JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: Educational Justice Organizer
EDUCATIONAL JUSTICE ORGANIZER (FULL TIME)
Join a multi-generational, social justice organizing center in NYC. DRUM is seeking an experienced, full-time Educational Justice Organizer to build the leadership of low-income South Asian youth in social change. We value proven experience, movement building vision, attention to detail, and a collaborative work ethic. Founded in 2000, our mission is to build the power of low-income South Asian immigrant worker communities to impact policy change. Desi means South Asian or people from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Guyana, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Trinidad. DRUM’s program areas are: the South Asian Workers Center, the Racial & Immigrant Justice program, YouthPower!, and the Global Justice program.
Responsibilities:
- Base Building- Help conduct weekly outreach to recruit South Asian youth impacted by immigration and school issues; Oversee strategic outreach with Youth Outreach Worker and Adult Organizer, including parent recruitment; Track membership in database
- Leadership Development-
♦ Facilitate and prep youth to run monthly youth membership meetings
♦ Develop curriculum and run workshops for youth on education policy, immigration, social
movements, race, class and gender analysis, and community organizing skills
♦ Develop youth leaders, especially those affected by school push-out, immigration issues, and/or discriminatory policing to play lead roles in campaigns, including policy meetings with the Department of Education and school officials
♦ Prep youth leaders to facilitate meetings, represent in coalition work, do media interviews, speak at press conferences, and mobilize youth actions
o Run and develop the Youth Leaders Team monthly meetings, roles, and decision making; Work with staff to hold annual Leadership Retreat
♦ Help coordinate the “Alumni Leadership Pipeline” by hosting youth alumni re-engagement events, supporting alumni with internships, scholarships, college recommendations, etc.
- Campaign Development:
♦ Build movements to end the School to Prison Pipeline and racial profiling by mobilizing youth participation in the Dignity in Schools Campaign (DSC), Alliance for Educational Justice (AEJ), and Communities united for Police Reform (CPR)
♦ Facilitate youth members to represent DRUM in DSC-NY Chapter monthly membership meetings and ongoing campaign to reform the NYC School Discipline Code to reduce suspensions and allocate 1% of school policing budget to funding restorative justice programs citywide.
♦ Support youth to help implement the Community Safety Act with allies across the city
♦ Develop youth members to participate in monthly DSC and AEJ national calls and campaign work to advance the Model Code and national Moratorium on Suspensions campaigns
♦ Facilitate youth leaders to participate in national meetings, annual “Days at the Capitol” in Washington DC, and actions; Travel 7-8 times a year, including some weekends
- Immigrant Youth Organizing:
♦ Support the DACA Organizer to run monthly DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) Legal Clinics with partner attorneys
♦ Develop undocumented youth in lead roles for immigrant rights including the United We DREAM coalition
- Represent in the Student Safety Coalition with legal advocates and community groups to pass a new Memorandum of Understanding between the DOE and NYPD on the role of School Safety Officers
- Represent in the ELL (English Language Learner) Collaborative along with Adult Organizer to advocate for NYC DOE allocation of funding and resources to improve services to immigrant families in school
Organizational:
- Report to the Executive Director weekly; report to Board Members biannually
- Assist with annual fundraising goals including grassroots raising and drafting grant reports
- Help plan annual DRUM events (planning retreats, assembly, actions)
- Position requires 50+ hour work weeks
Qualifications:
- At least 2 years proven experience with youth or membership organizing and/or youth development
- Knowledge of youth and educational justice organizing, school to prison pipeline issues
- Excellent planning, writing, and communication skills
- Commitment to immigrant rights, racial justice, workers’ rights, LGBTQ rights, gender rights, and global justice
- Well-organized and able to manage multiple deadlines and details efficiently
- Ability to work independently and with supervision as well as being an enthusiastic team player
- Computer proficiency, including Microsoft Word and ability to make outreach materials
Compensation:
Starting salary is highly competitive and commensurate with experience. A very competitive benefits package including medical, dental, eye-care, and generous annual sick days/vacation days package upon completion of probationary period.
Interested applicants should forward:
- Cover letter, Resume, Writing sample (1-3 pages), and Three references
Email to apply@drumnyc.org or fax to: Monami Maulik, Fax (718) 205-3037
Low-income people, people of color, and women strongly encouraged to apply. DRUM is an equal opportunity employer.