Grassroots/Community Organizer (Contract)

The Center for Black Health & Equity (The Center) is hiring a Temporary Contract Grassroots/ Community Organizer primarily to recruit and mobilize grassroots advocates in the Cleveland, Ohio area to support a sodium warning label ordinance (hereafter referred to as the “Cut the Salt, Keep the Flavor” campaign). Responsibilities will also include engaging with The Center’s existing coalition members with a focus on recruiting new individuals and organizations to join the coalition in the Cleveland, Ohio area.

The Temporary Contract Grassroots/Community Organizer position is a part-time, contract position with a total contract pay amount of $40,000. The Temporary Contract Grassroots/Community Organizer will be managed and supervised by The Center staff.

Due to the time-sensitive nature of the scope of work, this position will support meeting deliverables through both virtual and in-person opportunities depending on specific needs of the campaign at that time. The Temporary Contract Grassroots/Community Organizer must have access to a computer with a built-in camera, a private workspace, a cell phone, and a stable internet service capable of managing video connections.

Grassroots/Community Organizer Position Responsibilities:

• Activate constituent support for the successful passage of the Cut the Salt, Keep the Flavor ordinance at the local level; This work may include (but is not limited to) presentations at Cleveland Ward Community Meetings and other community gatherings, literature drops, collecting postcards, collecting online petition signatures, making phone calls, leading phone/text banks (virtual and in person), creating and/or attending visibility events, recruiting individuals to submit Letters to the Editor, recruiting community members for storytelling, creative volunteer recruitment, and joining in-district events;
• Identify and recruit new coalition members to broaden our reach and impact within the community.
• Coordinate with the project manager and project lobbyist to align grassroots efforts with legislative priorities and advocacy goals. Provide grassroots support for lobbying activities, including organizing legislative visits in coordination with the project lobbyist, mobilizing supporters for legislative hearings, and disseminate grassroots advocacy materials.
• Organize, conduct, and provide follow-up for Cut the Salt, Keep the Flavor coalition meetings with members and/or The Center staff on a monthly basis for the duration of this contract;
• Arrange, conduct, and provide follow-up for meetings to engage owners of Cleveland food service establishments; These meetings could be in-person or virtual and should be aimed at providing education to and gathering insights on the Cut the Salt, Keep the Flavor policy from perspectives of local business owners (i.e., previous/forthcoming participants from local restaurant events such as A Taste of Black Cleveland: The Food Showcase.);
• Develop ideas for other creative and impactful tactics to involve Cleveland community members, including but not limited to food service establishment owners, parents, those suffering with hypertension, and those seeking to improve health outcomes in Cleveland;
• Ensure like-minded partner organizations’ staff and volunteers are informed about and engaged in collaborative opportunities with the Cut the Salt, Keep the Flavor coalition;
• Disseminate collateral materials (e.g. infographics, such as palm cards, one-pagers, flyers, etc.) for dissemination approved by the Food & Nutrition Program Manager and developed by The Center’s Communications Team.
• Identify and or create earned, social, and paid media activities in coordination with the Food & Nutrition Program Manager and Sr. Program Manager for Community & Government Relations to leverage opportunities for collateral dissemination opportunities.

Activity Tracking & Reporting:

• Maintain regular contact with The Center staff as appropriate, including weekly or monthly check-in meetings with the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the Food & Nutrition Program Manager, and the Sr. Program Manager for Community & Government Relations;
• Complete and submit a written report of all Cut the Salt, Keep the Flavor coalition activity and budget expenditures to the Food & Nutrition Program Manager using The Center's Work Plan due monthly;
• Provide updates to the existing Cut the Salt, Keep the Flavor coalition member list (e.g. add contact information for new coalition members and amend out of date contact information for coalition members when email delivery is unsuccessful);

Requirements & Qualifications:

• 2-5 years of campaign management/community organizing experience; Experience boosting diversity within organizations/coalitions; Relationship management experience; Excellent public speaking and meeting faciliation skills; Public policy advocacy experience
• Exceptional people skills and high emotional intelligence; Drive, vision, attention to detail, proven leadership, an eagerness to receive feedback and course correction, and an understanding of equity and community competence.
• Proficiency in word processing tools (i.e., Google Docs, Google Sheets, Microsoft Word, PDFs) and communications platforms (i.e., Zoom, Google Meet).
• Must have flexible hours due to community advocacy events that may occur outside of traditional work hours.
• Current resident in the City of Cleveland/Cuyahoga County
• Must have the ability to travel within the City of Cleveland
• Valid Ohio Driver’s License
• Public health degree/experience and/or community organizing experience preferred

Job Type: Contract

Pay: Up to $40,000.00 per year

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Application Question(s):

• Do you currently reside in the City of Cleveland/Cuyahoga County, have the ability to travel within the City of Cleveland, AND have a valid Ohio Driver’s License?

Experience:

• Campaign Management: 2 years (Required)
• Community engagement: 2 years (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Cleveland, OH: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Applying:

• Please upload your resume and cover letter on Idealist. The cover letter should detail your experience, skills, interest in the position, and alignment with The Center's mission, vision, and values. Thank you!