New Settlement Apartments, home of the Parent Action Committee, is a non-profit, mixed-income housing and community service organization with a 25-year track record of active commitment to neighborhood revitalization, community building and organizing, and positive youth development. New Settlement currently provides year- round educational, cultural and recreational programs and social services to more than 9,500 youth and adults who live in the surrounding area.

The New Settlement Parent Action Committee (PAC) is an award-winning organization of concerned parents and community members fighting for educational justice for young people and families in the South Bronx and Citywide. Founded in 1996 by parents at a struggling elementary school, PAC is one of the City’s oldest and most respected parent organizing groups. We have fought and won campaigns for teacher leadership and mentoring, school facility improvement, and reductions in school-based arrests, summonses and suspensions. PAC’s diverse membership, including Latin American and Caribbean immigrants, African-American families, and progressive educators- are united by a deep belief that every child deserves an excellent education in a safe, supportive and inclusive environment, and that the best way to guarantee this right is to improve the quality of neighborhood
schools. Our history has been documented in the film Parent Power and Michael Fabricant’s Organizing for Educational Justice: The Campaign for Public School Reform in the South Bronx.

Currently, PAC organizes to end the school-to-prison pipeline in Bronx schools, to improve the quality of neighborhood schools by increasing teacher training and support, to implement community school programming, and to pilot research-based parent engagement strategies that are proven to rebuild relationships between schools and communities. PAC is a founding member of the Coalition for Educational Justice and an active member of the Dignity in Schools Campaign-New York. In addition to our campaign work, we build parent leadership through workshops, bimonthly membership meetings, and regular leadership trainings. PAC’s work is envisioned and led by parent leaders.

Since 2012, PAC has coordinated a sophisticated and complex campaign to end the school-to-prison pipeline in Bronx schools, with specific demands around reducing the number of school-based arrests, summonses and suspensions, increasing training for School Safety Agents and school staff, and supporting the creation of new positive discipline and restorative justice programs. PAC convenes Bronx School Justice, a working group led by parents, educators and advocates in collaboration with the Department of Education and NYPD School Safety. Results of Bronx School Justice include:
• A 78% reduction in school-based summonses and 60% reduction in school-based arrests in Bronx Schools.
• First-ever community-led trainings for School Safety Agents on the effects of punitive school discipline on students and families and the principles of positive discipline and restorative justice. Over 1000 SSAs have been trained.
• Piloting the Bronx School Exchange on Positive Discipline Alternatives to support the development of restorative practices in Bronx Schools.

POSITION DESCRIPTION:
The Parent Action Committee seeks a bold, creative and committed community organizer to strengthen and expand our school safety campaign. Guided by the Lead Organizer and in coordination with other organizers and interns, the C.O. will work to strengthen PAC’s broad base of parents and community members who are committed to education reform work, understands what it takes to build a movement and are prepared to take action to transform local schools and the NYC public school system as a whole. Responsibilities will include:

• Base-building and leadership development to engage parents in our school safety work.
• Cultivating relationships with educators and allies, coordinating PAC’s involvement in local and Citywide coalitions.
• Leading campaign development for a new campaign to expand the resources for positive discipline and restorative justice in Bronx schools and Citywide.
In addition, the C.O. will build our organizational capacity by preparing materials and agendas for bimonthly general meetings, implementing a media and social media strategy, and supporting fundraising efforts (depending on skill and experience.)
EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION & SKILLS REQUIRED: Minimum two years’ experience organizing grassroots groups and working with families of color; openness to other communities and cultures; strong group facilitation skills; good writing and public speaking skills; proven track record in community outreach, research and campaign development. Passion for social justice, confidence and a willingness to persevere are essential qualities. General knowledge of New York City public school system, juvenile justice issues and school discipline a plus. English/Spanish bilingual skills strongly preferred. Work schedule includes some evenings and weekends.

SALARY AND BENEFITS OFFERED: Competitive salary commensurate with experience. Comprehensive benefits package, including 401(k).

TO APPLY: Send cover letter, résumé and list of three professional references to pac@newsettlement.org. Subject: PAC School Justice Organizer Search.
No phone calls please.

EEO/AA.
START DATE: ASAP

Originally Posted: June 18, 2015