Organizer

We are hiring an Organizer!

Applicants should provide the following information:

• A cover letter stating your interest, availability, and general qualifications
• A resume or CV outlining your education, skills, and experience
• List of 2 References

Job Purpose:

Young People for Progress requires a talented and enthusiastic individual to help organize students and community members in Montgomery County, Maryland. This person would be responsible for coordinating YPP’s advocacy and coalition activities, as well as well as maintaining its communications and press relationships.

Ideal Candidates should have previous working experience on social justice issues, be comfortable working with youth and other community members and be committed to the values of racial, economic, and gender justice.

Reports to: Executive Director

About Young People for Progress

Young People for Progress (YPP) is a community organizing and social justice organization of young people, aged under 35, currently in Montgomery County, Maryland that strives to create political power among youth and young adults through engaging in issue campaigns and voter education campaigns.

Some of our previous work and includes leading a successful campaign to add youth and young adults seats to the new Montgomery County Policing Advisory Commission, and then identifying and supporting youth applicants, holding ‘know your rights’ trainings and restorative justice workshops, advocating for police reform at the local and state level, and creating the Police Incident Documentation Project (PIDP) to collect civilian accounts of incidents with police in Montgomery County, connect those civilians to pro bono legal advice and other resources administered through YPP, and build the case for systemic changes to policing.

YPP is currently organizing against criminalization and over-policing of young people in Montgomery County. The goal is to build power, especially among black, Latinx, POC and working class youth and young adults through organizing and winning tangible and systemic improvements. We especially aim to use the lived knowledge of those of us most directly impacted by this issue to inform every part of our organizing, as we know those of us closest to this issue often have the best understanding of its nuances and the best solutions.

Description of Duties:

• Facilitate organization advocacy and coalition involvement.
• Conduct campaign-related policy research.
• Maintain organization communications and press relationships.
• Assist and provide input on relevant grant proposals and reports.
• Work with staff to ensure programs and campaigns are aligned with human rights and social justice values.
• Staying abreast of local news, current events, and policy decisions that affect campaign strategy.
• Participate in staff political education and other staff development activities
• Must possess a valid U.S. driver’s license, auto insurance, and an automobile for business use.
• Must be willing to work irregular hours (including evenings and weekends) and to travel
• Must possess a valid U.S. driver’s license, auto insurance, and an automobile for business use.
• Must be willing to work irregular hours (including evenings and weekends) and to travel

You may be a good fit if (PLEASE READ):

• At least 2 years experience in grassroots organizing or social justice activism
• Demonstrates a firm grasp of policing, legal system, school to prison pipeline issues, and mass incarceration within a global context
• Strong Commitment to social justice
• Strong analytical skills
• Strong communication, negotiation, and diplomacy, conflict resolution, and networking skills
• Strong writing skills and ability to articulate messages around social justice policy, human rights, needs, etc. for campaigns
• Strong organizational and project management skills
• Ability to identify and develop leadership among members, and experience with coaching and mentorship
• Bi-lingual in Spanish, Amharic, or French is a plus.

Salary: Commensurate with experience. Full benefits.

People of color, LGBTQ+, women, and young people are highly encouraged to apply. Formerly incarcerated people and people who have interacted with the criminal legal system are highly encouraged to apply.