Robert Andrew Stuart Fellow

AFSC job board • Philadelphia, PA

11d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Robert Andrew Stuart Fellowship is a part-time, 28-hour-per-week opportunity within the American Friends Service Committee’s Emerging Leaders for Liberation (ELL) program and Philadelphia organizing work. The fellowship provides an immersive learning experience in grassroots youth organizing, facilitation, and youth leadership development. The Fellow supports ELL programming, curriculum development, and youth social justice action projects while also contributing to community-facing events and local organizing. The position is based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with a hybrid schedule requiring in-office work one to two days per week. It is a specific-term appointment through December 15, 2027, and reports to the Emerging Leaders for Liberation Director.

The Fellow supports planning and implementation of ELL activities, participates in youth network and advisory meetings, assists with convenings and gatherings, and helps build partnerships with AFSC youth programs and Quaker institutions. In Philadelphia, the Fellow engages young people and community partners, represents AFSC at events and coalition gatherings, and designs and implements quarterly organizing events aligned with AFSC campaigns. The role requires regular attendance and punctuality, safe work practices, and the ability to work evenings or weekends and travel as required.

The position is non-exempt and represented. The starting salary is $53,000 annualized, prorated to $42,400 for the 28-hour-per-week schedule (0.80 FTE). AFSC describes a comprehensive Total Rewards package, but notes that this position does not include medical, dental, or life insurance, or short- or long-term disability insurance benefits. AFSC does participate in unemployment, workers’ compensation, and Social Security.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• At least one year of relevant experience in youth organizing, community engagement, social justice advocacy, or youth leadership development; experience may come from paid work, internships, volunteer service, grassroots organizing, community leadership, or lived experience involving active participation in community initiatives.
• Ability to apply experience and knowledge to organizing activities, relationship-building, or advancing social justice initiatives.
• Knowledge and practical application of grassroots organizing, youth leadership development, community engagement, and social justice advocacy, including building relationships with diverse communities and coalition partners.
• Ability to plan and coordinate community-based initiatives, facilitate group discussions and learning activities, and independently manage assigned projects with sound judgment while collaborating with program leadership.
• Comfort with Microsoft Office programs and related technology.
• Ability to research and condense information for others.
• Willingness to meet and develop relationships with young adults from diverse backgrounds and communities in the United States.
• Understanding of issues facing young people in the Philadelphia area.
• Personal experience with and/or understanding of the impacts of mass incarceration on young people and communities in the Philadelphia area.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to take initiative and work independently and in teams.
• Commitment to social justice and equity.
• Ability and comfort working with young adults ages 16–25.
• Ability to work evenings and/or weekends and travel as required.
• Ability to work effectively independently and within a team environment.
• Ability to work under tight time constraints in a high-volume environment with multiple priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to work and communicate with diverse staff.
• Respect for Quaker values and testimonies.
• Knowledge of and support for AFSC principles and philosophy, including nonviolence and the intrinsic worth of every individual.
• Respect for and sensitivity to cultural, ethnic, racial, gender, and religious diversity, and familiarity with nonviolent approaches to problem-solving.
• Ability to organize, plan ahead, prioritize multiple tasks, and meet deadlines.
• Dedication to fairness, equity, and inclusion across race, class, nationality, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, and disability.

Nice To Haves

• A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Social Justice, Sociology, Political Science, Community Development, or Education, or an equivalent combination of education, community-based learning, lived experience, and relevant organizing experience.
• Experience and comfort with artistic media, social media, and/or healing self-care techniques and practices.

Responsibilities

• Support the ELL Director in planning and implementing ELL efforts.
• Attend and actively participate in AFSC Youth Network meetings, advisory committee meetings, and other ELL network calls and conversations.
• Support networking and partnerships with AFSC youth programs, Quaker colleges, and Quaker meetings.
• Support planning and completion of the ELL team action project through the May Meeting.
• Assist with administrative, fundraising, communications, and planning work for ELL convenings and virtual gatherings.
• Assist with facilitation of internal staff convenings, youth delegations, alumni gatherings, and other relevant gatherings.
• Submit quarterly reports to the supervisor.
• Support AFSC’s engagement strategy with Philadelphia youth organizing services and youth organizing.
• Represent AFSC at appropriate public events and venues and engage constituencies, including youth, about AFSC’s work and activities.
• Design and implement a quarterly organizing event that engages partner organizations, aligns with AFSC campaign efforts, and advances social justice causes in Philadelphia.
• Attend at least one community-facing event per week as an AFSC ambassador, such as a panel, workshop, town hall, or vigil.
• Work with the ELL Director to strengthen relationships with Quaker youth activities in Philadelphia, local Friends schools, and Quaker colleges.
• Report movement-work updates to the ELL Director.
• Maintain regular attendance and punctuality, operate safely, and follow policies and procedures.
• Perform other duties and projects as assigned.

Benefits

• Defined benefit pension plan.
• 403(b) match.
• Vacation, paid time off, sabbaticals, extended leaves, and holidays.
• Participation in unemployment, workers’ compensation, and Social Security.
• The posting describes a comprehensive medical and hospitalization plan and term life and short- and long-term disability benefits as part of the Total Rewards package, but explicitly states that these insurance benefits are not provided with this position.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED