FRESC - Community Organizers

JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS

Community Organizers – Three Positions

Positions will be open until filled

About the Organization:

FRESC: Good Jobs Strong Communities is a labor-community partnership with a mission to ensure that Colorado jobs pay livable wages with family-supporting benefits, and that families have access to affordable housing and a good quality life.  We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit that seeks to achieve this vision by growing, fueling, and sustaining a long-term movement for economic justice through a collaboration of unions, community organizations, individual workers and other stakeholders.  FRESC shares offices and administrative staff with the Denver Area Labor Federation (DALF), which is the AFL-CIO Central Labor Council for the Denver metro area.  The office is made up of 13 committed individuals who work both individually and in teams in our modest west Denver location—we work hard but also have a fun office environment (we eat lunch together most days). FRESC is a vibrant and financially stable organization.

Since 2002, FRESC has worked to build an economically just Denver Metro region with equal opportunity for all of our residents.  FRESC has a track record of success and is well known by elected leaders and many allies in the non-profit and the labor communities.  FRESC’s current main programs include transit equity, affordable housing, construction careers, clean energy and good green jobs, worker justice, and non-partisan voter education and engagement.  See http://www.fresc.org/ for more information. 

More about What We’re Looking For:

FRESC seeks three full time Community Organizers for the Denver metro area.  These positions are funded by a three year grant through the HUD Sustainable Communities Regional Planning grant.  The organizers will effectively and meaningfully engage vulnerable, marginalized, and underrepresented people in the metro Denver region, including low-income individuals and families, people with limited English proficiency, and communities of color that are not traditionally engaged, to actively participate, lead, and advise the formal and informal planning processes created by the Denver region’s HUD Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant.  The Organizers conduct outreach for FRESC campaigns, work with partner organizations and coalitions, communicate with individual workers and neighborhood residents, develop and support individual leadership skills, coordinate group trainings and committees, and plan and execute organizing campaigns/actions as part of broader campaigns.  Candidates should have a demonstrated ability to work with diverse array of individuals and communities.  The successful candidates must have a solid commitment to strengthening our labor unions and social, racial, and economic justice movements.

We are seeking individuals with previous experience in grassroots/political organizing in the labor movement, non-profit or public sector, or comparable experience, who are passionate, enthusiastic and energetic.  The successful candidates will conduct organizing campaigns in targeted communities located near future transit corridors. Expertise in organizing is not required; willingness and ability to learn as well as strong abilities and experiences are more important. 

Qualified applicants should be interested in working with FRESC’s talented staff to build upon previous programmatic successes and grow the capacity of the organization.  The successful candidate will have strong verbal and written communication skills, and enjoy building and maintaining relationships with staff and stakeholders.  

Responsibilities:   

• Organize, develop and staff strategic issue campaigns.
• Train and support individual leadership in the strategy and execution of issues and campaigns.
• Recruit and mobilize individuals through one-on-one visits and organizational presentations.
• Plan, organize, facilitate and debrief actions and meetings.
• Educate community about FRESC issues and campaigns.
• Develop and cultivate relationships to increase allies’ organizational capacity and campaign participation.
• Coordinate and execute FRESC organizing efforts with overall campaign strategies. 
• Develop materials for FRESC recruitment, community actions, etc.
• Communicate with partner organizations, including labor unions, progressive community organizations, social service organizations, environmental groups, academics and think-tanks, religious institutions and others.
• Identify new target communities to organize, consistent with FRESC’s existing and future work.
• Monitor and/or participate in appropriate governmental and public meetings and processes consistent with FRESC campaigns, including lobbying, testifying, etc.
• Track and evaluate progress and effectiveness of organizing and campaign goals.
• Support FRESC’s fundraising activities.
• Perform other duties as assigned. 

Desired Qualifications:

• Bilingual Spanish-English (written and spoken) preferred.
• Interest in issues ranging from affordable housing, quality jobs, environmental justice/sustainability, to immigrant rights.
• At least one year of experience working in labor, environment, and/or social justice community, or comparable transferrable experience.
• Recruitment and leadership development experience.
• Experience designing, coordinating, and leading training programs desired.
• Ability both to lead and to work well in teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; including comfort presenting to large groups or people, computer competency. 
• Self-directed and able to handle multiple projects and responsibilities.
• Willingness and flexibility to work “campaign hours” when necessary (nights and weekends); ability to work well under stress and deadlines.
• Commitment to understand race, class, gender, and inequity issues as part of your work.
• Belief in and commitment to progressive social and economic justice.
• Degree in relevant field a plus.
• Ability to navigate complex systems, relationships and inspire others to act.
• Experience working with low income communities, communities of color, and/or the labor movement helpful.
• Ability to travel locally; and have reliable transportation.
• Willingness to learn, show initiative and creativity.

Salary and Benefits:

This is a full-time, salaried position and part of a staff union contract.  Salary range starting in the low-30s, depending on experience and qualifications.

·        Great benefits: family health, dental, vision, holidays, vacation, employer-matched retirement

How to Apply:

Interested applicants should send (1) cover letter/email including salary requirements, (2) resume, and (3) three work-related references to: Steven Moss, Administrative Director at smoss@fresc.org.

An Equal Opportunity Employer: Women and Individuals of Color Strongly Encouraged to Apply