Source: Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN)
We are seeking a motivated and driven community organizer to build the power of grassroots Asian and Pacific Islander communities to advance environmental, social and economic justice. APEN was founded in 1993 to bring together a collective voice among diverse API communities to fight for the right of all people to a clean and healthy environment in which to live, work and play. Currently, the organization is embarking on an exciting and important campaign to ensure that API immigrants and refugees most impacted by climate change are at the forefront in fighting for a just transition from our current extractive economy to an economy that supports local community-owned renewable energy, clean energy jobs, and democratic governance. APEN’s key strategies are designed to build power necessary to make progressive change – base building and leadership development in Oakland Chinatown and the City of Richmond, statewide policy and electoral infrastructure, and movement-building to advance our social justice agenda.
The community organizer is a member of our organizing team who organizes and supports Chinese community members to lead campaigns and contest for power. The organizer plays a crucial role in leading our policy and campaign work, developing the leadership of our members to engage in advocacy, campaign, and electoral actions, and providing interpretation and translation to make these processes accessible to monolingual members. This position is full-time, primarily based in our Oakland, CA office with potentially some time spent in our Richmond, CA office. The Campaign & Organizing Director will be the direct supervisor of this position; however, the organizer will work closely in a team with other staff organizers.
• Contribute to setting organizing goals and plans for recruitment
• Conduct outreach and various activities to gain new members and new constituencies
• Ensure member participation in various leadership development and campaign activities
• Contribute to developing organizing systems and methods
• Interpret and translate activities & materials when necessary
• Coordinate & implement logistics for various activities, including providing transportation, arranging childcare
• Document & track the participation of members
• Support members to improve needed skills (e.g. public speaking, grassroots fundraising, critical thinking & analysis, campaign strategy, electoral phone-banking)
• Work with members to deepen political consciousness (e.g. critical analysis of political context; understanding of the importance of transformative organizing; shared commitment to vision; exposure to different social justice issues)
• Lead local and state campaigns, including political strategy development and alliance building
• Conduct research and analysis of policy/legislative changes that are needed
• Work with members to identify campaign demands
• Plan and implement campaign goals & activities
• Support members to lead campaign strategy & implementation
• Build relationships, alliances and coalitions to move campaigns
• Share, learn and exchange with other social justice allies
• Contribute to overall organizational integration and planning processes, including yearly & strategic planning
• Participate in grassroots & foundation fundraising
• Manage volunteers and interns when needed
• Fluency in Cantonese required, Mandarin proficiency also preferred.
• Experience working in the API community and social justice movement; community organizing experience preferred
• Experience working on campaigns and conducting advocacy desired
• Experience working with labor unions and/or on worker’s rights issues desired.
• Strong English communication skills (written & verbal)
• Self motivated, responsible, proactive, and disciplined
• Team-oriented, with a commitment to principled struggle
• Willing to work some evenings and weekends
• Willing to travel
• Must have a valid driver’s license and access to a car with valid insurance
Applications are due electronically to Mariko Masaoka-Drew, Operations Coordinator at apen [at] apen4ej [dot] org and must include:
Resume including chronological employment history
Cover letter describing interest in the position, qualifications, salary history, and expectations
Three references