We’re hiring a housing organizer. Apply or share!

Update: We’ve filled this position.

Southside Together Organizing for Power, which stopped the displacement of over 600 units of affordable housing in Woodlawn and helped win passage of the CBA housing ordinance to stop displacement around the Obama Center, is hiring a housing organizer! Help STOP take our CBA work to the next level and continue to build the power of low income and working-class Black tenants in Woodlawn and surrounding neighborhoods.

Organizational overview

STOP is a community organizing organization based in the Woodlawn neighborhood which has been at the cutting edge of transformational racial justice organizing on the south side of Chicago for 15 years. We co-led the campaign for a $40M south side trauma center and stopped the displacement of 504 units of subsidized housing, ensuring their redevelopment without displacement. We have also co-led the fight for the recently passed CBA Housing ordinance to stop displacement around the Obama Center and the campaign to reopen the closed public mental health clinics. STOP’s mission is to advance economic and social human rights by organizing and developing leadership among people most affected by economic and racial oppression. STOP's programs engage in direct action organizing and leadership development, action research and popular education, and alliance building. We have three main programs that organize around: housing, mental health, and youth.

Job description

The STOP Housing Organizer will work to build the strength and power of the Housing Program and its campaigns. The Housing Organizer, in collaboration with the other Housing Organizers, will oversee the implementation of STOP Housing Program leadership development, base-building and campaign plans. This job requires a person who relates well to a variety of people, has experience in and respect for developing grassroots leaders, and is comfortable representing the organization. Specific duties include: outreach/education to our base and the broader communities in which STOP is active; planning trainings and workshops for members; preparing members to plan and facilitate meetings and events; developing and implementing action research plans, and fundraising.  Systems management and administrative duties are required such as use of contacts database. The Housing Organizer is supervised by, evaluated by, and reports to the Executive Director.

Essential responsibilities

Build STOP’s base

• Develop and implement base-building plans with tenants associations and coalitions

• Conduct outreach, including door-to-door outreach, presentations to community organizations, and follow-up with people who contact STOP

• Set and meet goals for specific numbers of individuals to reach, recruit, and turn out for meetings and events. 

• Develop and maintain relationships with community members

• Organize meetings with current or potential members, working with members to prepare agendas and facilitate meetings.

Develop leadership

• Co-coordinate leadership development workshop training series

• Practice leadership development through day-to-day activation of members

Strengthen STOP’s campaigns

• Through one-on-ones, meetings, trainings and workshops involve members in planning and implementing campaign strategies

• Develop and implement action research plans with members

• Work with members to cut and frame issues and develop/implement media strategies, including media messaging, preparing for speaking to the media and critically assessing media coverage

Develop and broaden STOP’s alliances 

• Attend relevant coalition meetings with STOP members

• Build and maintain relationships with allies and potential allies

• Recruit STOP members to attend key actions and events put on by organizations working in solidarity with STOP

Strategic planning

• Help plan/facilitate strategic planning retreats with staff and members

• Participate in evaluation and reflection activities

Manage and coordinate work of volunteers

Fundraising

• Support tenants in planning and implementing grassroots fundraisers

• Support individual donor fundraising

• Assist in grant writing and/or soliciting input from tenant members into grants

Systems and administrative

• Collect and organize sign in sheets and minutes from all meetings.

• Submit timesheets every two weeks for the prior two weeks worked.

• Produce a written bi-weekly workplan outlining goals for the month and activities to achieve those goals.

• Check email daily, Monday – Friday, and respond to emails within 24-48 hours during business hours.

• Respond to text messages

• Track turnout and base building activities using database.

• Complete other documentation as needed in an accurate and timely manner

Office hours

• This applies to a post-pandemic time when we fully returned to the office: Keep at least 20 hours of office hours per week. This should be at a time that is convenient for your leaders and members to meet with you. It should be a standing time that can be posted in the office. The intention is to make your program accessible to your leaders, members and base. You can setup meetings during your office hours.

• Assist with routine office tasks such as data entry, office upkeep, answering and responding to phone calls and emails.

Qualifications

• Commitment to STOP’s issues and values including economic and racial justice, gender equity, and human rights

• Minimum 3 years experience in grassroots organizing, including outreach, leadership development, campaign planning, and direct action.

• Familiarity with affordable housing issues

• Interest in advancing housing as a human right

• Ability to get along well with people from diverse backgrounds

• Knowledge of Woodlawn, Kenwood, South Shore and other south side communities

• Familiarity with other community organizations in Chicago

• Awareness of community resources and ability to network to build community relationships

• Strong writing and speaking skills, including large group presentations

• Self motivated, independent problem-solvers and works well as part of a team

• Commitment to fostering a work environment and organizing campaigns that challenge and undo racist, classist, sexist, homophobic, anti-immigrant and other forms of prejudice and oppression

• Good personal organization skills, ability to handle multiple tasks and prioritize and use time effectively

• Proficiency with word-processing, Google spreadsheets, e-mail and internet, or commitment to learn (training can be provided). 

• Willingness to work regularly on evenings and some weekend hours

• Possession of a High School Diploma or GED.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent through work experience.

This position is available immediately.
Salary and benefits: Full time salary: $35-40K, vacation, benefits, and transport reimbursement.
How to apply: send cover letter, resume, and three references to Alex at jobs@stopchicago.org.

Southside Together Organizing for power is an equal-opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, age, nationality, sexual orientation, religion, disability or any other factor not specifically related to the ability to perform the job at hand.