Community Organizer

ABOUT THE STREET VENDOR PROJECT

The Street Vendor Project (SVP) is a membership-driven organization that champions the rights of street vendors as small businesses to earn a living and contribute to the culture and life of New York City. SVP envisions a New York City where street vendors thrive as essential entrepreneurs and anchors of community and culture in the five boroughs. Through direct leadership development, education, legal support, and strategic legislative advocacy, SVP builds power and community among vendors.

ABOUT THE POSITION

SVP is looking for Community Organizers to work with our members to collaboratively implement strategic grassroots organizing campaigns, design and implement leadership development programs, and strengthen our street vendor community. We are seeking new team members with experience working within multicultural, working class and immigrant communities.

This is a five day a week role that requires regular weekend work, the schedule for which will be based upon the needs of the role and the clients. A weekly schedule for this role would thus be, for example, Friday to Tuesday or Wednesday to Sunday, depending on client needs, and the schedule will be coordinated on a monthly basis with your supervisor.

QUALIFICATIONS

Ideal candidate is:

• Relentlessly dedicated to building the power of working class, immigrant communities of color to incite transformative social and economic justice movement building;
• Excited about working across multiple cultures and is flexible and patient when communicating with people who speak different languages;
• A thoughtful communicator with excellent interpersonal, written, and public speaking skills;
• Fully bilingual in English & one of these languages (Spanish, Arabic, Wolof or Turkish) (spoken and written), and comfortable conducting outreach, workshops, counseling in English and the other language;
• A team-player eager to collaborate with diverse, intergenerational, and multicultural stakeholders to achieve systemic change;
• Experienced with outreach, base-building, member leadership development, and organizing campaigns;
• Knowledgeable of New York City and New York State organizing and political landscape, with particular attention to racial, economic, and gender equity;
• An experienced facilitator with the ability to plan and facilitate meetings with sensitivity to the needs of a diverse membership;
• Committed to and knowledgeable of SVP’s mission and movement building, and enthusiastic about nurturing leadership growth among members;
• Has 1 to 5 years of labor, immigration and/or community organizing experience.
• Flexible in scheduling and comfortable working on weekends.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Currently, the Community Organizer will focus on:

• Coordinating and implementing membership recruitment activities including direct outreach on-the-street and through partner organizations;
• Receiving vendors who come into the office during SVP drop-in hours or conduct intake over the phone;
• Strengthening our Spanish-speaking vending community across NYC.
• Identifying promising members to develop their interest and leadership in SVP through one-on-ones;
• Planning regular membership and committee meetings focused on skill shares, political education, connection to campaign work, and building SVP’s membership;
• Maintaining database for tracking participation and development of members;
• Maintaining relationships with allied community organizations;
• Participating in legislative campaigns that engage members and leaders with elected officials and win concrete improvements in the lives of vendors;
• Collaborate with Lead Organizer on setting up strategy and workplans for the organizing team
• Maintain relationships with other community-based organizations and represent SVP in these various spaces
• Like most roles in a small organization, this role requires a high level of flexibility and adaptability as duties, tasks and priorities can shift based on the organization’s needs and what’s delegated by the supervisors.

Benefits:

• Medical Insurance available on first day of employment
• Dental Insurance
• Eye Care Reimbursement
• Employer Retirement Contribution
• Pet Insurance
• Generous Vacation and Personal Time, including 4 weeks vacation, 5 personal days, and 1 week paid time off during annual office-wide holiday closure; early release summer Fridays and before federal holidays; day after Thanksgiving; birthday
• 12 paid sick days
• Commuter Benefits
• Gym reimbursement program

This is a full-time position that requires flexibility in terms of scheduling. The role requires work in weekends and weekly schedules will be coordinated with the supervisor.

SVP is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we fight alongside and serve. People of color, women, immigrants, LGBTQ-identified individuals, and folks from low-income communities are strongly encouraged to apply. The Street Vendor Project is part of the Urban Justice Center, a non-profit organization that provides legal representation and advocacy to various marginalized groups of New Yorkers.

Must be Bilingual in English and one of these languages (Spanish, Arabic, Wolof or Turkish) (spoken and written)