Community Organizer - I

CASA & CASA IN ACTION SYNOPSIS:

CASA’s mission to create a more just society by building power and improving the quality of life in working-class: Black, Latino/a/e, Afro-descendent, Indigenous, and Immigrant Communities. Our vision is rooted in the collective power of our community, our inclusive, permanent, member-led movement radically transforms communities and systems to ensure the needs, dreams, and aspirations of members are fully met as we strive for justice and full liberation at home and in solidarity with others across the world. CASA has a sister organization, CASA in Action, a separate, but related, nonprofit organization that is exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code. Although CASA and CASA in Action share a common goal of supporting immigrants and low-income people in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, they are separate organizations with their own board of directors. A set of employees at the two organizations, including the person filling this position, shares their time between the two organizations. This has no effect on salary or benefits.

DEPARTMENT SYNOPSIS:

The Community Organizing Department identifies trains, mobilizes community members to create long-term improvements in their neighborhoods, jobs, and lives through collective direct action, and voter education and mobilization.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Community Organizer identifies and fosters grassroots leadership; recruits members into the organization; maintains own committee(s) and conducts local meetings; mobilizes members for actions, and performs a variety of other tasks to build grassroots power.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• One-on-One grassroots outreach in the field
• Identify and develop local leaders to get involved in organizing campaigns through in-depth one-on-ones, and provide ongoing leadership development training and opportunities in conjunction with the Lead Organizer.
• Organize and maintain local committees and hold regular meetings.
• Ensure active involvement of members in state and national campaigns through regular mobilization and other means.
• Facilitate organizational meetings, events, and training participation.
• Represent and facilitate leaders in representing CASA when necessary before the media, legislative bodies and legislators, community meetings, coalitions, and funders.
• Interpret for community members when necessary to facilitate their involvement in the campaign.
• Internal Staff meetings
• Admin/Reporting/Reconciliation
• Participation in CASA actions, mobilizations and events as needed and required
• Build power through voter registration and education campaigns, ally development, and participation in coalitions or networks as assigned.
• Performing database entry and writing timely, regular reports.
• Carefully track time and communications to ensure appropriate assignment to c3 or c4, direct and grassroots lobbying, and electioneering
• Support the development and expansion of the Organization.
• Meet deadlines established by supervisor and in Department and individual work plan.
• Provide quality customer service, interactions and responses to all members, partner organizations, vendors, visitor, callers and any other individual or organization you may encounter in your role with CASA.
• Understand and promote CASA membership and services
• Maintain a positive attitude
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS

• Up to 8 years of education

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Demonstrated commitment to Social Justice
• Valid Drivers’ License and reliable car
• Must be comfortable driving passengers in a van and/or driving community members in personal vehicle from time to time
• Bilingual, English and Spanish required

BENEFITS DESCRIPTION:

Who is eligible?

• All full time and part time permanent positions working 20 hours or more per week.

What We Offer:

• Generous paid time off, including: annual leave starting at three weeks per year (proportional accrual per pay period), two weeks of sick leave, three days of personal leave, and additional compensatory leave for exempt employees.
• Sixteen (16) paid holidays per calendar year.
• Excellent Benefits Package including employer paid benefits as follow:
  • Health, dental, and vision insurance (CASA pays 100% of the premium costs for the employee up to our HMO plan, 55% for couples, 65% for children and 60% for family)
  • Basic life and AD&D
  • Long and Short Term Disability insurance
  • Professional Development: Those pursuing a course of study related to work performed at CASA may be eligible for a reimbursement up to $2,000.
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Additional voluntary benefits:
  • FSA Account including Dependent Care.
  • 401(k) retirement plan with a 2% employer discretionary match.
  • Accident, Critical Indemnity, Hospital insurance.
• Allowances:
  • Mileage reimbursements for those positions that are required to drive on CASA business.
  • Cell Phone stipend for those positions that are required to use their cellphone for CASA business

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit, crawling and reaching objects. The employee will frequently be required to stand, lift, carry, push and pull objects.

The employee is occasionally required to stand or walk, do repetitive motions, balance, stoop, kneel and crouch.

When it comes to physical strength, the employee will required to perform medium work. The employee may be required to lift up to 25 lbs.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

ADA: CASA will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

OSHA: A Community Organizer is not to handle any human body fluids, biological agents, laboratory chemicals, or be exposed to hazardous materials such as noise, asbestos, or carcinogens.

This is a union position, represented in collective bargaining by a Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Communication Workers of America, Local WBNG 32035 - Communication Workers of America (CWA). If you are offered and accept this position, you will be invited to become a member of the union. All bargaining unit positions require membership or agency fee payer status.

CASA Inc. and CASA in Action do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, mental or physical disability, ancestry, marital status or national origin.

This job description will be reviewed periodically as duties and responsibilities change with business necessity. Essential and marginal job functions are subject to modification. Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.