Lexington, Fayette County -“GROW” Community Canvasser (Temporary, Part-time)

Organizational Background

VOCAL-KY is a grassroots membership organization dedicated to building the power of low-income people affected by the drug war, mass incarceration, HIV/AIDS and homelessness to create healthy and just communities. We accomplish this through community organizing, advocacy, direct services, and strategic communications. You can learn more about our work through our website and Facebook and Twitter pages.

Position Description

The Lexington-Fayette County GrassRoots Organizing to Win (GROW)  Community Canvasser role is a 6-month, temporary and part-time position. The GROW program is dedicated to building the membership and power of VOCAL-KY. We do this 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-KY’s organizing infrastructure and will add capacity to campaigns across the organization. Examples of active campaigns include: policy changes to decrease criminalization and incarceration and increasing housing, services and care for people who use drugs, people unhoused, formerly incarcerated people and people living with HIV/AIDS.

Job Responsibilities:

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

●      “Base Building”: Conduct daily community outreach at homeless encampments, transitional housing facilities, shelters, methadone and harm reduction programs, re-entry programs, HIV service providers and other venues as directed. Employees will have set recruitment goals.

●      “Phone Banking”: Conduct daily and regular mass phone calls to new contacts made during outreach, existing members and leaders to mobilize them to action. Employees will have set call and mobilization goals.

●      Data-entry: Manage data input from “base building” and “phone banking”.

●      Support Mobilizations and Events: Provide staff support when needed for events.

●      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-KY’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.

The ideal candidate must have:

●      A car and driver’s license, ability to drive, and willingness to occasionally drive a 15-passenger van

●      Community organizing experience, or related experience, specifically doing community outreach and phone banking

●      Must be willing and eager to conduct street-based, site-based, and/or door-knocking outreach multiple times a week, for several hours at a time, year-round.

●      Proficiency with common business software (e.g. MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, email clients).

●      Direct experience with, or demonstrated strength in one or more key areas of VOCAL-NY work.

This is not a remote position. It will require regular online or in-person supervision and staff meetings. The position will require occasional travel to Frankfort and throughout the region.

The position will report to the GROW Director and will work collaboratively with other members of the community organizing staff

Compensation:

$15 for the first 90 days and then $18 per hour. VOCAL-KY offers a generous benefits package with a monthly TARC pass for travel, mileage reimbursement, monthly cell phone reimbursement and wellness and vacation time. 

Equal Opportunity Statement:

VOCAL-KY is an equal opportunity employer. People of color and people who are formerly incarcerated, HIV-positive, women and/or LGBT are strongly encouraged to apply.

For more information about VOCAL-KY, please visit our website at www.vocal-ky.org.