Job Description

Full job description

SOUL is a not-for-profit organization whose mission isto assist low-income people of color in the Chicago Southland to build power, then subsequently leverage that power to fight for their own interest and liberation. We achieve this mission by partnering with congregations, people of faith and local community groups, training them in disciplined organizing strategies, to build leadership, impact public policy, engage in direct action, and hold their public officials accountable to the interest of their communities.

We are dedicated to the belief that all people deserve decent and affordable housing, access to healthy, nutritious food in every neighborhood, and a sanitary environment where people will be able to breathe clean air and drink clean water. We are working to create a full-employment economy, so that everyone (despite the color of their skin, their economic demographic, prior criminal history, etc.) has the opportunity to work with access to gainful, sustainable, living-wage employment. We believe that good, quality public education is a right and not a privilege. And we are committed to ensuring that public funds are leveraged fairly, to invest resources in the communities that need them the most and not redistributed to keep local economies beholden to corporate greed.

Now, let’s talk about you. The right person loves people and is passionate about building community. They are willing to fearlessly stand up in the face of oppression and tirelessly work to bring others with them. They are a natural recruiter who can bring people together to mobilize and build power. They look at an issue, develop a strategy, and collectively plan to address it. They want to create spaces for people to have a political home -- and they are looking for an organization to build and grow with.

At SOUL, we understand that the most vital organizing experience can’t always be captured on a resume. We want someone with strong ties to communities and experience or contact with the criminal justice system. Therefore, individuals with a criminal background are encouraged and welcome to apply.

Here are the particulars --

Reporting to the Executive Director, Director of Organizing, and Director of Movement Building, the Community Organizer works to build a base around SOUL’s campaigns which focus on divesting from policing and jails and investing in communities. SOUL’s campaigns range from budget campaigns at the county level to water affordability at the city level and so much more. We are looking for someone passionate about everything we work on and able to organize around a variety of issues with a diverse base. SOUL works with low income communities focused on the far southside of Chicago and the south suburbs. We are proud to work with individuals with connections to incarceration and as an organization hold strong abolitionist values. SOUL Organizers are able to adapt to organize in varying communities centering those most marginalized by society. SOUL is affirming of LGBTQ identities, racial identities, and class differences.

Responsibilities:

• Build relationships with impacted residents and deepen their participation in environmental justice concerns in their neighborhood.
• Train community leaders in organizing skills and understanding the political landscape. Engage community leaders in having leadership roles in organizing an environmental justice campaign.
• Build a consistent organizing committee of impacted residents to move strategic planning of the campaign.
• Work closely with SOUL organizing staff and leaders to develop, refine and further the goals of the campaign.
• Promote the environmental justice campaign to earn media coverage and bring increased exposure to our issues.
• Build and nurture relationships with other environmental and/or social justice organizations around our work.
• Connect the environmental justice campaign to the larger vision and work of SOUL.
• Build leadership committees (task forces) within congregations, community groups and other institutions that integrate people more deeply into SOUL’s work
• Recruit new leaders into SOUL.
• Mobilize SOUL leaders and member institutions around other priority campaigns and actions
• Plan and facilitate public meetings
• Raise money via individual donors and crowdsourcing
• Collect membership dues
• Occasional communications work (e-newsletter, social media, etc.)
• Attend local and national training programs as required by the Executive Director
• Represent SOUL through participation in coalitions and work groups
• Willingness to do door-to-door canvassing to engage community residents on various issues
• Stay current on issues vital to the affected communities, the political landscape, and other matters that affect the ability of SOUL to fulfill its mission, goals and objectives.

Recruitment and Leadership Development

• Recruit new leaders, particularly those who are newly activated by racial justice protests, the formerly incarcerated, and others directly impacted by incarceration
• Build relationships with Southland Chicago residents and deepen their participation in reimagining safety in their neighborhoods
• Build and maintain relationships with individual leaders and members via one-on-one conversations to identify their self-interest in community organizing and movement-building, and work with them to use SOUL as a vehicle to meet those interests
• Train community leaders in organizing skills and understanding the political landscape
• Engage community leaders in having leadership roles in organizing Mass Liberation campaigns that reimagine our justice system
• Build a consistent organizing committee of impacted residents to move strategic planning of campaigns
• Build leadership committees (task forces) within congregations, community groups, and other institutions that integrate people more deeply into SOUL’s work

Campaign Work

• Work closely with SOUL organizing staff and leaders to develop, refine, and further campaign goals
• Bottomline your own campaign with support from other staff
• Promote campaigns to earn media coverage and bring increased exposure to our issues
• Build and nurture relationships with other organizations around SOUL’s work
• Connect Mass Liberation campaigns to the larger vision and work of SOUL
• Mobilize SOUL leaders and member institutions around other priority campaigns and actions
• Plan and facilitate public meetings

Qualifications:

• Action Oriented – enjoyment of working hard and looking for challenges; ability to act and react as necessary and respond rapidly, even if limited information is available; a high degree of independence, flexibility, initiative, and self-motivation.
• Partnership and Relationship Building – experience cultivating, engaging, and managing partnerships with multiple stakeholders to achieve outcomes; strong teamwork skills and track record working collaboratively with colleagues across departments and functions.
• Communication Ability – excellent writing and speaking skills; experience facilitating meetings and workshops; ability to work effectively with internal and external stakeholders; ability to develop effective partnerships.
• Results Orientation – track record of accomplishing goals and a bottom-line orientation; evidence of the ability to consistently make good decisions through a combination of analysis, experience, and judgment; and creative solution-oriented project management.
• Operational Management – experience and demonstrated success in setting goals and objectives, managing outcomes, and developing and using data to inform continuous improvement and decision making.
• Commitment to SOUL’s Mission – strong commitment to SOUL’s mission and social justice; deep understanding of the needs of faith-based institutions and low-income communities in Chicago.

Other Qualifications:

• Individuals with deep roots in the Chicago Southland (far south side and south suburbs) strongly encouraged to apply
• High school diploma or equivalent; some college coursework preferred
• Experience in community organizing and/or social justice work is preferred
• Comfortable organizing clergy and religious institutions
• Strong attention to detail and excellent time-management skills
• Impeccable problem-solving skills
• Ability to work flexible hours when needed including nights and weekends
• Car and a valid driver’s license
• Proficient computer skills and familiarity with Google Tools

We believe that the issues we work on directly harm the most marginalized people in society — including Black people, people of color, people living in Chicago's Southside communities, people from working class backgrounds, women and LGBTQ+ people. We believe that these communities must be centered in the work we do. Hence, we strongly encourage applications from people with these identities or who are members of other marginalized communities.

Whether your resume shows your organizing chops or not, please write us a cover letter about why you want to throw down with SOUL. Don’t tell us what you’ve done; tell us your vision for the world and how you plan to get there. We’re not looking for someone who wants a job; we’re looking for someone hungry to build power to transform their community.

Anticipated Start Date: January 2025

To apply: send a cover letter and résumé to our Organizing Director Ab Weeks at Ab@soulinchicago.org

For more information, please go to or check out our social media which is frequently updated at @soulinchicago

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $45,000.00 - $50,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Weekends as needed

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Ability to Relocate:

• Chicago, IL 60628: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

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