About Us
Faith in the Valley Kern is a multi-faith, multi-racial coalition of congregations and organizations working towards a more racially and economically just, compassionate, equitable, and thriving City and County of Kern. Faith in Kern is a chapter of Faith in the Valley, organizing to advance economic and racial justice in Kern, Fresno, Merced, Stanislaus, and San Joaquin counties. We have a vision for the Central Valley that embraces human dignity, values the full participation of every human being, and promotes the health, safety, and economic security of people across the Valley. Therefore, we are building local, county-wide, and regional power to disrupt systems of oppression, and advance a multi-issue agenda that is fundamentally about shifting the politics and the economy of the Central Valley in ways that make life better for all people. Faith in the Valley does this through an organizing process that develops local leadership and conducts research on how to have our collective voices heard by holding those in positions of power and authority accountable for serving the common good. We do this out of our faith – different faiths but united in how it compels us to fight for justice, dignity, and opportunity..
Faith in the Valley Kern is seeking a Community Organizer to join our talented and diverse staff team in Kern County. Community Organizers with Faith in the Valley Kern work to engage and develop grassroots leaders based in member congregations and their surrounding neighborhoods. Community Organizers train individual grassroots leaders and organizing teams to identify priority community concerns, research potential solutions and secure commitments from policy makers to implement these solutions to improve the community.
This is a full-time, non-exempt position. The Community Organizer develops and implements programs that drive community engagement and inspires community members to get involved in their local communities.
Our Work
Our organizing work will focus on issues like immigration, ensuring dignity and pathways to citizenship; creating healthy and affordable housing; reforming our criminal justice and law enforcement systems to push for greater community input into reforming our local law enforcement and criminal justice systems; positively serving all communities, ensuring children in every zip code can breathe healthy air; expanding access and affordability of our health care system to all families, and other issues lifted by local community members.
Responsibilities Include
- Work in diverse faith communities. Conduct one-on-one relational meetings every week with congregants and community members
- Work with faith and community leaders to support social justice in their institutions
- Work regionally with staff, faith and community leaders who are working on specific campaigns (e.g. restorative justice, immigration, and housing justice)
- Help to create and use a racial justice lens for policy and organizing work Participate in the PICO CA trainings and events.
- Support volunteer Organizing Teams in outreach, research, and strategic planning leading to large community action meetings at the local and county-wide levels.
- Create and deepen relationships with staff from strategic partners in community organizations, academia, labor, and public policy organizations.
- Work effectively as a team of Faith in Kern and Faith in the Valley staff with clergy, and lay leaders in regular professional development sessions.
- Meet on a regular basis with the Co-Directors of Staff Development to shadow, plan and evaluate work progress.
Skills
- BA degree, or equivalent work experience
- Strong interest in community and social justice issues
- Have an initial understanding of social justice issues affecting Central Valley communities Ability to engage, train, and develop community leaders to take action effectively in the public arena
- Ability to work with diverse faith institutions and racial/ethnic communities
- Deep respect for, curiosity about, and relative comfort with faith leaders and faith institutions
- Strong and effective communication skills
- Discipline and ability to work effectively in a highly unstructured environment
- Strong interpersonal and relational skills
- Capacity to think strategically and analytically about social, economic, cultural, and political issues affecting a community
- Desire to learn and openness to challenge yourself and others
- Discipline and ability to work effectively in a highly unstructured environment
- Desire to learn and openness to challenge Ability to speak a second language, preferred
- Experience with public policy analysis, voter engagement, advocacy or organizing, preferred
- Willing to work as a member of and contribute to a staff and regional team
- Previous organizing experience and/or social justice experience, highly desirable
Compensation and Benefits
- Salary: $62,400.00
- This is a full-time, exempt position.
- Includes regular evening work and some weekend work.
- Opportunities for advancement within FIV.
- Salary is very competitive and based on experience
- Benefits include health plan, retirement plan, and a 401K employer contribution.
Application Procedure
All applicants must apply for this position online. Please have the following documents ready to upload to your online application:
- An electronic file of your resume (preferably in PDF format)