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| mbrookes |
 Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 9:33 am |
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DPA DC Staff
Joined: 08 Jun 2009
Posts: 6
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Organization: DARE, Direct Action for Rights and Equality
Title: Community Organizer, Behind the Walls
Location: Providence, RI
Behind the Walls is DARE's effort to unite people inside the prison with former inmates and their friends and families to reform and challenge the criminal justice system. The project was founded in 1998 at the request of DARE members and people inside the state prison (the ACI). Around that time DARE had been receiving a lot of media attention for work the organization was doing against police brutality. People inside the prison recognized that police brutality and injustices in other aspects of the criminal justice system are all part of the same oppressive system and urged DARE to broaden our work. Many of these people are still involved in Behind the Walls and continue to provide us with input and ideas for our campaign work or they have joined us in person upon their release from prison.
The Community Organizer will work directly with formerly incarcerated people, and the friends and family of people currently in prison on implementing and changing criminal justice policy towards a model of Justice Reinvestment. The basic concept is that money currently being spent on incarceration and punishment could and should be reallocated and invested into programming that would prevent people from going to prison and that increased spending on social programs such as education, healthcare and housing would be more effective at increasing public safety.
Responsibilities
This is an organizing position, requiring long, flexible hours and the ability to juggle multiple responsibilities that advance DARE's mission and vision. Core responsibilities include:
Outreach and recruitment to people directly impacted by the criminal justice system and for general DARE membership through doorknocking, personal visits, outreach at the prison and other means.
Building a powerful, vibrant, effective committee: Develop leadership and active participation among members, recruit volunteers and coordinate the efforts of members and volunteers on campaigns.
Maintain Communication with people incarcerated at the Adult Correctional Facility. Answer letters, bring red-flag issues to the committee's attention, send quarterly updates about DARE's work, seek input and advice about campaign plans and directions.
Campaign Planning: Develop demands and strategies with committee members, help plan and carry out direct action campaigns and legislative campaigns that advance the goals of Behind the Walls and DARE.
Communications: Produce fliers, fact sheets, action alerts and press releases. Recruit and develop members as spokespersons. Educate public and key decision makers about campaigns and key issues, create and seize opportunities to take advantage of mainstream media to advance campaigns.
Relationship building and alliances: Maintaining and establishing new relationships with local and national allies that can support DARE's work.
Fundraising: Participate in all grassroots fundraisers, assisting with grant development, writing and reporting and development of membership participation in all grassroots fundraising activities.
Membership Development: Identifying potential and emerging leaders, and implementing leadership development plans. Holding individual problem-solving sessions for new and potential members. Assisting with all training and membership benefit programs as requested.
Organizational and Staff Development: Maintaining paper and computer records of assigned organizing campaigns and special projects, in accordance with established organizational systems. Providing support for organizational events, as requested. Taking part in training and development opportunities as requested. Other duties as requested by the executive director.
Qualifications
*Solid commitment to DARE's Principles of Unity (see below);
*Excellent communication skills, both oral and written;
*Understanding of issues and concerns facing low income communities of color;
*A strong ability to motivate people, coordinate volunteer activity and delegate responsibility;
*Working knowledge of the legislative process;
*Ability to develop and maintain relationships with a wide range of organizations and people;
*An understanding of criminal justice issues, and abolitionist theory and vision;
*Two years grassroots organizing experience;
*Willingness to work evenings and weekends as necessary.
*Proficient in basic computer skills, including word processing and layout;
*Ability to travel periodically;
*Bi-lingual (Spanish/ English) a plus.
*Persons who have been formerly incarcerated are encouraged to apply.
Compensation
This is a full-time equivalent (FTE) position. DARE may decide to hire one person or two part time staff for this position. Starting salary based on experience. Includes health, dental, and childcare stipend after successful probation period, and pension after one year. Paid vacation and sick days. Excellent training and support.
Send resume, three references and a detailed cover letter explaining why you are interested in the job and why you believe you are qualified for this position to: fred@daretowin.org or by mail to Fred Ordonez.
340 Lockwood Street. Providence RI 02907
About DARE, Direct Action for Rights and Equality
DARE's mission is to organize low-income families in communities of color for social, economic and political justice. DARE was founded in 1986 by residents in Providence's Southside who joined together to fight for basic improvements in their community. The early victories of their efforts taught them that there is strength in unity. DARE carries out its mission by:
*Base Building - We build a multiracial, multilingual membership from our communities. Members are the strength of the organization, and make decisions on campaigns, strategies, tactics, and organizational leadership.
*Conducting direct action organizing campaigns to win institutional change for our communities;
*Doing deliberate leadership development and political education; and
*Contributing to efforts to build a larger movement for social justice.
No matter what campaigns DARE is working on the organization is always striving to undo the underlying oppressions that are the root cause of the problems facing our communities. In 2005 our membership developed and approved the following set of Principles of Unity to guide our work:
We believe that poor and working class families, people of color, oppressed nationalities including immigrants regardless of documentation status, women, LGBTQ community members and youth must be at the forefront in leading the way to our liberation.
We believe that there are related systems of oppression and exploitation that are responsible for the conditions our communities face here and around the world, and that our work must challenge these forms of oppression.
Specifically, we fight against:
*Racism and white supremacy (oppression based on race and nationality)
*Sexism, patriarchy, and heterosexism (oppression based on gender and sexual orientation)
*Capitalism (oppression of the poor and working class by the rich and ruling class)
*Imperialism (oppression of entire nations and peoples by other nations and peoples).
We believe that these systems of oppression aim to maintain power by continuing to divide and conquer our communities; however our solidarity and strength is at its best when we understand and appreciate our various cultures, backgrounds, and histories.
We believe that our local struggles are connected to a larger movement of national and global struggles of oppressed people and that together, we need to move toward our goals of social, economic, and political justice.
We believe in creating long-term solutions that address the root causes of problems and in building real security in our communities and beyond, by addressing the origins of conflict and violence and by fostering greater commitment and accountability to one another. |
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