The NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) seeks an experienced, dynamic and innovative Community Organizer to advance its Race and Policing Reform Campaign.
LDF and the Thurgood Marshall Institute at LDF:

LDF is the nation’s first and foremost civil and human rights law organization. Since its founding under the leadership of Thurgood Marshall in 1940, LDF has been committed to transforming this nation’s promise of racial equity and justice into reality for all Americans.

LDF uses litigation, public-policy advocacy, organizing and public-education programs to ensure the fundamental and basic human rights of all people to quality education, economic opportunity, the right to vote and fully participate in democracy, and the right to a fair criminal justice system.

In 2015, LDF celebrates its 75th anniversary with the launch of the Thurgood Marshall Institute. The Thurgood Marshall Institute at LDF is a collaborative hub within LDF that combines a multidisciplinary approach to advocacy with LDF’s traditional litigation strengths to advance a modern vision of racial justice. The Institute’s goal is to advance racial equity, justice and a more inclusive democracy through research and public education, targeted policy reform, advocacy and communication campaigns.

Through the Thurgood Marshall Institute, LDF will have the ability to generate and integrate innovative research, organizing, advocacy, and communications aimed at educating the public and key decision makers. This added capacity will leverage LDF’s litigation expertise, advocacy experience and unique leadership role on matters of race, law, and policy to shape the narrative on racial justice and equity. Through targeted policy reform campaigns that attack entrenched problems of racial bias, the LDF Thurgood Marshall Institute will partner with local advocates to advance holistic strategies to achieve obtainable and lasting solutions on issues of criminal justice, political participation, education and economic opportunity.

The Thurgood Marshall Institute’s Race and Policing Reform Campaign:

As one of its inaugural initiatives, the Thurgood Marshall Institute is launching a Race and Policing Reform Campaign. The United States is undeniably in the depths of a national policing crisis. The life-threatening reality of racial bias in policing has undermined public confidence in our justice system, in law enforcement, and in the rule of law itself. Outrage over police-involved assaults and killings of unarmed African Americans—with many incidents captured in graphic and devastating detail on citizen cell phone videos—has inspired a movement of young activists, captured the public attention, and generated intense calls for a fundamental change in policing.

Through the Race and Policing Reform campaign, LDF will reform policing policies and practices through work at the federal, state and local levels.

Community Organizer for the Thurgood Marshall Institute’s Race and Police Reform Campaign:

LDF understands that advocacy outside the courtroom – specifically, community organizing – is a critical component of any effort to achieve sustained and comprehensive reform. Thus, to advance its Race and Policing Reform campaign, the Thurgood Marshall Institute at LDF seeks an experienced, dynamic and innovative Community Organizer to work with communities of color on police reform issues. The duration of this position is two (2) years.

The Community Organizer will report to LDF’s Senior Community Organizer and will work on campaigns managed by a Campaign Lead and the Thurgood Marshall Institute Director .

Responsibilities:
• Valuing, highlighting and building the capacity of impacted communities to effectively organize initiatives to address police misconduct/brutality and discriminatory policing;
• Working with local communities to assist in building their capacity to change law enforcement policies and practices, and promoting bias-free and responsible policing;
• Organizing communities or coalitions to advance reforms to public systems, including but not limited to juvenile or criminal justice systems;
• Developing and maintaining relationships, partnerships, and coalitions with organizations, community members/leaders, and public officials;
• Planning, implementing and coordinating successful community outreach and public education campaigns; and
• Advocating for LDF’s police reform and other priorities.

Qualifications:
The ideal candidate for this position will possess the following characteristics and skills:
• Five or more years of experience organizing communities or coalitions to advance reforms to public systems, including but not limited to juvenile or criminal justice systems;
• A college degree or equivalent work experience;
• A demonstrated commitment to racial justice and criminal justice reform;
• A willingness to advocate for LDF’s police reform and other priorities;
• Familiarity with police misconduct/brutality and discriminatory policing issues and campaigns and with the organizations and coalitions currently working on these issues nationally;
• A demonstrated commitment to valuing, highlighting and building the capacity of impacted communities to effectively organize initiatives to address police misconduct/brutality and discriminatory policing;
• Willingness to travel extensively to both urban and rural areas in the United States;
• Willingness to adhere to a fluid/dynamic and sometimes demanding schedule;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to convey complex information effectively to a wide range of audiences of varying sizes;
• A demonstrated ability to plan, implement and coordinate successful community outreach and public education campaigns;
• A demonstrated ability to develop and maintain relationships, partnerships, with coalitions of organizations, community members/leaders, and public officials via the internet, in-person and telephone;
• The integrity, professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment to handle sensitive, high-profile, legally privileged and otherwise confidential information in an appropriate manner;
• The ability to work both in a team structure and independently, as required by different circumstances;
• Strong initiative and creative thinking; well-developed interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate with diverse groups;
• Excellent organizational skills; and
• A valid driver’s license.

Location:
This position is located in our New York or District of Columbia office.

How to apply
Please submit your resume and cover letter: Email to: jobs@naacpldf.org
or
Monica Garcia, Director of Human Resources/Administration NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund
40 Rector Street, 5th floor
New York, New York 10006

We seek to fill this position immediately.

The NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to you without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status, age, veteran status, disability or genetic information.