Michigan United Posted Positions: Detroit Criminal Justice Reform Organizer, Caring Majority Organizer, Movement Politics Organizer, and Legislative Coordinator
Frances Barber
April 2019 Job Openings:
-Caring Majority Organizer
-Movement Politics Organizer
-Legislative Coordinator
-Criminal Justice Reform Organizer
Organization Background:
Michigan United is a statewide organization of community members and institutions fighting for economic and racial justice. We use the tools of community organizing, leadership training, advocacy, media work, and civic engagement to run strategic campaigns that win real change. We're committed to winning a better world for all of our communities, not just the privileged.
We are the largest community organizing group in the state, with offices in Detroit, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids and Flint. We represent 100 member community organizations.
Michigan United organizes along the following issue areas: immigrants’ rights, criminal justice reform, environmental justice, universal family care (including health, child care, elder care and paid sick time) and civic engagement. We work to building the capacity of community members who are directly impacted these issues to lead and win concrete reforms that will change their own lives and shift the balance of power in our state.
Michigan United, along with Michigan People’s Campaign, our affiliated 501(c)(4), is serious about building long-term, political power with the aim of transforming our political and economic system into one that puts people and the planet first.
As a racial and economic justice organization, we actively encourage individuals who are underrepresented on the basis of race, ethnicity, income and sexual orientation, as well as those who share the life experiences of the members we serve, to apply.
What it takes to be successful at Michigan United
Michigan United is a highly dynamic workplace. The following qualities are important for success:
-Being able to balance multiple projects. Staff are typically working on their own campaigns, as well as shared projects amongst the team. You need to be able to manage your time and priorities.
-Taking initiative and asking for help. Your supervisor will not be looking over your shoulder every day. You will need to take initiative on moving projects forward and getting work done. You should also be proactive about asking for help or resources when you're not sure how to make progress.
-Working on a diverse team. Michigan United is an incredibly diverse workplace with staff members and volunteers from all walks of life. To be successful, you will have to be comfortable working across difference and be open to learning from others.
-Being creative & opportunistic. We're always looking for new, innovative ways to change the world, as well as opportunities to be seized. You will need to be fast, flexible, and able to recognize when opportune moments appear.
-Being clear about your values and your theory of change. We are working toward a world shaped by economic and racial justice. We believe that we can achieve that through building a strong organization and leaders, winning campaigns, and changing laws and policies. Civic engagement, voter work, and developing governing power are critical to this formula. It's a long road with both setbacks and victories. There are other theories of change and important priorities, but these are ours. You'll have a hard time here if you fundamentally believe in a different way of going about social change or if your passion is for other sorts of issues.
-A team attitude. We're always working together on teams-- program teams, project teams, event teams, and campaign teams. Success here is both individual and collective.
-Curiosity and relationality. Fundamentally, organizing is about building relationships based on shared values. Success here requires building authentic relationships with other staff, our members, allies, and the public. You should be truly interested in other people's lives and experiences, and gain energy from building new relationships.
-Follow through and accountability. If we're going to win the justice our communities deserve, we have to deliver. That means keeping our commitments, getting our work done well, and being accountable to our team. We owe it to the people we serve.
Movement Politics Organizer
Classification: Full time, salaried, exempt, organizer 2 level.
Movement Politics is an innovative way of looking at elections as opportunities to build people power and dramatically transform our economic and political system. Reporting to the Director of Movement Politics, the Movement Politics Organizer will work with our leaders and organizers across the state to build our leadership development program and help design as well as implement our 2019/2020 election strategy.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Build teams of volunteers who will take action in electoral work and issue campaigns.
Recruit prospective future candidates and campaign managers into our leadership development program.
Regularly play a role as a trainer in movement politics trainings.
Work with the Director of Movement Politics and Executive Director to develop our plan for municipal elections in 2019 and the general election in 2020.
Help prepare our statewide process to engage in the presidential election.
Work with other Michigan United community organizers to integrate civic engagement strategies into their campaigns.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Passion for our issues and vision of a more just world.
Skilled project manager.
Serious about achieving quantitative and qualitative goals.
Passionate for developing the leadership of volunteer leaders.
Knowledge of (or willing to learn) principles of community organizing and advocacy strategies.
Ability to perform with a high degree of skill in a fast-paced work environment.
Excellent judgment in internal and external communication and in managing internal and external relationships.
Highly organized and deadline-oriented.
Familiarity with database management, data reporting systems and computer programs (Microsoft, Excel, PowerPoint, and Google Docs).
Previous Life and/or Educational Experiences (* notes which are preferred, but not required):
1-2 years of paid or volunteer electoral or community organizing experience.*
Working Conditions:
Office & field environment with moderate amounts of standing, walking, climbing stairs, ability to lift 25 lbs.
Normal business hours, some additional hours required with frequent Saturday activities.
This position is based in Detroit.
Compensation:
Pay: $40,000 annually, plus benefits.
Benefits: Health care, Health savings account, generous paid time off, two-month paid sabbatical after 4 years of service, phone and travel stipends.
Application Details:
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis but those accepted by May 1st, 2019 will be prioritized.
Submit resume, statement of interest with the names and contact information of three references (at least two references must be work related, one may be personal).
Please submit all application materials to: res...@miunited.org.
Legislative Coordinator
Classification: Full-time, salaried, exempt, program director level
The role of the Legislative Coordinator is to enhance the ability of our membership to advance our priority issues at the Capitol. We have new leadership in Lansing, and we are advancing a bold agenda to improve the lives of those who've been marginalized by our politics. We need to seize the initiative in the Capitol, and make sure that people, not just corporations and the 1%, have a strong, consistent voice on legislation.
Michigan United is a grassroots organization, with a strong value placed on involving community members in debates about the issues that affect their lives. Accordingly, the job of the Legislative Coordinator is to act less as a “gatekeeper” or lobbyist, and more as a “gate-opener,” who will help facilitate greater and more strategic impact by our members.
Priority issue areas include:
-Immigrants rights, including ending warrantless Michigan State Police collaboration with ICE and Border Patrol, as well as increasing immigrant access to health care and ID's.
-Health care and elder care, including creating a next-generation social safety net for seniors in need of long-term care.
-Criminal justice reform, including reducing overall sentence lengths, and increasing employment opportunities for returning citizens (ex-offenders).
-Environmental justice, including reducing the impact of point source pollution on low-income communities.
Duties include:
-Work with program leads to implement legislative plans and create opportunities for Michigan United members to advance our agenda.
-Organize meetings, briefings, and community events with legislators.
-Prepare members to meet with legislators and testify at hearings
-Track legislation
-Write legislative analyses for our membership
-Train our members and staff on the legislative process
-Work with organizing staff and members to develop legislation
-Draft regular action alerts and newsletter updates on specific legislation
-Work with Michigan United-aligned legislators to develop a strong caucus
-Ensure that the voice of Michigan United is present and taken account of in key debates
Relevant Experience and Qualifications:
3+ years experience in political, labor, or community organizing
Knowledge of the legislative process and key players in Lansing
Ability to communicate complex issues clearly to a broad audience
Ability to balance multiple projects and priorities
Ability to travel as needed across the state
Fluency with modern office software
Strong written and oral communications skills
Passionate commitment to progressive values
Compensation:
Pay: $50,000 annually, plus benefits.
Benefits: Health care, Health savings account, generous paid time off, two-month paid sabbatical after 4 years of service, phone and travel stipends.
Working Conditions:
Office environment with moderate amounts of standing, walking, climbing stairs, ability to lift 25 lbs.
Normal business hours, some additional evening hours required with some Saturday activities.
This position can be based in our Detroit or Kalamazoo offices, with regular travel to Lansing.
The position can also be based in Lansing from a home office, with frequent travel to our offices throughout the state.
Application Details:
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis but those accepted by May 1, 2019 will be prioritized.
Submit resume, statement of interest with the names and contact information of three references (at least two references must be work related, one may be personal).
Please submit all application materials to: res...@miunited.org.
Caring Majority Organizer
Job Summary: To develop a strong, active, multi-racial base of individual leaders to organize and build the Caring Majority campaign.
Job Classification: Full Time, Exempt, organizer 2 level
Michigan United is working to win a next generation safety net for our elders and those with disabilities. Long-term care is a massively growing need in our country, and most families simply have no way to pay for this enormous expense. The cost of long-term care is bankrupting those who need care, as well as their children and families. The only safety program is Medicaid, which requires that patients spend all of their life's savings to qualify. That's not right.
We're all going to get older and need help. We should be able to provide safety net social programs to support this common need. Dignified long-term care shouldn't just be a privilege for those who can afford it.
The Caring Majority Organizer will organize families, caregivers, and communities that are impacted by these issues, build public support for a long-term care safety net, and ensure politicians are enacting just long-term care policies.
Duties include:
-Identify and recruit people most impacted by long-term care (caregivers, direct care workers, people with disabilities) to join the campaign
-Provide leadership development opportunities for campaign volunteers to increase their capacity to work for change
-Organize 1-1 recruitment meetings, door knocking, phone banks, presentations, house parties, and other outreach efforts;
-Develop, staff and provide support for the Caring Majority Steering Committee and Caring Majority Legislative Caucus;
-Develop and carry out tactics such as town hall meetings, direct actions, press events, and letter to the editor campaign. Manage logistical details, materials development and preparation of volunteers for the above;
-Support the growth and stability of Michigan United by bringing in new members, supporting membership dues drives, contributing to fundraising events, and foundation applications;
-Work closely with Michigan United organizing staff to develop, refine and further the goals and policy platform of the Caring Majority campaign;
-Stay current on issues vital to seniors, family caregivers, direct care workers the political and community landscape, and other matters that affect the ability of Michigan United to fulfill its mission, goals and objectives; and
-Take initiative and responsibility, as appropriate, to ensure the day-to-day optimal functioning of Michigan United and the Caring Majority campaign.
Minimum Requirements:
Two (2) or more years of experience in community organizing, with experience in grassroots leadership development preferred;
Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
Ability to motivate diverse groups of people and work well as a team member;
Self-direction and self-motivation, and ability to work collaboratively and independently;
Ability to build and maintain constructive, positive relationships;
Strong commitment to social, racial and economic justice;
Self-motivation and creative in problem solving;
Literate in common computer applications;
Ability to handle multiple job tasks and to meet deadlines;
Commitment to leadership development of leaders and members;
Ability to travel and to work flexible hours including weekends and evenings;
Ability to drive and a vehicle are necessary.
Compensation:
Pay: $40,000 annually, plus benefits.
Benefits: Health care, Health savings account, generous paid time off, two-month paid sabbatical after 4 years of service, phone and travel stipends.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis but those accepted by May 1st, 2019 will be prioritized.
Submit resume, statement of interest with the names and contact information of three references (at least two references must be work related, one may be personal).
Please submit all application materials to: res...@miunited.org.
Detroit Criminal Justice Reform Organizer
Job Summary: To develop a strong, active, multi-racial base of institutional leaders to organize for criminal justice reform in the Detroit area.
Job Classification: Full Time, Exempt, organizer 1 level
Our criminal justice system is profoundly unjust and discriminatory. Too many people, primarily people of color, go to prison for too long, with too few resources available upon release. Once someone has a criminal record, it is difficult to get a job or decent housing. As a result, many returning citizens (ex-offenders) end up in a cycle of recidivism. The entirety of the system needs wholesale reform. Policing needs to be accountable and humane. Prosecutors should prioritize diversion programs and restorative justice rather than exacting maximum penalties. Sentences should be shorter, and education and job training programs should be available.
That’s Michigan United is working to organize community leaders, faith institutions, and people directly impacted by incarceration to win major new reforms at the state and local levels.
The Detroit Criminal Justice Reform organizer will work with our statewide criminal justice team to develop and implement grassroots campaigns to transform our criminal justice system. This role will primarily work with community institutions in the Detroit area, especially faith-based organizations and groups that support the formerly incarcerated.
Duties will include:
-Educating the public and potential partners about criminal justice reform
-Recruiting new institutions to join the campaign and Michigan United
-Recruiting participants to take part in Michigan United's overall training and power-building program
-Working the the department director to develop strategy
-Organizing public events, such as press conferences and town hall meetings
-Organizing legislative events, such as meetings with legislators and public hearings
Minimum Requirements:
Familiarity with community or political organizing, with experience in grassroots leadership development preferred;
Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
Ability to motivate diverse groups of people and work well as a team member;
Knowledge of Detroit-area community organizations and faith institutions;
Self-direction and self-motivation, and ability to work collaboratively and independently;
Ability to build and maintain constructive, positive relationships;
Strong commitment to social, racial and economic justice;
Self-motivation and creative in problem solving;
Literate in common computer applications;
Ability to handle multiple job tasks and to meet deadlines;
Commitment to leadership development of leaders and members;
Ability to travel and to work flexible hours including weekends and evenings;
Ability to drive and a vehicle are necessary.
Pay range is $30,000 - $35,000, depending on experience.
Benefits: Health care, health savings account, generous paid time off, two-month paid sabbatical after 4 years of service, phone and travel stipends.
Working Conditions:
Office environment with moderate amounts of standing, walking, climbing stairs, ability to lift 25 lbs.
Normal business hours, some additional evening hours required with regular Saturday and Sunday activities.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis but those accepted by May 1st, 2019 will be prioritized.
Submit resume, statement of interest with the names and contact information of three references (at least two references must be work related, one may be personal).
Please submit all application materials to: res...@miunited.org.