Organizer - Promise of Justice Initiative (PJI)

About PJI

Promise of Justice Initiative (PJI) is a New Orleans-based organization that stands at the forefront of the fight for the liberation, freedom, and autonomy of Black people and all those targeted and touched by the criminal legal system and mass incarceration.

PJI moves life-changing work: 

Because racism and mass incarceration are entrenched and pervasive foes, PJI’s approach is multifaceted, including collective action, legislative advocacy, civil and criminal litigation, and reframing narrative discourse. 

We challenge the notion that prisons keep us safe and that people with convictions should have no rights. We fight for freedom for people sentenced to die in prison. PJI blocks harmful legislation and pushes for dignity-advancing legislation. PJI partners on and co-strategizes social movement work with hundreds of currently incarcerated people. We advance the voices of survivors of violence and challenge the death penalty. Our work builds powerful authentic stories, pushes counter-narratives, and changes discourse.   

The world that PJI pushes for is one where the legal system recognizes freedom and dignity as universal rights and embodies an ethos of transformation, restoration, and safety. 

Summary of Position

The organizing position is housed in the Community Impact department. PJI organizers collaborate with PJI’s legal department and community stakeholders to co-develop and implement strategies to build collective power and pathways for freedom across Louisiana. 

The organizing position co-develops and implements campaign strategy, identifies leaders in directly affected communities, and develops and supports those leaders in base building. 

Who We Are Looking For 

This work is hard on every level. PJI optimistically and strategically fights for a better future and requires staff who are committed to one another and to people who are incarcerated or otherwise harmed by the criminal legal system. 

PJI is committed to hiring smart, talented, skilled people who have directly experienced the issues that we fight against. People who are formerly incarcerated, survivors of violence, working class, LGBTQ+, and people of color, particularly Black, are all strongly encouraged to apply. 

Individuals who are Louisiana natives, or who are otherwise from rural communities in the South, are encouraged to apply.

You will be a great fit if you possess a deep commitment to building the collective power and leadership of directly affected communities, have four or more years of direct organizing experience, and have a proven track record of building strong leadership structures. You should have experience working on winning community organizing campaigns.   

PJI focuses on a handful of key issue areas. Among them, you should be committed to supporting and accompanying survivors of violence in building collective power against criminalization and toward true community safety, especially for poor and working-class Black Louisianans. 

Responsibilities of Position 

Grassroots Organizing and Leadership Development

• Identify, recruit, develop, and accompany leaders in impacted communities in key places across Louisiana. 
• Build campaign activities and other opportunities that support the political development and organizing skill development of community leaders and members.
• Work with leaders to organize their communities so they can build power, take collective action, and win campaigns.  

Allies and Alliances

• Build, sustain, and deepen key organizational allies and partners.
• Maintain and co-develop regional and national alliances related to PJI organizing campaigns 
• Support and participate in PJI coalitions.  

Exercise Campaign Power

• Work with community members, leaders, allies, and staff to exercise comprehensive campaign pressure on key decision-makers. 
• Work closely with members of PJI’s legal, policy, and communications teams to codevelop and inform cross-organizational strategies and campaigns. 

Organizational and Administrative Support and Development 

• Support the overall work of PJI outside of the Community Impact department.
• Contribute, as needed, to full organization efforts to strengthen and build the organization as a vehicle for change. 
• Create detailed work plans, progress reports, rigorous documentation, and tracking of organizing efforts.
• Contribute to PJI’s fundraising efforts as needed. 

Supervisory Responsibilities

Assist with supervision of volunteers, interns, or staff who are focused on organizing.

Key Qualifications 

• Commitment to PJI’s organizational mission, vision, values, and political strategy
• Direct or personal experience with issues affecting the lives of Black, working-class, incarcerated, and formerly incarcerated people and communities, and survivors of violence.
• 4+ years of direct community or labor organizing experience including:
• Successful membership recruitment/base building 
• Identifying and developing leaders
• Developing and supporting the success of strong leadership structures that can move large collective actions (like organizing committees) 
• Experience making meaningful contributions to winning campaigns 
• Experience organizing with an understanding of race, class, and gender and how they impact work and communities.
• Self-motivated - able to set goals and execute plans while working well in collective settings.
• Ability and willingness to drive and have a valid driver’s license 
• Must be able to work evenings and weekends.

Exceptional candidates will be:

• Excellent facilitators, with experience in popular education 
• Experienced in leading winning organizing campaigns 
• Trauma-informed with an intellectual and personal understanding of trauma
• Have experience with law and organizing strategies in collaboration with attorneys.
• Experienced at leading other organizers and teams 

• Flexible paid time off, most Federal holidays, Fridays in August, and winter holiday season off.
• 24 office closure days (almost 5 work weeks) 
• 16 days of Paid Time Off initially; 25 days after 3 years
• • 100% payment of health insurance (including partner and dependent insurance)
• • Health and Dependent Care FSA
• • 5% 401k match after 6 months of employment
• • Short and long-term disability insurance
• • Life insurance 
• • Union representation: The National Organization of Legal Services Workers (NOLSW) represents eligible employees at PJI. This role is a bargaining unit position. 

Submit an application package containing the following:

1. Cover letter. The cover letter should be no more than 3 pages, and should detail: i.) How your personal or professional experience intersects with people impacted by the carceral system, violence, and racism (all 3); ii.) Your skills, experience, and expertise that you are most excited to bring to this position; iii.) Discussion of campaign or major organizing effort that you lead or played a meaningful role in
2. Resume  
3. Email for 3 References:  i.) 1 person who can speak to your work developing leadership; ii.) 1 person who can speak to your performance in the workplace; iii.)  1 person who can speak to how you think about or engage in racial justice issues. (this can be family, friend, colleague, mentor etc.)

Please send the application package to MBailey@defendla.org

Deadline: Applications considered on a rolling basis. Priority deadline is EOD June 10, 2024.