Job Opening:

Grassroots Latino Organizer with Iowa CCI

Organizing for Social & Economic Justice on issues impacting Latinos

Position Description ?–
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (CCI) wants to hire another community organizer to focus on social and economic justice issues impacting Latinos in Iowa. The right candidate is highly motivated and passionate about standing up for what?’s right. The organizer would work as part of a team to continue building a grassroots group led by Latinos to address issues like worker justice, workplace safety, housing, predatory lending, police profiling, and comprehensive immigration reform. CCI has been organizing with Latinos for over 8 years.

Organizational Background ?–
Iowa CCI is a 35-year old multi-issue community organization whose mission is to empower and unite grassroots people of all ethnic backgrounds to take control of their communities; involve them in identifying problems and needs and in taking action to address them; and be a vehicle for social, economic and environmental justice.

We use organizing strategies that build people power and focus on civic engagement, leadership development, and holding institutions accountable to everyday people. We view community organizing as the most effective means for engaging people in true democracy to bring about progressive social change.

Iowa CCI members are everyday people who talk, act and get things done on issues that impact us the most ?– issues like a factory farm moving in next door and ruining your quality of life, or shady mortgage lenders taking advantage of hard-working families and causing foreclosures.

Since 1975, we?’ve turned declining neighborhoods around, saved family farms, preserved homes for families and become a force to be reckoned with. We have over 3,200 dues-paying members across the state from all walks of life ?– urban and rural, black and white, immigrants and lifelong Iowans ?– who believe in the power of uniting and standing up for what?’s right.

CCI staff have over 100 years of combined experience. They provide training and expertise, and it's our members who provide the focus, leadership and power in numbers to tackle tough issues and get things done. We are one of those unique organizations that is truly by the people and for the people.

Our community organizing is currently centered on five main program areas: 1.) farming and the environment (which includes our work on factory farm issues); 2.) housing and financial safety (which includes our work on predatory lending and the mortgage foreclosure issue); 3.) voter-owned clean elections (which includes our work on reducing big-money, special interest influence on political process); 4.) immigrant rights & worker justice (which includes our work with Latinos); and 5.) neighborhood-based issues.

We are fast-paced, energetic and recognized by other organizing groups and networks throughout the country as an organization that is effective at building power and creating change.

Community Organizer Responsibilities:
?• work with Latino members to identify issues that are important to them.
?• research issues raised by members, and train members to do research themselves.
?• hold planning meetings with Latino members to develop action strategies and plans for winning on issues and achieving goals.
?• assist members in carrying out agreed upon strategies to win concrete victories.
?• facilitate popular education and skills building trainings to develop the leadership of Latino members.
?• help carry out media strategies to raise awareness about issues and build support for our organizing.
?• sign-up new members, and train existing members to sign-up new members.
?• travel as needed outside Des Moines to organize meetings or campaigns in communities with a large number of Latinos.
?• assist with other project activities as needed (neighborhood issues, statewide organizing, national/regional issues, etc.).
?• do fundraising, grant writing and grant reporting.

Qualifications:
?• fluent in both English and Spanish
?• excellent verbal and interpersonal communication skills
?• ability to work well, and easily, with everyday grassroots people
?• excellent writing skills in both English and Spanish
?• good strategic thinking skills; attention to detail
?• ability to be creative
?• ability to work well as part of a team
?• ability to adapt to rapidly changing situations
?• not afraid to use confrontation as a tactic for winning justice
?• good computer skills
?• organizing experience and college education a plus
?• must have a car or have access to a car on a daily basis

Salary & Benefits:
Starting salary of $26,000. Excellent benefits include a great work environment with dedicated people, health and dental insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan, and generous vacation and PTO. Opportunities for advancement.

To Apply:
Email resume and 3 references by Friday, October 21st, 2011 to:
Hugh Espey, Executive Director
hugh @ iowacci .org

Please put ?“Latino community organizer?” in the subject line

Mailing address is:
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement
2001 Forest Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50311

Iowa CCI is an equal opportunity employer.