Community Organizer (Harm Reduction & Drug Policy Reform)

About VOCAL-NY

Founded in 1999, Voices Of Community Activists & Leaders (VOCAL-NY) is a statewide grassroots membership organization that builds power among low-income people affected by HIV/AIDS, the drug war, mass incarceration, and homelessness in order to create healthy and just communities. We accomplish this through community organizing, leadership development, advocacy, direct services, participatory research and direct action.

At VOCAL-NY we fight for systemic change rooted in justice, compassion, and love. We approach this work with a firm belief in reducing harm and ending stigma, and the knowledge that the issues impacting our communities are driven by institutional oppression, not personal failings. Our campaigns and services have saved or improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers across the state.

​​Position Description

The Community Organizer will focus primarily on base building and community outreach, leadership development, and mobilizing of people directly impacted by the war on drugs, including active and former drug users. The Community Organizer will work to build VOCAL-NY’s Users Union membership in New York City, as well as assist with communications, coalition building, and other work to win VOCAL-NY city and statewide campaigns.

Job Responsibilities

• Membership Recruitment: Conduct “base building” and achieve targeted recruitment goals through regular community outreach, this includes street-based outreach and outreach at transitional housing facilities, shelters, methadone and harm reduction programs, re-entry programs, HIV service providers and other venues as directed.
• Phone-banking and Membership Mobilization: Conduct regular “phone-banking” to engage and mobilize people to attend meetings, actions, and events.
• Data-entry: Record and input accurate & timely data into our community organizing database.
• Support meetings, events, and mobilizations: Support the logistical & programmatic needs of membership & leadership meetings, organizational events, actions, and mobilizations.
• Leadership Development: Conduct training & political education to build the knowledge and skills of VOCAL-NY’s membership base to participate in planning and policymaking that impacts their lives.
• Support Other VOCAL-NY Campaigns and Coalition work: The position will be expected to periodically provide support for other community organizing and campaign work within VOCAL-NY. We have a highly collaborative office environment where staff members provide support for each other’s campaigns as needed.

Job Requirements

The ideal candidate will be an energetic, self-motivated individual who has strong interpersonal, public speaking, writing, and problem solving skills. Candidates must demonstrate interest in HIV/AIDS, drug policy, homelessness, and/or criminal justice reform and a willingness to approach these issues through a racial justice analysis. A deep commitment to social justice is required.

The ideal candidate will have:

• At least 2 years of community organizing, advocacy, or related experience.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, implement, and coordinate successful community outreach and public education campaigns.
• Experience facilitating meetings and trainings.
• A strong commitment to teamwork and to working with and promoting the leadership of people directly affected by the issues we work on.
• Willingness to work in a dynamic environment with sometimes unpredictable tasks and shifting assignments.
• Ability to take initiative and drive one’s own work is a must.
• Ability to receive, process, and incorporate constructive feedback with openness and professionalism.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• A deep commitment to VOCAL-NY's mission.
• Proficiency with common business software (e.g. MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Gmail).

This is a full-time, in-person role based at VOCAL-NY’s Brooklyn, NY office.

The position will require regular travel across New York City, and occasional travel to Albany, including overnight travel, as well as occasional attendance at evening and weekend meetings and events.

This position reports to the Director of Drug Policy.