Westchester Organizer

Make the Road New York (MRNY) builds the power of immigrant and working-class communities to achieve dignity and justice through organizing, policy innovation, transformative education, and survival services. Make the Road New York operates community centers in Bushwick, Brooklyn; Jackson Heights, Queens; Port Richmond, Staten Island; Brentwood, Long Island and White Plains, Westchester County. With a membership of 27,000, MRNY tackles the critical issues facing our communities, including workplace justice, tenants’ rights, immigrant rights and civil rights, TGNCIQ justice, public education, health care access, and immigration reform. (TGNCIQ = transgender, gender non-conforming, intersex and queer). MRNY is a newly unionized workplace, currently negotiating its first Collective Bargaining Agreement.

MRNY is a multi-service organization. Our member-led organizing committees -- which work on the issues named above -- implement strategies to combat shared problems, and develop leadership and the capacity for civic participation. We also provide an array of high-quality bilingual services: We offer English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Spanish-language literacy, computer literacy, citizenship preparation, and in-school and after-school youth programs. We have a robust legal program that offers direct representation across a spectrum of practice areas, including employment law, immigration law, housing and benefits, and TGNCIQ civil rights; we also take on impact litigation as a strategy for achieving broad change. Our health program offers facilitated enrollment into health insurance programs and SNAP benefits, a community health worker home visit program, nutrition education and emergency food pantries, health care navigation, and more."

Current Opening:

The work of the Westchester County Organizer is to build a strong base of community members and leaders in Westchester County. The organizer will also engage members in leadership development and organizing around various issues at the local, state and federal level. In collaboration with the Housing and Environmental Justice Lead Organizer the Westchester County Organizer will support the growth of the base and nurture the leadership of our members to advance local, statewide and federal campaigns. The organizer will conduct outreach in the community to build an organizing committee, identify key issues that community members care about and recruit them to become members of MRNY.

Key Responsibilities but not limited to:

• Build our base for power by engaging low-income New Yorkers who commit to work together on the issues affecting our communities.
• Move our base to action to advance campaigns that positively impact people’s lives
• Develop the skills & consciousness of our base to strengthen the roots of our democracy
• Support and move campaigns that positively affect our members’ lives and build strong alliances to leverage MRNY’s power
• Create an effective and collaborative work environment that supports innovation and excellence while creating community support
• Ensure the success of bi-weekly committee meetings (including outreach, creation of and effective facilitation of meeting agendas, logistics coordination, etc.)
• Ensure the success of monthly leadership team meetings (including but not limited to: outreach, creation and facilitation of agenda, logistics coordination, etc.)
• Meet organizing outreach, mobilization, and engagement targets set by the organizing team leadership and that correspond with skills and years of experience. Engage community members in organizing efforts around immigration, education, community safety, LGBTQ rights, housing and environmental justice, workplace justice and more
• Participate in staff meetings, monthly organizing team meetings and community learning hour
• Support the electoral work of the organization and the affiliated C4 as assigned

Requirements:

• Eligible to work in the US
• Fluency in Spanish required; bilingual English / Spanish preferred
• Be fully vaccinated with FDA approved COVID-19 vaccine prior to first day of employment
• Have at least 2 years of experience of community organizing, labor organizing, and/or have familiarity with current MRNY community issues
• Proficiency in basic computer programs (Google Suite, Zoom, Salesforce)
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in multicultural spaces
• Demonstrated commitment to developing and elevating member leadership
• Be able to work some evenings and weekends
• Must have a driver’s license, comfort driving a vehicle that carries up to 7 passengers, and access to a reliable car; willingness to on occasion drive a 15-passenger van; and
• As needed, be able to travel via public transportation and drive to events, oftentimes driving members, throughout NYC, NYS and to and from Washington DC.

Job Competencies:

• Strong analytical skills and writing skills;
• Strong content creation skills;
• Strong teamwork and management skills;
• Strong time management skills;
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills;
• Strong problem solving skills;
• Ability to adapt to the context and work under pressure
• High level of accountability and initiative; needs to be a self-starter and eager to do team work to support the organization as a whole

Salary and Benefits:

MRNY offers an excellent benefit package including health insurance, 401K, and generous paid vacation, sick, personal days. The salary range for this position is from $50,591 to $77,312.

How to Apply:

Please attach your resume and cover letter and submit all documents to the Make the Road New York career center.

Make the Road believes that social change is best achieved through grassroots community-based organizing that flows directly from and engages the community demanding the change. As a membership-based organization, we are committed to providing equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, criminal history, or Veteran status. We strongly encourage those from historically excluded groups to apply.