The Bronx Defenders Seeks Community Organizer

The Bronx Defenders Organizing Project seeks an energetic organizer passionate about systemic reform to join our dynamic team in serving the Bronx community.

Since opening our doors in 1997, The Bronx Defenders has served over 300,000 clients in Bronx County. The Bronx Defenders pioneered a model of legal representation called holistic defense, designed to fight both the causes and consequences of court-involvement. Our staff of over 280 lawyers and advocates work on interdisciplinary teams made up of criminal defense, civil, immigration, and family defense attorneys, as well as social workers, legal advocates, parent advocates, investigators, and team administrators, all of whom work to provide holistic legal and social service advocacy to our clients. The Bronx Defenders also houses a community organizing and an impact litigation team, serving as a community resource and force for systemic change. We engage with clients, community residents, and policymakers as we seek ways to better serve the Bronx community and enhance access to justice for all.

 

The Bronx Defenders Organizing Project reaches beyond individual cases and uses community education, leadership development, impact litigation, and legislative reform to challenge entrenched problems that drive individuals into the justice system. We operate on multiple levels: as a provider of Holistic Defense working one-on-one with clients and families; as a community resource; and as a force for systemic change advocating with policymakers. We seek partnerships with community-based providers and leverage their expertise to ensure that our clients’ expressed needs are addressed. We also rely upon our deep connections to community members to alert us to emerging trends that directly impact our clients’ well-being.

 

The Organizing Project seeks to build and grow a Bronx membership base, while fostering relationships with key allies and stakeholders in the community to improve the lives of residents and the systems that are failing the Bronx community. Most importantly, the Organizing Project seeks to identify and develop community leaders to lead the charge.

Responsibilities

  • Identify and nurture grassroots leaders from the Bronx community
  • Engage Bronx residents in community organizing efforts around immigration, criminal justice reform, family reunification, education, housing, police accountability and more
  • Build a base of leaders focusing on communities of color, those identifying within the LGBTQ spectrum, currently and formerly incarcerated individuals, youth and seniors through active outreach efforts
  • Engage multiple stakeholders including leaders, educators, schools officials, elected officials, and organizational leaders in the social justice field
  • Create and facilitate leadership development curriculum
  • Work with the Bronx Defenders internal practices and allies to move forward key policies and campaigns

Qualifications

Applicants must have:

  • Demonstrated commitment to social justice
  • Ability to motivate and inspire others
  • Ability to communicate respectfully and comfortably with people from diverse backgrounds
  • Ability to communicate well verbally and in writing
  • Ability to handle physically and mentally demanding assignments
  • Thorough attention to detail
  • Ability to multitask, work efficiently, be well organized and reliable
  • Ability to work flexible hours
  • Resourcefulness and talent for problem-solving
  • Ability to learn quickly and grow into positions of greater responsibility
  • Persistence and determination
  • Commitment to serving lower income communities of color targeted by systemic injustice
  • Ability to establish close relationships with people from diverse racial, cultural and economic backgrounds

 Any of the following additional qualifications are appreciated, but not required:

  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Bilingual (in addition to English), especially in Spanish. Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Russian, Polish or Bengali valuable as well.
  • Strong computer literacy skills and the ability to quickly learn new computer programs
  • Experience developing and maintaining online databases

Professional LevelL: None specified

Minimum Education Required: No requirement

How To Apply

https://careers-bronxdefenders.icims.com

To apply, please visit our career portal at the link above, select the position of interest, click APPLY FOR THIS JOB ONLINE and upload a cover letter and resume in one document when prompted. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

The application deadline is Monday, December 11th, but applications will be considered on a rolling basis and decisions will be made as soon as appropriate candidates are identified.

Please contact Carmen Pineiro, Director of Organizing and Community Engagement, via email at carmenp@bronxdefenders.org with any questions regarding the position.

The Bronx Defenders is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, committed to inclusive hiring, and dedicated to diversity in our work and staff. We strongly encourage candidates of all identities, orientations, experiences and communities to apply.