Overview
The Community Organizer will join our Policy / Advocacy Department and play a pivotal role in advancing A New Way of Life’s policy and advocacy initiatives, promoting community participation, and advocating for criminal justice reform. In this role, you will mobilize directly impacted people, friends, families, and allies to build grassroots power, shape policy change, and raise awareness about issues related to mass incarceration and reentry. This position requires flexibility for occasional evenings, weekends, and travel within the Los Angeles area.
Key Responsibilities
- Organize Justice Campaigns: Lead and coordinate campaigns that support ANWOL’s policy and advocacy initiatives to reduce recidivism and expand reentry supports.
- Community Engagement: Represent ANWOL at meetings, events, and conferences to grow visibility and partnerships.
- Issue Monitoring & Awareness: Track criminal justice issues (mass incarceration, reentry) and share timely information to mobilize support.
- Civic Engagement: Plan and run phone/text banks, voter registration drives, and resource distributions at community events.
- Membership Development: Build and support membership for All of Us or None (ANWOL’s grassroots civil and human rights organization); facilitate monthly meetings and coordinate member activities.
- Collaboration & Networking: Maintain relationships with community-based organizations, youth and parent groups, businesses, and allied stakeholders.
- Activist Support Network: Cultivate a network of activists and allies for mutual support, rapid response, and leadership development.
- Leadership Development: Update and help deliver protocols for leadership workshops that empower emerging leaders.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in political science, social work, public policy, or related field preferred.
- Demonstrated experience in community organizing, advocacy, or civic engagement, ideally in criminal justice reform.
- Strong understanding of social justice issues, including mass incarceration, reentry, and civil rights.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; ability to engage and mobilize diverse stakeholders.
- Organized, self-directed, and collaborative in a fast-paced environment.
- Required: Vehicle, valid CA driver’s license, auto insurance; bondable.
Compensation & Benefits
- Competitive wages commensurate with experience
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance; Life/AD&D
- Paid time off (vacation, sick, holidays)
- 403(b) retirement plan with employer match
- Professional development opportunities
Work Schedule: Full-time with some evenings/weekends and frequent local travel within Los Angeles County.