The Organization
Faith in the Valley is a multi-faith, multi-racial coalition of congregations and organizations working towards a more racially and economically just, compassionate, equitable, and thriving Central Valley.
Faith in the Valley-Stanislaus County 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.
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.
Role Overview
Faith in the Valley is seeking a Community Organizer to join our talented and diverse staff team in STANISLAUS COUNTY. Community Organizers with Faith in the Valley work to engage and develop grassroots leaders based in member congregations and their surrounding neighborhoods. The role of an organizer is to identify, recruit and develop teams of leaders who exercise their collective power and agency by putting their faith into action in the public square. Organizer sees themselves, and their success, in the development of others.
Primary Responsibilities
- Relationship Building:
- The organizer will identify and recruit community and faith leaders from faith institutions in the area by conducting five to fifteen one-to-one relational meetings on a weekly basis.
- Work in diverse faith communities throughout the county to support social justice in their institutions.
- Training & Leadership Development:
- Develop and train community leaders and faith leaders on key matters including narrative building and social justice issues.
- Train and develop community leaders from member institutions to act in the public arena.
- Participate in the PICO CA and Faith in Action trainings and events.
- Analysis & Strategy:
- 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.
- Data:
- In charge of reporting staff reports, work plan and updating the universe of leaders in database.
Skills
- High school diploma or G.E.D preferred
- Knowledge and experience of Microsoft Word and Google Suite
- Strong interest in addressing social justice issues
- Have an initial understanding of social justice issues affecting Central Valley communities
- Ability to work with diverse faith institutions and ethnic communities
- A 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
- Willing to work as a member of and contribute to staff and regional team
- Desire to learn and openness to challenge yourself and others
- Ability to speak a second language preferred
- Experience with public policy analysis, voter engagement, advocacy or organizing, preferred
- Previous organizing experience and/or social justice experience is highly desirable
Compensation and Benefits
- Salary: $66,560
- 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 a 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)