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Labor and Community Job Opportunities, Opportunities

Tenants & Neighbors Seeks Vista Tenant Organizer for At-Risk HUD Affordable Housing

About Tenants & Neighbors:

Tenants & Neighbors is a small, dynamic, grassroots organization that harnesses the power of tenants to preserve at-risk affordable housing and strengthen tenant rights in gentrifying neighborhoods throughout New York. We have two affiliate organizations, one that does grassroots tenants organizing at the building and community-level to preserve at-risk affordable housing developments, and one that does tenant-led legislative organizing and advocacy to address the underlying causes of loss of affordability.

About the HUD VISTA Tenant Organizer Position:

The VISTA tenant organizer position will be a two-year position funded by the federal housing agency, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as part of a national tenant organizing program. The tenant organizer will assist, inform, educate, and engage tenants living in buildings that are at risk of loss of affordability, assist in campaigns to preserve HUD-assisted affordable housing, and participate in a national movement to preserve at-risk affordable housing with the National Alliance of HUD Tenants (NAHT). We are seeking a VISTA Tenant Organizer to carry out outreach, education, and organizing work associated with this new grant. The tenant organizer will:

  • identify eligible buildings for outreach, organizing, and tenant engagement and prioritize buildings at risk due to expiring use restrictions, substandard physical or social conditions;
  • engage in door-to-door outreach, identify and recruit tenant leaders to help form or strengthen independent tenant associations or organizing committees that meet HUD standards in 3-4 targeted Section 8 developments per year, averaging 150 apartments per development;
  • with Supervisor, provide training in tenants’ rights, HUD housing subsidies, and organizational and leadership development to targeted tenant associations;
  • work in close partnership with VAHPP Legal Fellows based in the same geographic area;
  • help tenants identify critical areas of need and goals and strategies for selected buildings;
  • coordinate tenant efforts to engage owners, public officials, and HUD and other agencies to preserve and improve targeted properties;
  • assist tenant associations in networking and building alliances with other tenant associations and allies in their local areas and nationwide;
  • assist targeted tenant associations in obtaining services through negotiation with owners and referrals to other agencies;
  • assist sponsor in raising funds for at least one tenant leader from targeted buildings to attend the June NAHT training conference in Washington, DC;
  • participate in at least 3⁄4 of bi-weekly NAHT Network training calls and NAHT Network task forces, as appropriate;
  • help plan and arrange for tenant participation in regional “Eyes and Ears” meetings between tenant associations and HUD Headquarters and Regional staff, as appropriate;
  • develop written reports on “best practices” and victory stories and related materials to share with project partners and tenant associations;
  • track the number of organizations and tenants that receive capacity building services through an activity log;
  • track increased requests for organizing assistance made to local sponsoring organizations;
  • and support the broader goals and mission of the placement organization.

The Tenant Organizer will be supervised by the Executive Director and work very collaboratively with and receive support and guidance from other staff members.

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will have:

  • A commitment to social change;
  • At least one year of grassroots organizing experience, ideally tenant organizing;
  • basic knowledge of issues related to affordable housing preservation, and ideally more in-depth knowledge about concrete strategies for preserving HUD-assisted housing;
  • fluency in both English and Spanish;
  • strong written and verbal communication skills;
  • exceptional time and priority management skills; and
  • be professional, confident, personable, highly motivated, well organized, and detail oriented.

Stipend:

$15,312, health insurance, and $5,730 Educational Stipend available upon completion of the program

To Apply:

Send a thoughtful cover letter and resume to Katie Goldstein, Executive Director at Kgoldstein@tandn.org .

For more information about the program, see http://www.equaljusticeworks.org/post-grad/VAHPP.

HUD tenants are encouraged to apply.

Labor and Community Job Opportunities, Opportunities

Civic Engagement Fellow at New York Immigration Coalition

The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) is an umbrella policy and advocacy organization for nearly 200 groups in New York State that works for justice and opportunity for immigrants and refugees. The NYIC successfully brings together multi-ethnic, multi-racial, and multi-sector constituencies to pursue a common agenda. That agenda includes: improving immigrants’ access to quality health care and education; advocating for equitable immigration policies; ensuring immigrants’ civil rights; encouraging immigrants’ civic and electoral participation; coordinating immigration services; and educating both newcomer communities and the public at large about immigration issues.

Summary of the Position
The Civic Engagement Fellow will work closely with the NYIC Civic Engagement program to execute its policy, advocacy, and community engagement/organizing work to increase civic and electoral participation for all immigrants in New York State. The ideal candidate will have experience with some combination of the following: community organizing and engagement, policy analysis, communications, advocacy, and grant writing.The Civic Engagement Associate will work closely with the Senior Manager of Political Engagement to manage the NYIC’s overall civic engagement efforts, which include leading the Civic Engagement Collaborative to foster the civic engagement of immigrants, coordinating the NYIC’s various electoral campaigns to engage tens of thousands of immigrant voters, and building a base of engaged immigrants and allies throughout the state.
This is a one-year position with possibility of renewal for a second year.

Key Responsibilities

The Civic Engagement Fellow will be responsible for the following:

  • Support and contribute to the organization’s Civic Engagement and policy and advocacy work and cutting-edge civic engagement campaigns, including those to expand and enlarge voting to new populations
  • Assist with a range of tasks including organization of media events, mobilizing partners, developing coalitions, convening working groups, and communicating with stakeholders
  • Coordinate meetings, prepare minutes, assist with execution of events, and engage members in Civic Engagement Collaborative meetings and trainings
  • Coordinate scheduling for legislative visits and advocacy events, and participate in outreach to and meetings with public policymakers and elected officials
  • Assist in developing policy and political analysis. Participate in development of advocacy and community education materials
  • Participate in preparation of grant proposals and with tracking and reporting on current grants
  • Oversee scheduling and logistics for Civic and Electoral training activities. Update training materials in collaboration with Senior Manager of Political Engagement, assist with delivery of training
  • Hold community education sessions and public forums throughout the year
  • Contribute to other organizational events and projects as necessary

Qualifications:

  • Excellent oral and written communication skills, good judgment and the ability to work collaboratively in some cases, and independently in others
  • Passion for or experience working in civic and electoral policy and/or advocacy
  • Knowledge of political electoral processes at in New York City and New York State strongly preferred
  • Strong Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, website management, and social media skills strongly preferred
  • Ability and experience in public speaking and meeting facilitation
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-energy environment, as well as to multi-task and manage competing deadlines
  • Sense of humor and ability to be flexible highly valued
  • Fluency in Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic or another language is strongly preferred

How to Apply

Please send a cover letter, resume, and a brief writing sample to hr@nyic.org with the subject line: Civic Engagement Fellow. No phone calls will be accepted about this position.

Applications will be accepted until December 17.

Location

40 Exchange Place, Suite 1820, New York, NY, 10005, US

Labor and Community Job Opportunities, Opportunities

Housing Court Answers Seeks Part-Time Hotline and Housing Assistant

Housing Court Answers seeks a Spanish speaking, part-time assistant for its Rental Arrears Hotline. HCA, an independent nonprofit, provides information to unrepresented people in Housing Court from information tables in all five boroughs and a hotline.

The Hotline and Housing Assistant’s responsibilities include providing information about Housing Court and court procedures, referrals for legal assistance, rental arrears help, and social services or organizing. Ability to speak and write English and Spanish is necessary. The salary is currently $24,342 with benefits including single health coverage, subject to ongoing collective bargaining process. The position is 23 hours per week including three full days from 9-5. The hotline is run from our main office in lower Manhattan. The assistant will also work in the courts as needed.

To apply

Email cover letter and resume to info@hcanswers.org with Hotline Coordinator in the subject line.

Responsibilities

  • Answer calls on our busy hotline
  • Provide rent arrears and eviction prevention referrals
  • Explain public benefits qualifications, application process, and maintenance
  • Answer questions about Housing Court, housing laws, and tenants rights and responsibilities
  • Explain housing court procedures for tenants and landlords
  • Update a resource list of organizations including charities, community groups, non-profit housing organizations, legal service providers and others.
  • Identify systemic issues which might be addressed through advocacy or litigation
  • Develop and update information sheets and training materials on public benefits and getting assistance from charities and HRA
  • Educate coworkers on hotline protocols
  • Prepare and present trainings for advocates on eviction prevention, public benefits and Housing Court issues
  • Assist on advocacy campaigns aimed at improving the lives of hotline callers and people in Housing Court without attorneys
  • Assist on lobbying campaigns

Position Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree preferred
  • Commitment to social justice
  • Ability to work with the public in a stressful and/or chaotic setting
  • Knowledge of housing, tenants’ rights, and rent regulation
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills in English and Spanish
  • Strong computer skills especially google drive, microsoft office including publisher and access
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively
  • Experience with Housing Court, housing laws, and public benefits
  • We will only consider applicants that speak Spanish
Labor and Community Job Opportunities, Opportunities

Jewish Voice for Peace Seeks NYC Organizer

The New York City chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace is growing rapidly, and we are looking for an experienced and energetic part-time, Local Organizer to expand our potential. Jewish Voice for Peace is a national grassroots organization dedicated to a US foreign policy toward Israel and Palestine that promotes equality, human rights, and respect for international law. The NYC Local Organizer will organize with local activists in the five boroughs to achieve concrete results and change the discourse on Israel/Palestine in our city.

The NYC Local Organizer will be a part of the National JVP Organizing team, but will be focused on New York-based campaigns and issues. The organizer will be responsible for fostering leadership among chapter members and reaching out to potential members. The NYC Local Organizer will coordinate responses to emergency situations as they arise and be an ongoing liaison between the chapter and the national staff. The organizer will play a key role in moving forward the chapter’s efforts to launch a divestment campaign, as part of the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement.

Exciting Opportunities, Opportunities

Manhattan Community Board Membership Application Now Open

The Manhattan Borough President’s office is currently accepting applications for Community Board membership.

Community Boards represent their neighborhoods on crucial issues including real estate development & land use, historic preservation and even liquor licenses. Serving as a volunteer Community Board member is an incredible opportunity to be on the front lines of our civic landscape!

If you would like to join your Community Board, please fill out the online application by January 29, 2016 at 5:00pm. After submission, you will be contacted regarding the next steps in the screening and interview process.

CWOP, Home, Labor Studies, Urban Studies

What is Worker Cooperative Development?

Want more on worker cooperatives, solidarity economies, and the role of organized labor? Join us at the Murphy Institute on December 4th for our upcoming Labor Breakfast Forum, Solidarity Economies: Worker Coops.

This article originally appeared at Grassroots Economic Organizing.

By Christopher Michael

In the 1980s, the British government supported a comprehensive system of local worker cooperative support organizations (CSOs). The first CSO was formed in Scotland in 1976. By 1986, approximately 100 CSOs spotted the country — with higher concentrations in urban areas. About 80 of these CSOs were funded — mostly by local municipalities — with full-time staff at an average of three employees. In tandem, Parliament chartered a national “Co-operative Development Agency” with a 1978 bill — which aided the growth of local CSOs, served as a “safety net” for regions without CSOs, collected statistics, and acted as government liaison with regard to new legislation.

These government-funded support organizations engaged primarily with low-income, ethnic minority, and female entrepreneurs. CSO staff members provided training courses on worker cooperatives, direct technical assistance, and also loan financing at an average of $50,000 (current U.S. dollars) per worker cooperative. This ten-year experiment produced approximately 2,000 new worker cooperatives — and almost none exist today. Continue reading What is Worker Cooperative Development? →