Community Organizer

The Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment is seeking a Community Organizer in Delano, CA. This role involves planning and implementing campaigns to promote environmental justice in low-income communities. Responsibilities include community engagement, leadership development, and collaboration with various stakeholders. The position requires a commitment to social and racial justice and involves direct interaction with local communities and organizations.
This job on-site at the office and in the surrounding communities.

Overview

CRPE is a non-profit environmental justice organization based in Delano, California. Our mission is to achieve environmental justice and healthy sustainable communities through collective action and law. We provide legal and technical assistance to the grassroots movement for environmental justice. We combine community organizing, legal representation, policy advocacy and coalition building to help build healthy sustainable communities in low-income communities and communities of color. CRPE strongly believes in the maxim that communities should speak for themselves, and that advocates for environmental justice should be on tap, not on top. Our staff shares a deep commitment to social and racial justice.

Community Organizers are responsible for developing, planning, implementing, and coordinating campaigns and programs. By working in communities and increasing their leadership to engage in campaigns and programs, Community Organizers help identify environmental impacts, build the organization’s base, increase the visibility of issues and support communities’ actions around the issues.

Responsibilities
• Mission Leadership
• Ensure CRPE carries out its mission, vision, goals and core values
• Represent CRPE externally to funders, donors, community leaders, partnering organizations, affiliated boards and committees and at conferences and convenings
• Develop and maintain positive and dependable relationships with:
• Environmental and social justice organizations
• Individuals including labor officials, politicians, religious leaders, community leaders, and individuals associated with CRPE’s work
• Media
• Communities CRPE’s organizing work is focused on
• Residents and community groups who are interested in EJ but not part of community committees.
• Program Leadership and Coordination
• Implement CRPE’s work plans in collaboration with other staff
• Develop and implement campaigns and programs in communities
• Build CRPEs base of community leaders
• Identify, develop and train community leaders
• Host and facilitate regular meetings with community members and leaders to increase their capacity to take action on issues impacting their communities
• Identify and leverage community environmental justice issues
• Develop and implement workplans with community leaders
• Assist in the formation of community-run projects
• Conduct personal visits and employ organizing tactics
• Identify potential allies
• Collaborate with community residents, allies and agencies
• Work with and participate in coalitions advancing similar goals
• Lead campaigns for progressive environmental justice and health policy issues and system change at local, regional and state
• Provide policy analysis
• Generate educational and training materials
• Provide testimony at regulatory and policy hearings related to environmental health and justice.
• Supporting Development & Communications
• Attend and represent the organization at pecial and fundraising events
• Participate in grant reporting to ensure continued funding
• Contribute content such as campaign updates/pictures for social media and newsletters
• When needed, participate in newspaper, television, or radio interviews

Qualifications
• * BA or equivalent life experience
• 3-5 years of community organizing experience
• Experience working with coalitions
• Planning experience preferred
• Moderate computer skills required
• Microsoft Office 365 software familiarity
• Fluent in Spanish and English, speaking, reading and writing preferred
• Valid Driver’s License required

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities.
• Moderate to extensive travel within the San Joaquin Valley
• Noise level in the workplace is usually quiet
• Ability and willingness to work irregular hours

CRPE is an equal opportunity employer; people of color, women, LGBTIQ people, and intersectional candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.