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."

MRNY is seeking to hire a Westchester County Community Organizer. This is a full-time position that will be based in our White Plains office with the expectation of regular travel to locations throughout Westchester County and New York City, and additional travel throughout NYS. Currently, our offices are open and employees work on a hybrid remote and in-person model subject to the needs of the work. This position requires flexibility, a positive attitude, and hustle. 

Current Opening:

The Westchester County Organizer will continue growing our Westchester issue-based organizing and civic engagement practices. The organizer will grow and 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 promote our committee space, identify key issues that Westchester County community members care about and recruit them to become members of MRNY. 

Key Responsibilities but not limited to:

• Building a base for power by engaging low-income New Yorkers who commit to work together on the issues affecting our communities; 
• Moving our base to action to advance campaigns that positively impact people’s lives while building strong alliances that leverage MRNY’s power; 
• Developing the skills & consciousness of our base to strengthen the roots of our democracy by understanding and facilitating workshops on political education, immigration, civil rights, etc;
• Creating an effective and collaborative work environment that supports innovation and excellence while creating community support;
• Meet key organizing outcomes, including but not limited to ensuring the success of in-person member committee meeting and in-person leadership meetings; conduct in-person outreach, recruitment and engagement; mobilize for and support a range of org-wide actions; and facilitate education and learning workshops for both members and staff; 
•  Engaging community members in multi-issue organizing campaigns and more;
• Building and sustaining local relationships with key partners that supports the advancement of our work; 
• Supporting engagement with, and building relationships with, elected officials;
• Representing MRNY in coalition spaces and with other organizations in Westchester County;
• Working with peers to ensure connectedness between organizers and service provision staff;
• Supporting our communications team to uplift the stories of our membership and our work.
• Participating in full staff, site-based, and departmental team meetings;
• Supporting our civic engagement efforts, including, but not limited to, voter registration efforts and GOTV efforts.

Requirements:

• Be eligible to work in the United States; 
• Required to be fully vaccinated with an FDA approved COVID-19 vaccine prior first day of employment; 
• Show a commitment to social justice;
• Experience in curriculum development for social justice/movement organizations;
• Have at least 2 years of experience in community, housing, labor and/or immigrant rights organizing;
• Have a working knowledge of computer and technology applications,  including but not limited Microsoft Office Suite, Google Documents, cell phones and related applications such as WhatsApp, Zoom, and data entry applications (i.e.Salesforce); 
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in multicultural spaces;
• Demonstrated commitment to developing and elevating member leadership;
• Required fluency in both Spanish and English; 
• Willing 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 teamwork and management skills;
• Strong time management skills;
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills;
• Strong problem-solving skills;
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and complete assignments under strict deadlines with minimal supervision in a fast-paced environment; 
• Ability to adapt to the context and work under pressure, and 
• 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:

Starting salary is based on a scale set by a democratically-elected personnel committee and will depend on factors such as experience and education. 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.