Community Organizer

Mid-City Community Advocacy Network (Mid-City CAN), a 501c3 collaborative, is comprised of hundreds of partners and thousands of community members. Mid-City CAN’s mission is to build a safe, productive, and healthy community through collaboration, advocacy, and organizing. For over 35 years, Mid-City CAN plays an essential role in the community and the San Diego Region by facilitating dialogue, identifying common issues, spearheading advocacy efforts, building power, and training community members to take leadership roles in affecting change. Some of our campaign wins include $5.1 million towards two skate parks and a recreation center, the Halal school lunch program, and a regional no-cost transit pass for youth (Youth Opportunity Pass).

Reporting to the Director of Organizing, the Community Organizer works in partnership with community members and organizational allies, in the design and ongoing implementation of Mid-City CAN Momentum Team community organizing and advocacy campaigns. The Community Organizer will advance the goal of building community power through leadership development, base-building, voter engagement, and supporting the Momentum Team in identifying and building campaigns to advocate for change, executing strategies, and mobilizing for action. This Community Organizer position is for the Juvenile Justice Momentum Team campaign focused on Ending Girls Incarceration (EGI), a countywide initiative and youth alternatives to incarceration.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Identify, recruit, motivate, and retain community members including youth and adults with strong leadership qualities through one-on-one meetings, canvassing, phone-banking, texting, community events, voter engagement, and other activities.
• Research campaign targets, develop strategies, conduct power analysis, and assist Momentum Team members in advocating for institutional and social change.
• Develop and structure organizing events.
• Structure, coordinate, and execute campaign actions/events.
• Facilitate leadership development for community members around specific skills related to community organizing, grassroots advocacy and other relevant topics.
• Develop Mid-City CAN Momentum Team goals and objectives in the form of a campaign chart/plan.
• Conduct a quarterly power analysis to inform campaign plans and strategy.
• Create and execute campaign plans, project plans, including timeline, roles, and resources needed, using Mid-City CAN planning tools. Analyze and revise as appropriate to meet changing needs and requirements.
• Deliver custom program materials, modules, and simulations based on the Mid-City CAN tool kit and methodology, as well as training others in their application.
• Design and facilitate community planning processes, meetings, and community capacity building workshops.
• Complete 8 weekly one-on-one meetings and weekly data entry and progress reporting.
• Identify and meet with relevant administrators and public officials to advance campaign goals.
• Track and analyze policy at local, regional, and state level to incorporate into the campaign.
• Attend meetings and collaborate with other nonprofit organizations.
• Attend government meetings and represent Mid-City CAN at various stakeholder groups.
• Complete weekly data entry and progress reporting in a timely manner.
• Overnight travel for training and advocacy required 10% of time.
• Flexible hours, weekend and evening work required 30% of time.
• Integrate voter engagement efforts into organizing campaigns and base-building.
• Routinely conduct neighborhood canvassing, phone-banking, and other recruitment events.
• Attend all staff meetings, staff trainings, and retreats, and incorporate learnings into daily duties.
• Assist with fundraising efforts and board of directors as assigned.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, administrators, and a variety of internal and external stakeholders.
• Conduct presentations and one-on-one consecutive communication accurately in English and second language if bilingual.
• Integrate with civic engagement and voter engagement work, by canvassing, phone/text-banking, lit drops, and events as needed.
• Volunteer to assist with internal staff committees such as; holiday, summer planning, or other staff committees which may be active.
• Other duties as assigned.

Digital Organizing

• Assist community members with digital platforms and internet access as needed.
• Build a digital campaign and execute virtual actions and tactics.
• Maintain campaign presence on Mid-City CAN social media channels and comply with communications standards

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of and experience with advancing institutional change in the juvenile justice system.
• Lived experience with the juvenile justice system and its impacts on girls and gender inclusive youth a plus.
• Associate or bachelor’s degree in community development, youth development, sociology, public policy, social work, community organizing, ethnic studies, or other related field.
• A minimum of 2 years continuous commensurate professional experience with one employer, or more than 2 years commensurate professional experience with multiple employers that demonstrate job commitment and retention.
• Community organizing or leadership training a plus, such as certificates from: Institute for Cultural Affairs, Gamaliel Foundation, PICO National Network, Center for Third World Organizing, Mid-West Academy, RePower, Yo!Cali, or comparable organizations
• Familiar with Community Development, Youth Development, Youth Organizing, Community Organizing Theories, policy development, voter engagement, or political advocacy.
• Bilingual preferred (Spanish, Somali, Iraqi or Levant Arabic Dialects, or Vietnamese).
• Proficiency in basic Microsoft Office tools required; familiarity with Office 365 applications, including Teams, Outlook, OneDrive, SharePoint, Zoom, highly preferred; experience with other technological systems preferred, with the ability to learn new technology systems as needed.
• Ability to read through information and/or reports for comprehension and analyze, summarize, and/or organize information for others.
• Bilingual proficiency in Somali, Vietnamese or other language and a commitment to using bilingual language skills on a routine basis is a plus.
• Possess a passion for social justice that translates to daily interactions.
• Ability to build consensus and effectively manage conflict.
• Ability to perform under pressure in a fast-paced flexible environment and meet deadlines.
• Ability to self-direct, take initiative, and work independently, while also being able to work as part of a team when assigned to do so.
• Exceptional presentation skills, confident speaking skills, follows the appropriate chain of command, and demonstrates effective written communication.
• Ability to work with and maintain positive relationships with diverse constituencies and sensitivity in dealing with diversity issues including race, gender, sexual orientation, economic status.
• Flexibility and ability to adapt to learning new ideas and concepts, responding to changes and last-minute requests.
• Ability to work evenings and / or weekends several times per month.
• Access to reliable transportation and willing to use it for job-related tasks.
• Access to mobile phones and willing to use it for job-related tasks.
• Ability to work in-person (or at home if required by health orders), majority of work is expected to be in-person with hybrid at-home options.
• Commitment to personal professional growth and development.
• Exude professional behavior, standard etiquette, courtesy, mutual respect, confidentiality, and maintain emotional composure.
• Exhibits a high level of integrity, ethics, transparency, leadership style, and trust.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and exude a positive attitude.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and organized work area at all times.

Health and Safety

• Strictly comply with all applicable public health orders and organizational safety protocols.
• Work as part of a team among colleagues to assist with unforeseen health-related projects.
• Conduct work in person as health order allow (PPE provided), majority of work is expected to be in-person with hybrid at-home options.
• Remain flexible in order to adjust to changing safety protocols and health orders as needed.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment: Work is performed in an office or community setting; employee regularly sits at a computer station and operates electronic equipment 6 to 8 hours per day; occasionally lifts, carries, and positions objects weighing up to 20 pounds. Position involves regular use of a computer and keyboard, telephone, and face-to-face communications; employee should be able to communicate clearly and professionally in all of these manners. Position works in community settings, may be standing at event table, and walks neighborhood for several hours on as needed basis. The employee may spend periods of time sitting, standing, or walking. Employee required to work in-person and adhere to health and safety protocols which may require wearing of facial mask covering nose and mouth for several hours and/or gloves or other PPE (provided). If required by health orders, employ may have to work virtually at home requiring use of virtual meeting technology for several hours requiring focus on a computer screen. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Compensation: The annual salary for this mid-career full-time, exempt position is $68,640.00 per year, commensurate with work experience, skills and educational background.

To Apply: Please submit your resume and cover letter for this position through our career page.

Mid-City CAN provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, gender, sex, gender identity or expression, age, medical condition, sexual orientation, marital status, citizenship, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, military status, caregiver status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.