About PJALS
The Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane (PJALS) engages everyday people to build a just and nonviolent world. Our approach is community organizing and grassroots leadership development for peace, racial equity, economic justice, and human rights. We are an independent, multi-issue, membership-based organization founded in Spokane County in 1975.
PJALS 2023 strategic priorities are:
- Ending mass incarceration and systemic racism in our regional criminal system including defeating the Nov 2023 ballot measure to fund a new jail
- Countering white nationalism through intersectional antiracist organizing
- “Education for Action” on racial justice and grassroots organizing
- Building Organizing Leadership Development (BOLD) program of member education and deep canvassing
- Young Activist Leaders Program (YALP) of workshops and leadership development
Come be part of our team to organize for peace and justice! Learn more about PJALS: www.pjals.org/values
Position Summary
The PJALS Community Organizer works with the PJALS membership to further our social justice agenda through activism, policy and legislation work, and long-term organizing. The role of the Community Organizer is to develop the skills, leadership, strategy, and capacity of our Peace & Justice Action League of Spokane community to build the grassroots power needed to win.
Community Organizer Duties
- Inspires and motivates others to take action; member engagement and leadership development through recruiting, building relationships with, training, and involving member volunteers; staffing member-led committees.
- Campaign planning and hands-on organizing, including strategy development, meeting planning, community outreach and mobilization.
- Manage campaign and event messaging and communications including email and earned media.
- Represent PJALS to the public, members, coalitions, and partners.
- Develop and use weekly work plans to manage multiple projects.
- Other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
- At least one year organizing or related experience.
- Understanding of the importance of strategic campaigns to build long-term collective power.
- Ability to apply intersectional racial equity lens.
- Ability to build respectful relationships across race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, gender, faith, age, ability, and other identities to increase recognition of mutual interest, shared values, and sense of community.
- Approaches leadership with a mindset of “power with” rather than “power over;” includes others in planning and decision-making.
- Strong written and verbal communications skills.
- Excellent work habits, project tracking, and time management skills; ability to juggle competing demands and prioritize what’s most important.
- Ability to maintain a steady approach while adapting for rapid response.
- Familiarity with Google Suite, Google Drive, Microsoft Office, Zoom, database management, and email alerts.
- Desire to sharpen skills and analysis, receive feedback, and contribute to organizational success.
Preferred Qualifications
- Lived experience related to our mission, values, or organizing priorities.
- Familiarity with Marshall Ganz and/or Midwest Academy organizing models, nonviolence skills and analysis, and race-class narrative research. (Training will be offered for those not familiar!)
- Facilitation and agenda development skills for committees, coalition meetings, and “education for action” workshops.
- Anti-racism facilitation experience and familiarity with racial affinity groups.
- Experience in phone banking, text banking, canvassing, and script creation.
Other position details
The Community Organizer reports to the Executive Director. The position is full time (36 hours per week), hourly, involves some evening and weekend work, and is based in Spokane County.
Benefits: Dental coverage; 100% employer-paid healthcare with a Kaiser Permanente Gold Plan including vision; 401k with 10% employer match; 11 paid holidays, paid organization-wide breaks in August and December, and 15 paid leave days annually.
Compensation range: $50,500-62,000 depending on experience.
Target start date: May 2023
To apply
Please send a cover letter and resume with 3 references, with subject line “PJALS Community Organizer” to [email protected]. Application deadline: March 27, 2023.