BLACK RURAL ORGANIZER–IN-TRAINING

Black Rural Organizer–in-Training

Candidates must be located in the Continental United States with the ability to travel frequently. Candidates do not need to live in Baltimore to be considered.

THE CHISHOLM LEGACY PROJECT SUMMARY:

The mission of the Chisholm Legacy Project is rooted in the Just Transition Framework. The project serves as a vehicle to connect Black communities on the frontlines of climate justice with resources to traverse the path from vision to strategy to action plan to implementation to transformation. In support of frontline leadership, the project seeks to link movements and mainstream entities with the tools necessary to advance systems change centered in equity and justice. With Black women on the frontlines of advancing systems change, this project ensures that these leaders have the support they need as they transform society from extractivism to a living economy that cares for sacred relationships between people and with Mother Earth, through regenerative, cooperative, democratic systems.

Our approach centers:

• Community-led planning and decision-making
• Relationship-building and sustained engagement (not one-time interactions)
• Supporting communities in developing clear strategies and action plans
• Coordinating resources and technical assistance aligned with community-identified needs.
• Building local leadership to ensure long-term sustainability.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The organization seeks Organizers-in-Training throughout the United States to participate in our Black Rural Organizing Institute. Ideal candidates are recent college graduates with passion and interest in climate justice centered in community organizing and advocacy. Organizers-in-Training are deeply committed to supporting Black Liberation and being on a learning journey by joining an institution that is grounded in Black Liberation, Climate Justice, and Just Transition.

The Chisholm Legacy Project’s invests in the growth of Black Rural Organizers-in-Training to fortify the wellbeing, resilience and self-determination of Black frontline communities. Utilizing a fixed-term (12-months) apprenticeship model, the institute provides training, coaching and guided implementation in eight major areas:

1) Community organizing analysis and practices.

2) Environmental justice history and lessons.

3) Grassroots leadership development.

4) Rural community engagement skills.

5) Ancestral and modern community care practices.

6) Local power building.

7) Relationship cultivation

8) Healing justice.

Position Terms

This is a full-time (40 hours/week), non-exempt position eligible for overtime, with an annual salary of $50,000. This institute will run from approximately June 2026 through May 2027.

The role requires up to 50% travel, including evenings and weekends. Organizers-in-Training will be eligible for TCLP benefits and will be provided with standard work equipment, including a laptop and charger.

Performance will be supported through ongoing feedback and formal evaluations. Upon successful completion of the institute, participants may be considered for a full-time, regular Community Organizer position with TCLP.

The application deadline is May 22, 2026.

SUMMARY OF the POSITION:

Participants in the Black Rural Organizer-in-Training Institute will receive mentorship and training from seasoned organizers, gain foundational knowledge in TCLP’s organizing approach, and work in joint praxis with TCLP organizers and Organizers-in-Training in eight regions across the country.

Organizers-in-Training will complete the Black Liberation and Just Transition Institute’s online Environmental and Climate Justice (ECJ) 101 certification course. This course traces the history and the victories of the environmental justice movement as well as lessons learned. It also facilitates access to the tools, practices and policies that have been the key to successes in the ECJ movement.

Grounded in a Just Transition and Black Liberation framework, Organizers-in-Training will engage with designated frontline communities and residents to mitigate barriers and support them in creating community-led solutions.

TCLP’s framework centers a shift from isolation to relationship and from extraction to reciprocity and regeneration between people and Mother Earth. In reflection of this focus, Organizers-in-Training will learn and integrate healing justice approaches to care in relationship to self and community. These approaches include seasonal rituals, holistic remedies, recipes, and healing arts practices. All Organizers-in-Training will be paired with other Organizers-in-Training to create a support system and a space to be able to build with other participants. There will also be designated time for weekly group debriefs and reflection on the different stages of their work.

Location, Travel, & Responsibilities

• This position is expected to travel up to 50%; for two weeks out of every month, Organizers-in-Training will be in communities within the geographic regions where they’ve been placed, to support community members as they organize themselves.
• Organizers-in-Training will gain a sense of what residents envision or want and inform them of and provide available resources. Alongside interested residents, they will collaborate with communities to organize town hall meetings and support in facilitating visioning, strategizing, and action planning.
• Throughout the institute, participants will co-create a customized resource list for each frontline community, based on the needs/wants/desires expressed in conversations. Organizers-in-Training will learn how to create crucial documentation such as reports with descriptions of the frontline communities they have been working with.

At the conclusion of the institute, participants will co-organize and be a part of a showcase that celebrates their journeys and insights gained throughout their experience. As part of these presentations, Organizers-in-Training will include a summary analysis of their assigned community’s current state and recommendations for ongoing community action and implementation.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

In this role, Organizers-in-Training are not only stewarding relationships but also helping to build the foundation for community power, self-determination, and Black liberation. Organizers-in-Training are a critical part of TCLP’s organizing team, working alongside communities to amplify their visions, sharpen their strategies, and actualize solutions rooted in justice and resilience.

Community Engagement, Outreach & Advocate (60%)

• Conduct a range of community engagement and outreach activities that include in-person visits in Black rural frontline communities with door-knocking, community flyering, one-on-one relational meetings, community visioning and planning, and providing TCLP and partner resources.
• Gather contact information for individuals, organizations, and institutions in the community to build out the profiles of Black rural communities and historic Black towns and connect community members and leaders to additional resources.
• Support community members in holding community visioning and planning sessions to understand what changes residents envision or want to organize towards for their community, including democratic decision-making when choosing issues.
• Work with communities to develop leadership skills among volunteers and emerging community leaders, including meeting facilitation and support for community working groups, as needed.
• Identify nearby volunteers (church, sorority, civic group, etc.) who would be interested in being a local entity to closely support communities as they organize themselves.
• Develop a means of staying engaged with each community and following up with them on a regular basis, in collaboration with the Community Organizing Team

Visioning, Planning, Implementation, Event & Action Coordination (20%)

• Help plan and facilitate a range of community events (e.g., community forums, town halls, listening, and mapping sessions) and campaign actions to build a core team of community leaders and understand community needs and dreams
• Conduct community analysis sessions to identify priorities, strategies, and opportunities to build collective power and support turnout for these sessions and other community events
• Work with community leaders to translate community concerns into actionable steps

Administrative (20%)

• Complete data entry and outreach documentation, including a comprehensive list of contacts and community assets
• Prepare summaries and notes of all conversations/meetings
• Maintain community database
• Create weekly and monthly workplans

QUALIFICATIONS

We welcome applicants with diverse backgrounds—from lived experience to prior movement work—who are compassionate and eager to grow.

We are especially excited in receiving applications from candidates who possess many, if not all, of the following qualifications and competencies:

• Recent college graduate or high school graduate
• A passion for and strong commitment to environmental, social and economic justice
• Are energized by talking to people and listening deeply.
• Are committed to building trusting relationships with a wide range of people, including rural communities.
• Have an interest in motivating and supporting local emerging leaders.
• Ability to communicate clearly in writing and verbally while doing conducting community outreach.
• Comfortable stepping into new places and learning as they go.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively.
• Organized and detail oriented.
• Emergent, creative and patient while problem-solving
• Bring humility to the work.
• Understand that communities know what is best for them and we are facilitators of their wisdom.
• A results-focused approach and commitment to going the extra mile.
• Excellent people skills
• Some familiarity with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Asana, Publisher, and other relevant programs

APPRENTICESHIP TERMS

• This position is salaried, non-exempt and eligible for overtime compensation
• It is expected to work a 40-hour work week.
• This apprenticeship requires approximately up to 50% of travel.
• There will be the expectation for evening and weekend working hours.
• This apprenticeship will receive on-going reviews and feedback on performance.
• This apprenticeship will be eligible for TCLP benefits and will receive TCLP equipment.
• The apprenticeship will pay $50,000 per year.

Medical

Dental

Vision

401k

Paid Vacation, Sick time, and Holiday time.