Community Organizer, Lawrence, Massachusetts

The Merrimack Valley Project (MVP) is hiring a full-time community organizer starting immediately through November 8, 2024.

MVP is the valley's faith-based community organization, bringing together religious organizations, labor unions and other concerned citizens. We are working to build communities where social justice prevails. We hold a prophetic vision for the Merrimack Valley, believing in the power of the people to create systems of participatory democracy. We have chapters in Lowell, Lawrence and Haverhill, Massachusetts.  This position will work primarily in Lawrence, MA.

Position Description: The Community Organizer works collaboratively with residents, MVP member organizations, staff, and community partners to facilitate the design and implementation of relationship-driven civic engagement opportunities. The Organizer will recruit and develop leaders from a diverse membership of religious, labor and community organizations to build MVP’s power.

Duties and responsibilities include:

·       Support MVP’s community organizing strategies.

·       Design and implement neighborhood canvassing and door-knocking activities.

·       Recruit and develop leaders from a diverse membership of religious, labor and community organizations to build MVP’s power.

·       Develop and maintain relationships with leaders of current and potential member organizations.

·       Staff organizing campaigns on current MVP issues.

·       Staff regional chapters and sub-committees of MVP.

·       Supervise and mentor other MVP organizers, apprentices, field study students and interns.

·       Work in collaboration with member organizations and local residents to follow up and implement strategies that address neighborhood and community issues.

·        Assist with resident turnout and mobilization as needed.

·       Organize and support resident and member-led education and/or mobilization campaigns and activities that address community issues that could include:

o   Economic justice

o   Immigration issues

o   Environmental justice

o   Mass incarceration

o   Affordable housing

o   Dismantling racism

o   Other community-identified issues

·       Civic engagement – GOTV, voter registration, education, and mobilization.

·       Other relevant duties.

 Qualifications:

·       Fluency in English and one of the following languages: Spanish, Portuguese, Khmer or Haitian Creole.

·       Passion for positive community change through community empowerment and collaboration.

·       Ability to listen to and see community members' strengths and skills and utilize them to bring about collaborative community change.

·       Ability to be flexible and creative in identifying community priorities.

·       Post-secondary education and/or experience in community organizing preferred

·       Able to work collaboratively with people of diverse backgrounds

·       Strong, interpersonal, speaking, writing, and group facilitation skills

·       Ability to work nights and weekends when needed

·       Familiarity with city, state, and federal legislative bodies, agencies, and political issues is helpful

·       Able to manage various tasks/projects at once

·       Proficiency in Microsoft Office and social networking technologies