GROW Community Organizer

Organizational Background

VOCAL-NY is building a movement of low-income people dedicated to ending the AIDS epidemic, the war on drugs, mass incarceration, and homelessness. We fight for systemic change rooted in justice, compassion, and love. We approach this work with a firm belief in reducing harm and ending stigma, and the knowledge that the issues impacting our communities are driven by institutional oppression, not personal failings. Our campaigns have saved or improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers across the state.

We accomplish our goals through community organizing, leadership development, advocacy, direct services and direct action. You can learn more about our work through our website, Facebook, and Twitter.

Position Description

The GrassRoots Organizing Wins (GROW) organizer will support the base building, leadership development, mobilizing and campaign advancement of VOCAL-NY’s primary campaigns and union through regular outreach, new member recruitment, and through mobilizing members and leaders to meetings, protests and other events. GROW Organizers are a vital part of VOCAL-NY’s organizing infrastructure and will add capacity to campaigns across the organization.

Job Responsibilities:

Other duties may be assigned. On an ongoing basis regular duties include the following:

• Membership Recruitment: Conduct “base building” and achieve targeted recruitment goals through regular community outreach, this includes street-based outreach and outreach at transitional housing facilities, shelters, methadone and harm reduction programs, re-entry programs, HIV service providers and other venues as directed.

• Phone-banking and Membership Mobilization: Conduct regular “phone-banking” to engage and mobilize people to attend meetings, actions, and events.
• Data-entry: Record and input accurate & timely data into our community organizing database.
• Support meetings, events, and mobilizations: Support the logistical & programmatic needs of membership & leadership meetings, organizational events, actions, and mobilizations.
• Support Other VOCAL Campaigns and Coalition work: The position will be expected to periodically provide support for other community organizing and campaign work within VOCAL-NY. We have a highly collaborative office environment where staff members provide support for each other’s campaigns as needed
• Grassroots fundraising: Conduct occasional fundraising via “phone banking” to existing donors, and/or through street outreach.

Requirements / Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will have strong communication and leadership skills, and be eager to be in the community talking to new people every day. Candidates must be organized and believe in and support VOCAL-NY’s community organizing model. Candidates must also demonstrate a deep commitment to social justice and be committed to building the power of low-income people living with HIV, drug users, the formerly incarcerated and the homeless.

• Canvassing or community outreach experience strongly preferred.
• Proficiency in common business software, primarily excel.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Good sense of direction and situational awareness
• Willingness to work outside year round and engage in street outreach.
• A strong commitment to teamwork and to working with and promoting the leadership of people directly affected by the issues we work on.
• Strong sense of empathy, patience, and compassion for those affected by the issues we fight against.
• Spanish language proficiency is desirable but not required.
• Understanding of and passion for VOCAL-NY’s mission.

• Paid Wellness Time (up to 15 days per year, prorated based on hours worked)
• Paid Holidays & End of Year closing period (payable when falling on one’s regular work hours)
• $30 Phone and Mileage Reimbursement