12/08/00

Position: Organizer

Salary Range: $24,000-33,000 (dependent upon experience or demonstrated capacity), plus benefits

Reports to: Organizing Director

Date Required: Position Available Immediately (as of 12-05-00)

Description of Position

Stand For Children is a national voice for children's education, health and safety with three Chapters (Salem, Albany, Corvallis), 2 Chapters-in-Formation (Hillsboro, Beaverton), and 500 members in Oregon. Salem Stand for Children has made improvements in children's mental health services and increased children's access to dental care. Albany Stand For Children recently convinced their local school district to make adding elementary school counselors a district goal. Corvallis Stand For Children is pushing for Oregon's first child care provider wage ladder, which would provide wage enhancements to providers who improve their education level.

Statewide, Stand For Children members recently encouraged more than 40,000 voters to vote in accordance with their positions on 11 ballot measures, and members will soon select specific priorities for the coming legislative session. 2001 goals include: 10 Chapters, 2000 members, 1 statewide legislative success, and 15 local successes for children.

Stand For Children seeks talented, committed Organizers to organize strong, effective Stand For Children Chapters in and around Portland and Eugene-Springfield. After completing an initial training period, these Organizers will also have the opportunity to teach and support Stand For Children Chapters in the Western Region.

Specific Duties

In an initial organizing drive, the Organizer will:

• Identify and recruit Chapter leaders through face-to-face conversations and housemeetings.
• Teach and work with Chapter leaders on key aspects of organizing, including conducting face-to-face conversations and housemeetings, building Stand For Children Teams within their child care centers, schools, congregations, etc., leadership development, working effectively with decisionmakers, and moving from problems to solutions to effective action.
• Develop a strong enough group of leaders to move the Chapter forward with part-time Organizer support.

Skills

• During a 3 month trial period, successful candidates will demonstrate capacity in the following areas:
• Connecting with a wide range of people and recruiting members through face-to-face conversations.
• Facilitating concerns discussions in Housemeetings.
• Identifying, recruiting, and developing potential leaders through on-the-ground work and workshops.
• Scheduling, evaluating, and reporting on face-to-face conversations.
• Conducting briefings and evaluations with leaders.
• Effective phone calling and phone training
• Strategic planning and thinking
• Developing a power analysis of the community
• Effective time management for a 50-55 hour week.
• Ability to assess their own strengths, and those of others, and identify areas for improvement.

Qualifications and Personal Qualities

Community organizing or related experience; passion for children; commitment to Stand For Children's mission; desire to learn and grow; excellent listening and verbal skills; a sense of humor. Fluency or proficiency in Spanish, experience working with children, and knowledge of issues affecting children and families helpful.

 Email resume and cover letter to Jonah Edelman, Stand For Children's Organizing Director, at jonah@stand.org, fax to (801) 761-8913, or mail to 2811 NE Schuyler, Portland OR 97212. Visit www.stand.org for background information about Stand For Children. If you have questions about the position, call 503-997-5355.

Posted by Tricia Peterson (tpeterso@carleton.edu) Dec. 8, 2000