Memphis Community Organizer, Youth Justice

Stand for Children Leadership Center•Memphis, TN

About The Position

Stand for Children is seeking a Memphis Community Organizer for its Tennessee team. The role combines organizing with efforts to change systems affecting young people, families, and communities. The Organizer works with justice-involved youth, opportunity youth, emerging adults, and community advocates to create community engagement opportunities and build teams that take local, state, and systems-level action in support of youth justice reform. The Organizer identifies, coaches, and trains members; develops their leadership skills; and initiates and leads campaigns for more just outcomes for young people. The role centers people with lived experience in the youth justice system and supports youth and emerging adults in shaping, leading, and implementing organizing and advocacy efforts. The position also involves coalition-building, campaign and election work, and collaboration with colleagues and community partners. Stand for Children describes itself as a catalyst for educational success and social progress. The organization and its Leadership Center state a commitment to equal employment opportunity and an inclusive workplace.

Requirements

Passionate commitment and alignment with Stand for Children's mission.
At least one paid campaign cycle, or comparable paid organizing experience.
Experience developing leaders, building teams, and managing organizing or advocacy campaigns.
Experience facilitating meetings, trainings, or coalition processes and supporting partners toward shared goals.
Experience using Microsoft Office Suite and willingness to learn new technology platforms.
Experience with social media platforms for digital communications.
Strong interpersonal, communication, leadership-development, and team-building skills.
Ability to be flexible and steadfast in ambiguity; self-motivated problem-solving and critical-thinking ability.
Willingness to work flexible hours, including up to three evenings per week and occasional weekends, especially during election cycles and legislative session.
Valid driver's license, acceptable driving record, full-time access to reliable transportation, and ability to travel within the Memphis metro area.
Ability to work at multiple locations during a day, transport items, and set up and take down meeting equipment; may require climbing stairs.

Nice To Haves

Experience organizing young people, emerging adults, people with lived experience, or communities directly impacted by public systems.
Experience working with diverse and bilingual communities.

Responsibilities

Build a diverse and skilled base of engaged organizers and activists, particularly justice-involved youth, opportunity youth, emerging adults, and community advocates.
Organize and manage teams, leaders, and fellows with clear roles and ownership.
Develop and manage a group of speakers and storytellers prepared to testify, give interviews, share lived experiences, and inspire action.
Create and facilitate trainings, workshops, and webinars that build organizing, advocacy, leadership, and campaign skills.
Manage volunteer-led events and create pathways for members and leaders to take on increasing responsibility.
Create and leverage advocacy opportunities in support of Stand Tennessee youth justice priorities and issue and electoral campaigns.
Support the initiation and leadership of youth justice campaigns, including developing goals, strategies, timelines, tactics, and leadership roles.
Coach leaders to identify and recruit potential leaders and support members in taking regular action across campaigns.
Build leadership structures that support authentic youth-adult partnerships and center directly impacted young people in campaign decisions.
Support, coach, and, when assigned, supervise fellows, youth leaders, interns, temporary staff, and volunteers.
Track organizing, base-building, campaign, and policy goals and use results to improve strategy and execution.
Develop and maintain relationships with community leaders, stakeholders, youth-serving organizations, and local and statewide groups to build coalitions.
Co-convene and facilitate youth justice coalitions and partner workgroups, including preparing agendas, coordinating participation, and supporting follow-through.
Help partners identify, advance, and track shared policy and campaign goals while expanding participation by young people, emerging adults, and people with lived experience.
Participate fully in election, issue, and endorsement campaigns.
Support voter engagement, civic education, and leadership development with youth, emerging adults, and impacted communities.
Connect electoral, policy, and organizing strategies that advance Stand Tennessee's youth justice priorities.
Perform other duties as required to support the affiliate's work.