API PA Paid Canvasser Central PA

Temporary position with an immediate need beginning late August and concluding in November 2026, based in Harrisburg/Dauphin.

About the Organization

The Asian Pacific Islander Political Alliance's (API PA) mission is to build long-term power for Asians and Pacific Islanders in Pennsylvania by:

• coordinating political, electoral, and legislative work to hold elected officials accountable,
• engaging in culturally competent and linguistically accessible direct voter contact with our communities, and
• building solidarity with other aligned communities of color across the state.

We operate primarily in South Asian, Korean, Chinese, and Vietnamese communities and are the first and only political organization directly advocating for the needs of Asian and Pacific Islanders in Pennsylvania.

About the Role

API PA will be launching programs in Fall 2026 to:

• learn about issues that matter to Asian Pacific Islanders in Pennsylvania,
• encourage voter registration and voting,
• educate individuals on elections and candidates, and
• ensure API voters have in-language support for voting-related needs.

We seek passionate individuals with strong listening and communication skills to engage voters, with an emphasis on Asian Pacific Islander communities. Training and materials, including PPE, will be provided.

Responsibilities

• Door-to-door canvassing using the MiniVAN Canvassing app for face-to-face voter conversations.
• Tracking conversations in the provided canvassing platform.
• Participating in canvassing training and debriefing sessions.
• Attending organization-wide meetings and events as directed by supervisor.
• Other duties as necessary.

Requirements

• Vaccinated against COVID-19 and boosted (exemptions available for valid religious or medical reasons).
• Physically able to walk up to 2.5 miles per shift.
• Access to a cell phone and vehicle.
• Tech literacy: ability to use cell phones, tablets, Google Maps, and data entry via an app.
• Conversational fluency in English.

Skills

• Necessary:
  • Strong verbal communication and listening skills; outgoing and willing to discuss political issues with strangers.
  • Able to work independently.
  • Personal knowledge of or experience working with Asian American communities.
  • Ability to work with diverse staff.
  • Understanding of and commitment to API PA’s values, or strong willingness to learn.
• Desirable:
  • Conversational fluency in an Asian language (e.g., Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Khmer, Korean, Nepali, Arabic, Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil, Bengali, Gujarati, Urdu).
  • Prior canvassing or equivalent experience (e.g., sales, door-to-door marketing, phone banking, call centers).

Schedule

• 30 hours per week, with shifts of 6–8 hours.
• Flexibility to work weekends.
• Temporary role from late August 2026 through early November 2026.

Pay

Hourly rate: $21/hour.

Benefits

• Healthcare for full-time (30+ hours) employees.
• Paid time off and paid holidays.
• Travel reimbursement.
• Weekly pay.