API PA Paid Canvasser Philadelphia County

Part-Time, Full-Time, Hourly, Non-Exempt – Temporary position from early September 2026 through early November 2026 in Philadelphia County, reporting to the Civic Engagement Organizer.

Who We Are

The Asian Pacific Islander Political Alliance (API PA) builds 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
• 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.

The Work You’d Be A Part Of

API PA will launch programs in Fall 2026 to:

• Learn about issues that matter to Asian Pacific Islanders in Pennsylvania
• Encourage Asian Pacific Islanders to register and vote
• Educate individuals on elections and candidates for office
• Ensure API voters have in-language support for voting-related needs

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

Responsibilities

• Door-to-door canvassing using the MiniVAN Canvassing app to engage voters in face-to-face 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
• Tech literacy, including use of cell phones, tablets, Google Maps, and data entry via apps
• Conversational fluency in English

Skills

Necessary Skills

• 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 Skills

• 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 early September 2026 through early November 2026

Pay

Hourly rate: $21/hour starting

Benefits

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