Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA) is a 40-year-old non-profit, member-supported organization advocating on behalf of Asian and Pacific Americans (APA) and other underrepresented communities in San Francisco and statewide. CAA seeks a Community Organizer to work with CAA’s leadership development project, the Visitacion Valley Parents Association (VVPA). VVPA currently has a membership of over 200 families who reside in low-income, diverse neighborhoods in San Francisco. The organizer will lead a dynamic project that seeks to remove barriers to immigrant integration within public institutions.
Job Responsibilities
The Community Organizer’s primary responsibility is to develop and support a leadership base of limited-English proficient, Chinese American parents committed to expanding immigrant integration opportunities within public institutions. Together with CAA’s policy staff, the organizer will play a key role in the development and implementation of city-wide campaigns to address issues such as educational equity, language access and immigrant rights. Specifically, the Community Organizer will:
• Manage a team of 10 peer-organizers to reach campaign goals and to develop leadership skills;
• Conduct public education and membership development activities to build and expand an informed membership committed to increasing immigrant integration;
• Develop and implement advocacy trainings that enable VVPA leaders to effectively participate in meetings with decision makers and media outreach opportunities;
• Build relationships with community residents and strengthen collaborative relationships with other service providers and community organizers in order to move VVPA campaign goals forward;
• Work closely with CAA’s policy staff to identify and address ongoing needs of limited-English proficient, low-income or immigrant families; and
• Represent CAA at community events and public hearings.
Specific requirements include:
• 3 or more years of community organizing experience in new immigrant communities;
• Experience working closely with limited-English proficient, low-income and immigrant families;
• Experience developing and implementing grassroots advocacy campaigns;
• Experience in developing leadership development curriculum and trainings;
• Strong commitment to multi-racial collaborations and social justice;
• Culturally competent facilitation and conflict resolution skills;
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a larger team;
• Oral fluency in Cantonese and/or Mandarin;
• Excellent English writing and communication skills; and
• Willing to work evenings and weekends as needed.
Preferred qualifications:
• Written fluency in Chinese;
• Awareness of issues facing low-income neighborhoods in the Bay Area;
• Familiarity with educational equity, language access issues, and immigrant rights;
• Experience supervising staff or team of volunteers; and
• Access to a car.
To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to: Community Organizer Search, CAA, 17 Walter U. Lum Place, San Francisco, CA 94108 or e-mail to
employment@caasf.org. For additional information regarding CAA, see www.caasf.org.
CAA is an equal opportunity employer. Women, people of color, and LGBTQ individuals are encouraged to apply.
