FAMILY ORGANIZER JOB DESCRIPTION

Are you passionate about building Black and Brown parent and youth power to ensure that historically underserved students in Oakland have access to a high-quality public education? Join us as a family organizer to find, train and coach parent and youth leaders so they can advocate effectively for access to high-quality public schools. 

ABOUT FAMILIES IN ACTION FOR QUALITY EDUCATION (FIA OAKLAND) 

In response to escalating, politically driven losses related to charter renewals, facilities and equitable access to resources, Oakland charter school communities came together to form a historic coalition in March, 2019. The Families in Action for Quality Education coalition (FIA Oakland) unites diverse school communities representing nearly 17,000 students to build leadership, influence and political power to reposition charter families, youth and stakeholders as influential city-wide leaders. FIA leaders have made a collective commitment to break out of isolation and act collectively in order to build political power to protect and increase access to high quality schools.  In addition to organizing, FIA has a robust and creative approach to new media, hosting online podcasts, awards shows and digital media that  amplify our mission. FIA Oakland was founded with the support of key community partners - Innovate Public Schools, Great School Voices and Energy Convertors - to provide expertise in three program areas: family organizing, communications and youth organizing. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

This is a full-time / exempt position. FIA is a hybrid work organization, with 2-3 office days and 2-3 remote work days per week, plus some in-person evening events from time to time.  

In this role, you will report to the FIA Chief of Staff and receive coaching from Innovate’s organizing team in order to:

• Recruit, train and lead a core set of parent/community leaders to develop school-based parent-led organizing teams to empower parents, youth and teachers to act in the public arena to promote and defend their interests and values. 

• Use 1:1 meetings to build relationships and identify parent/community leaders. Use a variety of outreach methods to recruit  leaders and allies through 1:1 meetings, door-to-door canvassing, house visits and house meetings.

• Develop the knowledge and skill of parent leaders in the data, Oakland public education landscape,  principles and practices of community organizing.  

• Develop, lead and manage a variety of education issue campaigns and community collaborations.

• Create and maintain outreach and organizing project plans, communication systems, databases and work plans.

Additional skills, duties and responsibilities:

• Plan and coordinate various outreach and parent organizing meetings in order to build effective, ongoing organizations and to maintain the involvement of grassroots leaders.

• Support the development of campaign strategy and work plans to achieve campaign goals.

• Build strong coalition relationships among diverse groups of organizational stakeholders and neighborhood leaders.

• Coordinate new media, apps and social media organizing including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Canvasser, blogs and email outreach to enhance the on-the-ground work.

• Organize participation in community meetings, public events and demonstrations, voter education and mobilization initiatives, and other forms of civic engagement.

• Support the development of organizing materials including talking points, marketing collateral, flyers, fact sheets, etc.

• Develop and manage relationships with a broad base of constituents from targeted communities (including community based institutions, public officials, local government agencies, social service agencies, teachers and school leaders), and build their support for education reform efforts.

• Perform other duties as required to support the work of the organization as a whole

YOUR RESOURCES:

• Extensive training in community organizing through participation in a year-long Community Organizer Training Program (COTP)  

• Membership in a national cohort community of organizers through the COTP, with the opportunity to learn from and share with others in your field

• Weekly coaching and development from our organizing team members

We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits package. Annual salary range begins at $50,000 and is dependent on the candidate’s experience. 

SAMPLE “WEEK IN THE LIFE” OF AN ORGANIZER

• Meet 1-1 with 8-10 of your parent leaders to strategize about the next steps in your campaign to expand educational options in the district

• Meet 1:1 with 4-5 potential new leaders in order to understand their self-interest and share the mission and vision of FIA. 

• Prepare and then support your team of 15-20 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 FIA Communications and Stakeholder workgroups  to plan a powerful presentation for a local school. 

• 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 the 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

YOUR QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

• Familiarity with Oakland politics

• Familiarity with the historical & root causes of educational disparities in the United States (ie., racism, systemic issues to maintain white privilege and power)

• Work experience in low-income communities

• 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 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 engage in 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

• Highly-organized and able to manage multiple priorities

Preferred:

• Experience working effectively in African American and/or Latino communities

• Proficiency in Spanish (preferred, not required)

• Two to five years of professional community organizing or community development experience

• Understanding of the public education reform landscape

• Academic or experiential knowledge related to building political power in low-income and multilingual communities

• Skills as a trainer with knowledge in grassroots leadership development, political context, public policy development, and/or public education

• Experience developing and supporting public policy solutions to local or regional problems

WORK ENVIRONMENT / PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work environment characteristics and the physical demands described here are representative of those an employee encounters while successfully performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the 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 10 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.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by the person in this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills. We are an equal opportunity employer.