ONE Northside is seeking an energetic and highly organized Environmental Justice Organizer to make sure low-income people and Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color benefit from the transition to the green economy. A successful candidate for this position is an individual who takes initiative, has a track record of working with a diverse group of people, and wants to engage in organizing for change on the local, state and federal level. An ideal candidate is someone with an appetite to be a community organizer, build power, and who is rooted in a deep commitment to racial and social justice.  

‍

Organization Summary

Organizing Neighborhoods for Equality: Northside (ONE Northside) is a community organization resulting from the merger of Lakeview Action Coalition and Organization of the Northeast.  Together, LAC and ONE have a history of nearly 60 years of powerful and effective community organizing.  ONE Northside started on July 1, 2013.  ONE Northside organizes people from over 80 institutions as well as individual community residents from Rogers Park, Edgewater, Uptown, Ravenswood, North Center, Lake View, and Lincoln Park.  

Mission:  Organizing Neighborhoods for Equality: Northside is a mixed-income, multi-ethnic, intergenerational organization that unites our diverse communities. We build collective power to eliminate injustice through bold and innovative community organizing. We accomplish this through developing grassroots leaders and acting together to effect change.

‍

Position Summary

The ONE Northside Environmental Justice Organizer will recruit and organize a new base of community members interested in, and who will benefit from, the transition to the green economy, reducing utility bills and our carbon footprint, and ensuring effective implementation of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) in Illinois.  This will involve regular, independent door-to-door canvassing and phone banking, coalition work, and organizing marginalized populations in the community. The organizer will do this by building relationships within our member institutions, people living in affordable housing, and the broader community; working to identify leaders and develop their leadership abilities; organizing and attending campaign, coalition, and other organizational meetings; working with identified grassroots  leadership to coordinate comprehensive campaign strategies; conducting research; assisting with organizational events and trainings; and other tasks as needed.

‍

Responsibilities

Organizing

• Reach out  to tenants in naturally occurring or subsidized affordable housing buildings, clients at social service agencies, and other public institutions to identify new community leaders to take action on an environmental justice campaign
• Cultivate a diverse team of community members to develop winning strategies for ONE Northside Environmental Justice campaign(s) by creating and executing plans to achieve campaign goals. This will include using tactics such as meeting with elected officials, public education, direct action, strategic communications, and more.
• Conduct research on issues important to the organization and our campaigns, research issues raised by members, and train community members  to do research themselves.
• Mentor and develop the leadership skills of community members by supporting them in taking on roles in the environmental justice campaign and other organizational activities.
• Create and lead popular education and skill building trainings to develop the leadership of grassroots members.  
• Meet with grassroots and grasstops community members on issues impacting them, determine their interests, and bring them into the organization.
• Work with grassroots leaders to participate in city, statewide, and national coalitions that advance our campaigns
• Support the activities of ONE People’s Campaign, our 501c4 sister organization

Administration/Fundraising

• Prepare written reports, meeting summaries, press releases, and related materials as they pertain to the work
• Participate in quarterly grassroots fundraising tactics and support grant fundraising by identifying and drafting grant proposals and reports, participating in and preparing leaders for site visits.
• Participate in weekly staff meetings, quarterly staff retreats, quarterly Membership Council meetings
• Develop and maintain relationships with leaders in our institutional members, engage them in our quarterly membership meetings, and help recruit new institutional and individual members.
• Assist the management team with other tasks, as assigned

‍

Qualifications

• Familiarity with a diverse range of organizing tactics and strategies
• Proven ability to work with a diverse constituency, across lines of race, class, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religion and other differences
• Serious appetite and excitement to go door-to-door, make calls, meet new community members and bring them into the work
• Commitment to racial equity and overcoming white supremacy, you recognize the role of race, income, age, immigration status, and other identities in shaping disparities among communities and you consistently amplify community voices to advocate for more equitable solutions. You recognize how your own identities show up in the work, and welcome, reflect on, and act on feedback with an eye toward continuous learning about race, ability, and other lines of difference.
• Experience working in coalitions is a plus
• Effective communication skills
• Effective and creative problem solver
• Must be a motivated self-starter who can juggle many moving pieces
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Proficient with google suite and other computer skills

• Innovative, creative, mature thinking and reasoning
• Demonstrated commitment to (or interest in)  the profession of community organizing
• Willing to use confrontation as a tactic for winning justice
• Commitment to training and agitation methodology as a tool for growth and accountability
• BA degree or equivalent life experience
• Fluency in a second language is a plus
• Having a car is preferred

This is a community organizing job and will require attendance at night and weekend meetings. ONE Northside is an equal opportunity employer.

‍

Compensation

• Salary is in the $46,681 – $50,416 range, commensurate with experience
• Comprehensive benefits package includes employer paid medical and dental insurance. Employer contribution of 4% of salary into a retirement plan. 13 paid vacation and personal days the first year, 12 wellness days  and 18 paid holidays.

To Apply – Please send a resume and cover letter to Becky Wanberg at bwanberg@onenorthside.org with the subject line Environmental Justice Organizer.

‍