Field Organizerr

Position Announcement

Field Organizer

The Center for New Community is a national organization committed to building community, justice, and equality. The Center is grounded in many faith traditions, and builds community where the dignity and value of all humanity is manifest. Based in Chicago, the organization defends democracy, empowers communities, and promotes equality in its commitments to cultivate civic life and advance systemic change in partnership with local leaders, organizations, congregations, and other institutions.

The Center seeks a Field Organizer to assist our Nativism Watch team in advancing its research, education, rapid response and base-building objectives. The Field Organizer will work with the Nativism Watch team and other Center staff, and with organizers from national, state and grassroots partner organizations to implement micro-targeting efforts to educate the public on the relationship of the anti-immigrant movement to political extremists including, white nationalists.

The Field Organizer will support and advance (on-site when possible) national, state and grassroots needs and commitments in response to anti-immigrant organizing and activity, and provide partner organizations and coalitions in select states with organizational assistance as needed or requested. The ideal candidate is a self-starter with an understanding of organizing; has strong technical writing experience; and is a strategic thinker capable of producing consistent quality work in a fast-paced environment.

The Field Organizer will be accountable to the Center’s National Field Director, and will be based in its national office in Chicago. Extensive travel will be required in this position.

Principal Responsibilities

• Work closely with team members and national, state, and grassroots partners to develop and execute the goals and objectives of the Nativism Watch team and the Center for New Community in responding to anti-immigrant extremism.
• Maintain and build relationships with national, state, and grassroots organizations and leaders.
• Work with national, state, and grassroots partners to coordinate and amplify creative and effective responses to anti-immigrant organizing and activity.
• Provide technical assistance to grassroots partners in selected high-priority states and/or communities in order to strengthen the work of the Nativism Watch team.
• Create informational materials and packets on anti-immigrant groups that include sample media releases, sample op-eds, and sample letters to the editor.
• Coordinate local and national responses to anti-immigrant events.
• Supervise interns as needed.
• Represent the Center for New Community in a professional manner within the organization and externally.
• All other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Knowledge of immigration and immigrant-related issues.
• An understanding of race and racism in American society.
• At least four years experience working on social justice issues.
• Demonstrated, oral, written, and computer literacy skills are required.
• Willingness to travel is a must.
• Experience and comfort working as part of a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural team and knowing how to combine assets available to the team in a way that maximizes its ability to function at a high level.
• Ability to work internally and externally in a diverse, ethnic, and multi-racial environment.
• Ability to learn issues quickly.
• Fluency in both English and Spanish will be highly beneficial to the person seeking this position.
• Ability to relate well to a wide variety of people, to work independently and to plan, coordinate and carry out many tasks simultaneously.

Location and Travel

The Field Organizer will be based in the Center for New Community national office in Chicago. The position will require considerable travel.

Salary and Benefits; Starting Date

Starting salary is competitive and commensurate on qualifications and experience. A generous Flexible Benefits program is provided, along with vacation and holidays, and an annual pension contribution following the first year of employment. Starting Date: Preferably by May 4, 2009.

Application procedure

Position opened until filled.

Send resume or vita, cover letter indicating interest in and qualification for the position, a writing sample, and three references to amy@newcomm.org or mail to Amy Spicer, Officer Manager, Center for New Community, P.O. Box 479327, Chicago, Illinois 60647. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

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The Center for New Community is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates for employment will be considered without regard to race or ethnicity, gender, age, national origin, marital status or sexual orientation. Women and persons of color are encouraged to apply.

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