Job Title: Springfield Tenant Organizing Project [STOP] Organizer
Position Type: Part-time, 20 hours/week
Location: Springfield and surrounding communities.
Application Deadline:
About us:
Springfield No One Leaves is a grassroots member-led community organization based in Springfield, MA. We organize residents most directly impacted by the housing crisis and economic inequality to build collective power, defend against displacement and win long-‐term community ownership & control over land and housing.
Through direct action campaigns, building community solidarity, leadership development & political education we empower and train residents to be leaders & organizers for a broad social justice movement.
Job Description
SNOL is seeking a new community organizer for our Springfield Tenant Organizing Program. The STOP Campaign will seek to organize renters to build renter and homeowner power along with our Bank Tenant Campaign; organize resistance to displacement caused by impending gentrification; and fight for a Renter/Homeowner Bill of Rights platform to expand housing rights and justice in the Springfield-area. The STOP organizer will work closely with the SNOL Coordinating Committee, Staff and the SNOL Program Coordinator to carry out this campaign and advance the vision of SNOL.
Applicants should be self-motivated; have a strong work ethic; hold a passion for building power of low-income and working class communities and communities of color; and is committed to organizing to address root causes of inequality and eradicating system of oppression. SNOL embraces a collective organizing model to achieve our campaign goals. Applicants should have a strong ability to work as a team. Applicants must have been directly affected by the foreclosure crisis, housing injustice, gentrification, displacement or homelessness and must have access to transportation to apply.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Coordinate, plan and implement door-to-door outreach to renters and in large tenant buildings.
- Plan, facilitate and debrief regular neighborhood renter organizing meetings
- Organize meetings with residents, including one-on-one and group meetings in the community, to support renters in organizing campaigns to assert their rights and fight against displacement and/or bad living conditions
- Identify renter-leaders from the base and support them in developing leadership and organizing skills, take on leadership roles, and encourage them to participate in the SNOL’s Movement Leaders Academy.
- Research key targets and displacement trends for the STOP campaign and develop campaign strategy to defend against displacement and advance renter’s rights.
- Plan and carry out multi-month neighborhood ‘renter nation’ assemblies to support residents in developing a collective Renter Bill of Rights platform to expand renter rights and housing justice in the greater Springfield-area
- Participate in media work; write press releases, coordinate interviews with members, build relationships with media representatives. Prioritize the voice of members when representing our campaign to the media.
- Participate in grassroots fundraising campaigns and support SNOL Grants Committee when necessary
- Participate in larger coalition work: attend coalition meetings, follow up on tasks that arise from meetings, and report back to the organizing staff and Coordinating Committee
- Recruit residents to be active members of SNOL.
- Work with SNOL organizing staff to supervise and support interns and volunteers
Supervision & Training:
- Meet regularly with the Coordinating Committee.
- Meet regularly with current organizing staff for support, training and planning.
- Attend leadership trainings, political discussion groups, and activities and conferences for leadership and professional development.
- Participate in the National Renter’s Rights Committee calls with the National Homes for All Campaign.
- SNOL Board Meetings occasionally to provide updates and reports on campaigns
Requirements
- At Least 2+ years experience in community organizing, paid or unpaid.
- Has a strong analysis of root causes of economic inequality and a commitment to organizing to end classism, sexism, racism, homophobia and other systems of oppressions.
- Bi-lingual Spanish/English fluency strongly preferred (commitment to enroll in language courses will be considered)
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to use the internet, Microsoft Word and Excel, Google Drive, and familiarity using databases. Additional experience with website maintenance and/or social media helpful.
- Proficient in Google Suite and Zoom video conferencing
- Able to work with team to develop innovative strategies and programming;
- Comfortable using computers, internet, and email, texting;
- Applicants must have been directly affected by the foreclosure crisis, housing injustice, gentrification, displacement or homelessness and must have access to transportation
Qualities of Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is someone already dedicated to the housing justice movement. This person understands direct action, coalitional work, organizing and how to develop the leadership of low wage residents.
- 100% follow-through: No dropped balls! Stay on top of all tasks and follow-up.
- Passion: You care deeply about getting results and you do what it takes to get them.
- Flexibility: Adapt quickly as things change.
- Organizational leadership: Lead by example by modeling a high bar for performance and values.
- Radical welcome: Every single person is welcome and has a role to play in the fight for housing justice.
- Relationship-Oriented: You build trust and work through differences to find a positive solution
- Always learning: You’re hungry to learn. You absorb information from members and others, you ask questions, and you constantly seek out best practices from others.
Additional Information:
Springfield No One Leaves is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Applicants from communities heavily impacted by gentrification, displacement and housing insecurity are strongly encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, familial status, sexual orientation, national origin, ability, age, or veteran status.
***The funding for this position is currently guaranteed for one year only. Springfield No One Leaves fully intends to raise additional funds to ensure this is a long term position, but we want to be transparent with all applicants about the financial status of the project and position. Springfield No One Leaves is a Fiscally Sponsored Project (FSP) of the Right to the City Alliance (RTTC) and as such the STOP Organizer will be connected to the RTTC national staff structure.
Salary/Benefits: $20-$25/hr depending on experience
To Apply: Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter and writing sample through our hiring portal at: righttothecity.bamboohr.com/jobs.
Only candidates that are being considered will be contacted.