[COMM-ORG] job: organizer, Washington DC, no salary info

[Discussion list for COMM-ORG]

From: "Parisa Norouzi" <parisa at empowerdc.org>


Community Organizer: Early Childhood/Child Care Issues

Organization Name: Empower DC
Website: www.empowerdc.org
Location: 1419 V St, NW Washington, DC 20009
Job Terms: possible Full or Part Time
Salary: based on experience

Benefits: Medical and Dental coverage for full time staff
Anticipated Start Date: Monday August 1, 2009

Duration: Through Dec 31 2009 with possibility of extension (based on 
funding)

Schedule: to be determined

Job Description

Empower DC is seeking an Organizer to lead our grassroots advocacy 
campaign to secure quality, affordable Early Childhood Education (ECE) 
and child care for low-income families in the District of Columbia. The 
Organizer will work to expand Empower DC’s ECE and child care 
organizing, building upon the successes of the Child Care for All 
Campaign, which in 2006 won an over $20 million increase in funding, 
ending the waiting list for Child Care Vouchers. The Organizer will 
conduct outreach and recruit impacted residents to participate in 
advocacy work. The Organizer will build the leadership skills of 
participants so that they are able to engage in sustained, effective 
self-advocacy and represent the needs of low-income DC families in the 
high-level policy arenas where ECE and child care policy making occurs.

The goal of this project is to expand and improve access to quality, 
affordable and appropriate Early Childhood Education and child care for 
all low-income families, including those who have children with special 
needs, by securing support from government officials, generating policy 
change and obtaining increased funding for the Child Care Subsidy 
Program and related initiatives.

Responsibilities include:

· Develop leadership amongst impacted residents and increase 
participation in the Child Care for All Campaign

· Develop the capacity of members to serve as watch dogs, participating 
on an ongoing, regular basis in meetings, forums and committees relevant 
to ECE and child care in DC

· Create educational materials that highlight who is responsible for ECE 
and child care in DC and how people can advocate effectively for these 
services

· Conduct outreach and recruit impacted individuals to participate in 
advocacy activities

· Meet regularly with partners, allies and leaders

· Identify the individuals, agencies, commissions and other bodies 
responsible for and/or impacting Early Childhood Education and child 
care in DC

· Organize trainings and forums to educate the broader community about 
ECE and child care in DC

· Working with members and allies, develop an Early Childhood Education 
advocacy agenda

· Organize city council and city agency meetings with Empower DC Members 
to advocate on issues of importance to the campaign.

· Assist with administrative duties including maintaining contact database

· Assist with growing the membership of Empower DC

· Participate in Empower DC’s Quarterly Membership Meetings, Board 
Meetings, and other activities as necessary

Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

· Minimum 2 years organizing or advocacy experience (volunteer 
experience acceptable) including experience building the leadership of 
community members

· Knowledge of and familiarity with the District of Columbia

· Strong interest in and commitment to community organizing and social, 
economic and racial justice

· Ability to effectively communicate, both in writing and verbally, 
relaying complicated information in a user-friendly manner

· Strong organizational skills, including the ability to work 
independently and manage own projects

· Basic computer competency for word processing and data management

· Must have a flexible schedule to accommodate some weekend and evening 
hours



Other Desired Qualities (not mandatory)

* Background in early childhood education and/or policy
* Fluency in Spanish
* Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field
* Women and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply

Organization Description

Empower DC is a grassroots, membership-based organizing project. Empower 
DC’s mission is to enhance, improve and promote the self-advocacy of low 
and moderate income DC residents in order to bring about sustained 
improvements in their quality of life. Empower DC’s membership has 
identified affordable housing, early childhood education and saving 
public property as our top three current priorities. Empower DC 
currently has a staff of two, and an active Board of Directors who 
collaboratively lead the organization. The new Organizer will report 
directly to the Director of the organization.

How to Apply

Please send a cover letter, résumé, and the names and contact 
information for three references to Parisa Norouzi, Director at 
parisa at empowerdc.org or by fax, 202-234-6655, by July 17, 2009. No phone 
calls please.



Parisa B. Norouzi
Co-Director/Organizer
District of Columbia Grassroots Empowerment Project
(Empower DC)
1419 V St, NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 234-9119