills on everything from team dynamics and campaign planning to rallies and direct action;
- Coalition Building: Increase the organizing group’s power by building and cultivating and sustaining relationships with community groups and advocacy organizations to create broad coalition support for disability economic justice issues;
- Internal Collaboration: Coordinate with other Access Living departments as needed, to recruit members for the economic justice organizing group as well as to effectively support disabled Chicagoans of color. Employ resourcefulness and community partnerships to support Access Living’s consumers as needed;
- Community Education/Outreach: Conduct popular education efforts around disability and economic justice 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 disability and economic justice 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. 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.
Experience:
Experience (3-5 years) in community organizing strongly preferred. Knowledge of disability, economic justice, and racial justice issues, and/or independent living philosophy is strongly preferred. A basic understanding of social media is strongly preferred. Disabled people of color strongly encouraged to apply.
Physical Demands:
Must be able to travel extensively within the City of Chicago, as well as occasional travel outside of Chicago.
Equipment Operated:
Computers, copier, scanner
Working Environment:
Access Living operates under a hybrid work model. 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 workspace with individual cubicles.
Professional Affiliations Required:
None
Number of Employees Directly Supervised:
None
Starting Salary Range:
$50,000 – $53,000
Supervised By:
Manager of Organizing and Community Development
How to Apply:
Applicants should send BOTH a cover letter and resume/CV. Application materials should be sent 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.