Community Organizer Job Opening

THE OFFICE OF THE COMMUNITY LIAISON FOR THE NYC “STOP & FRISK” LITIGATION

JOB POSTING:  COMMUNITY ORGANIZER

1. Background

The United States District Court of the Southern District of New York is requiring the New York City Police Department (NYPD) to implement a series of reforms in connection with its stop, question, and frisk policing and trespass enforcement practices as the result of three lawsuits against the City and the NYPD (Floyd v. City of New York, Davis v. City of New York, and Ligon v. City of New York).

The Court appointed the Monitor to oversee the remedial process and report to the Court on the NYPD’s compliance. As a part of the Monitor’s role in overseeing the remedial process, it is critical that community members and organizations have an opportunity to provide input and feedback regarding their perspectives and experiences with the NYPD and its members as they relate to stop, question, and frisk policing and trespass enforcement practices, including any instances of racial bias. The perspectives of the communities most affected by the NYPD’s practices are critical and integral to the reform process. As a result, the Court appointed a Community Liaison to engage with the City’s communities to obtain this input and feedback, and work with the Monitor and the Parties to ensure that community members’ voices are heard and that the community’s feedback is considered in implementing the necessary Court-ordered reforms. To accomplish this goal, the Community Liaison established the Office of the Community Liaison (OCL) and has hired community organizers to implement a Community Engagement Plan.

OCL currently has an opening for a community organizer who will focus primarily on outreach in the Bronx, and fluent in the Spanish language. To learn more about the Monitorship, visit the website: nypdmonitor.org

2. Essential Functions

The Community Organizer will work under the direction of the Community Liaison to support opportunities for community engagement including by leading, facilitating and/or attending community events and activities hosted by community organizations and groups, building and maintaining relationships with those partner organizations. In this role, the Community Organizer will:

• Conduct outreach and increase community engagement by offering community members greater access to information and more opportunities to be heard, including about racial bias in street encounters, vehicle stops, and trespass enforcement;
• Engage community organizations, community leaders, youth, and other stakeholders in the reform process by developing opportunities for dialogue.
• Using social media and other digital tools to support community engagement;
• Organizing and delivering information sessions designed to assist people in advocating for themselves and participating in police reform efforts
• Connecting community members with agencies and organizations that may provide services or advocacy outside the scope of the Monitor
• Representing the Community Liaison at community events citywide.
• Working flexible hours outside of normal business hours and on weekends, as required
• Other duties as assigned

3. Qualifications

The candidate will be able to demonstrate a strong commitment to racial and social justice, and will be willing and able to work independently toward shared team goals, primarily in the community rather than an office setting. They will be excellent communicators and relationship-builders, and familiar with the use of social media and other online tools for community engagement. They will be organized, collaborative, and comfortable working in a fast-faced and unpredictable environment. Experience in police reform, community, labor, issue, or political organizing is important. Other qualifications include:

• GED, high school diploma, three years’ relevant work experience, or some combination of these is required
• Demonstrated experience with community outreach or activism in the New York City area
• Experience working in coalition-based campaigning is desirable
• Understanding of the New York City criminal legal system
• Ability to foster constructive and respectful working relationships with people from diverse backgrounds, including those from racially diverse, underserved and unserved communities
• Basic computer skills (email, internet, word processing, google docs, and communication tools such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams)

• Ability to engage, build relationships, and demonstrate empathy with youth and adult individuals
• Demonstrated experience, either paid or unpaid, working with justice system-involved people, especially young adults, migrants, and gender-expansive people.
• Strong organizational, multi-tasking, and follow-through skills with the ability to coordinate multiple tasks and responsibilities
• Capacity to work both independently and collaboratively with team members across multiple locations
• Ability to work non-traditional week and weekend hours
• Valid driver’s license desirable but not required
• Proficiency in languages other than English desirable but not required
• Strong oral and written communication skills, including experience facilitating workshops, and outreach at community and other events

IV.           Compensation

The position is funded entirely by the City. The chosen candidate will be an independent contractor and will not be considered a federal court employee or a City employee. An annual contract, paid in monthly installments of $5,750+, does not include benefits or payroll deductions.

V.           Location

The Community Organizer should live in the New York City area and will be expected to travel around the City for community meetings, staff meetings, and events, and will not be expected to report daily to a physical office or location but will be expected to respond to phone and email communications (on equipment supplied under contract). An Unlimited Metrocard will be provided.

 Application Details

• Please submit a cover letter and resume to:  workwithcommunityliaison@gmail.com
• Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

Employment is based solely on qualifications and competence for a particular position, without regard to race, color, ethnic or national origin, age, religion, creed, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or marital, military, or citizenship status. We also actively recruit individuals directly impacted by the criminal legal system. The NYPD Monitorship is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity for all applicants and, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and city laws, does not discriminate on the basis of: sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions); sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; race; creed; color; religion; political affiliation; national origin; alienage or citizenship status; ancestry; age; marital status or partnership status; caregiver status; family responsibilities; disability; medical condition; personal appearance; genetic information; predisposing genetic characteristics; military or veteran status; status as a victim of domestic violence, stalking, and sex offenses; arrest or conviction record; pending cases; cannabis use; consumer credit history; salary or pay history; unemployment status; or on any other basis prohibited by law.

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