Status: Non-Exempt                                                 Unit: Organizing & Advocacy

Position: Part-time, 21 hrs. /week Program: FUREE

Organizational Background

Fifth Avenue Committee (FAC), is a nationally recognized South Brooklyn based, non-profit comprehensive community development corporation formed in 1978 whose mission is to advance economic and social justice by building vibrant, diverse communities where residents have genuine opportunities to achieve their goals as well as the power to shape the community’s future. FAC works to transform the lives of over 5,500 low and moderate-income New Yorkers annually so that we can all live and work with dignity and respect while making our community more equitable, sustainable, inclusive and just.

FUREE Program Background

Families United for Racial and Economic Equality (FUREE) is a member led Brooklyn-based multiracial program at Fifth Avenue Committee led by mostly women of color. FUREE organizes and unites low-income families to build power to fight against systems of oppression so that the work of all people is valued and everyone has the right and ability to decide and live out our own destinies.  FUREE uses direct action; leadership development, community organizing and political education to win the changes our members seek.  FUREE’s guiding principle is that those directly affected by the policies we are seeking to change should lead campaigns and FUREE’s programs because they are the true experts.

FUREEous Youth Program Background

FUREE’s FUREEous Youth’ program engages young people between the ages of 14 and 24 in identifying, discussing and addressing sociopolitical and economic issues most important to them and their communities. Community outreach and member recruitment, leader development, trainings and skills building, as well as campaigns and initiatives development are some of the core approaches used for this engagement. More recently the FUREEous Youth program has incorporated  Arts & Culture as a central component of its methodology and our core youth leadership have created long-term projects both performance-based and through print media, as conduits for youth-led platforms to guide public discourse and influence policy decision-makers in pursuit of achieving social justice goals. Through recruitment and outreach, one-on-ones, small group meetings, campaign meetings, special events and/or performances, social media, educational workshops, and other activities, the FUREEous Youth Organizer will facilitate empowerment with our young people. An overarching goal of the program is that youth leaders will play an active role in developing creative ideas to reach and engage their peers to participate in existing campaigns and in campaigns that they create themselves.

Position Overview

The chosen candidate will facilitate and maintain a practice of grassroots organizing principles, methodologies and tactics to agitate, coordinate and mobilize local Brooklyn youth around a range of social, racial, housing and economic issues.

Community outreach and recruitment, member/leadership development and mentorship, as well as skills-building and training will be primarily focused on Brooklyn communities within FUREE’s current catchment areas. As a secondary goal the youth organizer will seek to utilize opportunities for extending the reach of FUREE’s presence and engagement with youth throughout the borough and city-wide, capitalizing on existing and potential partnerships for capacity to support this growth.

This position reports directly to FUREE’s Program Coordinator and works in close collaboration with the Lead Organizer, Steering Committee and FAC staff according to planned organizational initiatives and on an ‘as needed’ basis.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• FUREEous Youth Program:
  • Plan, develop and implement FUREEous Youth Program initiatives, campaigns, projects and events- actively engaging youth in decision-making, advocacy and grassroots organizing tactics.
  • Facilitate and guide process of identifying issue-based areas of focus, developing critical analysis and frameworks and community engagement/power-building.
  • Develop curriculum and workshop training modules for sociopolitical education, grassroots organizing and leadership development, and general skills-building as relevant and needed.
  • Actively base-build and recruit new youth membership through community outreach activities and partnership building with community institutions and youth programs.
  • Participate in meetings, retreats, mobilizations and events within existing coalitions and alliances FUREE takes part in- network and develop relationships with new formations as relevant to furthering FUREE’s campaign and initiative goals.
  • Support FUREEous Youth to act as organizers, advocates and leaders in both youth and adult-dominant spaces- with emphasis on youth-included and youth-led approach to all phases of planning and implementation.

• FUREE and FAC General:
  • Participate in membership meetings, staff meetings, professional development activities and community building events.
  • Prepare work plans/staff reports to present at check-ins and staff meetings according to schedule.
  • Maintain up-to-date and accurate records, enter information in database in a timely manner, and compile outcomes and deliverables for funder reports and special events according to organizational protocol.
  • Assist in grant writing and reporting for private and government funders as needed.
  • Participate in fundraising activities as necessary.
  • Assist in office management tasks.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Undergraduate degree in field related to organizing or youth services and/or at least 3 years of organizing experience, with a focus on youth organizing and leadership building.
• Experience and expertise in community organizing strategies, tactics and grassroots activism.
• Solid understanding and experience with social media campaigning and messaging.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work in teams, participate in cross-departmental planning and work with a diverse set of stakeholders, coalitions and partners.
• Strong organizational, administrative and communication skills.
• Strong writing and public speaking skills.
• Attention to detail and the ability to multi-task effectively.
• Strong work ethic and ability to self-start and manage.
• Strong time management skills, prioritization of tasks as well as ability to work under pressure and meet urgent deadlines effectively and efficiently.
• Flexible work hours, evening and weekend availability, and ability to travel as needed.
• Comfort working in and with diverse communities.
• Strong dedication to FAC’s mission, social justice, political education and the FUREE mission/core values.
• Sense of humor, humility and respect.
• Bi-lingual Spanish/English speaking a plus
• Ability to pass a background check to work with minors

Compensation:

$20-21 per hour commensurate with experience/21 hours per week; pro-rated paid sick leave

How to Apply:

Please email cover letter and resume by September 26, 2018 to:

Shatia Strother, Program Coordinator- FUREE
388 Atlantic Ave, 2^nd Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11217
Email:  shatia@furee.org

Please indicate “FUREE Part-time Youth Organizer” in the subject line.  No phone calls, please.
Fifth Avenue Committee is an equal opportunity employer (EEO).
People of color, community residents, and women are strongly encouraged to apply.