Community Organizer, PASO - Chicago (West Suburbs)

*P**.A.S.O. - Proyecto de Accion de los Suburbios del Oeste (West Suburban
Action Project) **is a grassroots community-based organization** working to
engage community members to act through their faith and values to address
issues that affect them, their families, and neighbors with the mission to
build stronger communities. P.A.S.O. is based on the social justice belief
that all community members should have the opportunity to live dignified
lives regardless of their race, ethnicity, socioeconomic or immigration
status. The main issue-areas PASO currently works on are immigration,
public safety, and education using community organizing, leadership
development, and civic engagement as tools for members to develop their
skills and use their own voices to be active participants of their
communities. P.A.S.O. is an institution-based organization serving the West
Cook Suburbs of Melrose Park, Stone Park, Maywood, Bellwood, Northlake and
Franklin Park.*

P.A.S.O. is currently seeking a Community Organizer/ Citizenship
Coordinator. We are looking for an energetic, self-starter with 1-2 years
experience in community organizing and/or political/legislative campaigns
(college campus work included as experience). Interested candidates must be
dedicated to developing local immigrant leadership and working within
multiple issue areas. Experience working within immigrant communities and
immigrant rights is highly desired.

This position would blend community organizing with programmatic
citizenship work. Our citizenship program provides support to eligible
community members through the citizenship process: providing free legal
screening, assistance with application completion, and referral to
citizenship classes. This program is part of our civic engagement
issue-area, focused in development of community members to be active ,
engaged participants of their community. To date, through our citizenship
program, we have outreach over 2,200 community members and assisted
hundreds begin the process and become citizens.

Citizenships Coordinator/ Civic Engagement Organizer will report directly
to the Senior Organizer.



*Duties include*:

*Community Organizer: *

  - Conduct 10 one-on-one meetings and house meetings each week with new
  or established leaders, clergy, and influential external leaders on a
  consistent and regular basis


  -  Recruit and develop new leaders and institutions to P.A.S.O.’s
  membership base


  - Assist community leaders in defining vision and goals, and train
  leaders to act in the public arena with measurable impact
  - Support membership teams in outreach, research, and strategic planning
  leading to large community actions.
  - Assist with integrating civic engagement into the full life of PASO
  members and leadership
  - Assist in providing regular organizing training for clergy, leaders,
  and community members in the principles and strategies of community
  organizing that draws from various models.
  - Support fundraising through members institutions, foundations, and
  individual donors


  - Meet on a regular basis with the Senior Organizer and Executive
  Director to plan and evaluate work progress.

*Citizenship Coordinator-*

  - ·         Develop outreach plan with other staff and citizenship
  leadership team and oversee execution of activities to promote the
  citizenship program and reach out to new applicants, including but not
  limited to outreach through faith institutions, businesses, local service
  providers, schools.
  -
  - ·         Develop new relationships with partners and institutions
  that share P.A.S.O.’s mission and engage them in the citizenship program
  and overall organization.
  -
  - ·         Recruitment, training and retention of a strong base of
  volunteers to provide support to the citizenship program including
  citizenship workshops, office hours, phone banking and outreach activities.
  -
  - ·         Organize and coordinate volunteer and new citizen
  recognition events.
  -
  - ·         Oversee citizenship program activities, including returning
  calls and providing assistance to interested applicants, submit outreach
  reports to ICIRR, oversee office hours and coordination of workshop with
  partner agencies.
  -
  - ·         Attend collaborative meetings for the citizenship program
  and other meetings in representation of PASO
  -
  - ·         Communicate and work with collaborative partner
  organizations in the evaluation and strengthening of citizenship program.
  -
  - ·         Develop media strategies and obtain earned media to
  highlight success stories of citizenship applicants and promote citizenship
  program.
  -
  - ·         Seek and develop funding opportunities for the citizenship
  program (i.e. scholarships for new citizenship applicants, etc)
  -
  - ·         Develop, maintain, and update listings of educational
  resources (such as English and citizenship classes, citizenship manuals,
  etc.) for applicants, and explore opportunities to connect applicants with
  those resources
  - Maintain citizenship and volunteer databases and reports



* Skills:*

·         1-2 years of experience with community organizing,
political/legislative campaigns and/or immigrant rights. Grant writing and
experience with media is a plus.

·         Fluency in both written and spoken Spanish and English

·         Excellent writing, verbal and interpersonal communication skills

·         Ability to work in a respectful manner with diverse communities
and faiths. Knowledge and respect towards immigrant communities

·         Demonstrated commitment to racial, social, and economic justice

·         High level of critical, creative and strategic thinking

·         Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Microsoft Word, Excel) and other
programs

·         Ability to work independently and multitask and work well as part
of a team

·         Self-driven and time flexibility (especially evenings and
weekends). This is a full-time position

* *

*COMPENSATION *Negotiable based on experience and skills. This full-time
position is available immediately. Send cover letter, resume and two
references to yeseniasanchez.paso@gmail.com *by April 30th*. Questions can
be sent via email or phone at 708-345-3632 x200.



*P.A.S.O. is an equal opportunity / affirmative action employer. People of
color, especially women, immigrants and children of immigrants are highly
encouraged to apply for this position.*