Community Organizer I Black Parent Network - Bay Area

About Innovate Public Schools

Innovate Public Schools is a power-building organization that was launched in 2012. At Innovate, our vision is a high quality school experience that cherishes and affirms every student, particularly Black and Brown students, and prepares them for a lifetime of opportunity and choice. Our mission is to build the capacity of parents and families to organize, advocate, and demand high quality schools for their children.

Our program model centers long-term power-building through community organizing for parents & education stakeholders. To support this work, we deploy our Research & Policy (RAP) team to collect & publish data that supports the informed demands of engaged parents. Our Communications team helps to disseminate RAP findings and supports parent leaders in implementing effective outreach strategies that bring more parents into our established organizing communities. Our Partnerships & Training team then scales this work nationally, providing training for schools & community leaders to build capacity within their organizations to support authentic grassroots parent organizing. We deeply engage with parents and education stakeholders to support them in cultivating sustainable power-building practices that ensure that their voices are heard in the education advocacy space.

Reporting

The Community Organizer I Black Parent Network - Bay Area, will report to the Senior Community Organizer - Los Angeles.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, train, and develop community leaders in the principles and practices of community organizing in order to build powerful parent-driven organizations affiliated with Innovate Public Schools
• Develop and manage relationships with a broad base of constituents from targeted neighborhoods (including faith-based institutions, public officials, local government agencies, social service agencies, teachers and school leaders), and build their support for the reform efforts of Innovate’s member parent organizations.
• Conduct at least 15 one-to-one conversations with parents and community members every week
• Over time, build and manage multiple parent organizations that drive local education justice work and bring new community leadership to communities in assigned region
• Plan and coordinate large public forums and meetings, led by parent leaders
• Participate in local, regional and national staff development sessions with organization partners
• Participate in fundraising and administrative activities as required

Sample "Week-in-the-Life" of a Community Organizer

• Meet 1-1 with one of your parent leaders to strategize about the next steps in your campaign to expand educational options in the district
• Prepare and then support your team of 15 parent leaders as they hold their first meeting with the local superintendent about the district's plans to improve outcomes for low-income students
• Meet with Innovate's Research and Policy Team to plan a powerful presentation on achievement gap data for a local congregation
• Role-play your upcoming training on power and leadership for the organizing team and receive feedback from your colleagues
• Train a parent to chair a meeting with her local school board president, and coach her to think through the appropriate tone and level of challenge the group should bring to the board member about their issue
• Make calls to invite parents to attend an upcoming meeting and schedule 1-1 visits with them for the next week
• Meet with your supervisor to evaluate your previous parent leader team meeting
• Schedule a 1-1 with a local nonprofit leader to learn more about their work with families and the changing political environment in local cities
• Read and reflect on a classic organizing text, like Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals

Qualifications:

• Related work experience
• Experience working with African American communities
• Work experience in low-income communities
• Demonstrated experience in community organizing or advocacy work (paid or voluntary)
• Demonstrated ability to build strong relationships with diverse stakeholders and communities
• Ability to write and speak clearly and persuasively, including speaking in small and large group settings
• Strong strategic thinking skills and an ability to analyze policies and institutions
• Experience with and sensitivity to multicultural work environments
• Willingness to work as a member of and contribute to a team in a dynamic, learning environment
• Passion for creating more high-quality school options for working families
• Eagerness to learn and apply Innovate’s approach to community organizing
• A valid driver's license and reliable, insured vehicle (needed to fulfill job requirements)
• Proof of eligibility to work in the United States
• Ability to work frequent evening meetings (average 3-4 per week) and some weekends

Nice to Have

• Previous community organizing experience in San Francisco region or surrounding Bay area, or a strong understanding of the political landscape in the Bay Area as it relates to education.

Your Resources

• Extensive formal training in community organizing through participation in Innovate’s Community Organizer Training Program (COTP).
• Membership in a national cohort of community organizers through the COTP alumni network, with the opportunity to learn from and share with others in your field.
• Coaching and development from veteran organizing team members or national experts in the field.

Compensation

Compensation depends on experience and is highly competitive. Innovate offers very generous benefits including health and dental insurance, Unlimited PTO, 33 days paid time off per year (including office closures in July, November, and December), 1 day per year paid volunteering time off, and 5% employer contribution to 401k.

Work Environment/ Work Demands

The work environment characteristics and the physical demands described here represent those an employee encounters while successfully performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.