Community Organizer

About the role

Founded in 2009, the Texas Organizing Project (TOP) has become the leading statewide organizing group in Texas, advancing racial and economic justice through community and electoral organizing. Our programs are anchored in the three largest metro regions of the state, Houston, Dallas and San Antonio. We have a base of over 277,000 members and supporters who are reflective of Texas’ growing population – people of color, low-moderate income families.

Through on the ground organizing, grass-roots leader training, direct action, policy advocacy and electoral engagement we have made gains in policy solutions and public investments in neighborhood infrastructure, family sustaining jobs, affordable housing, community schools, health access and immigrant rights. TOP also runs the largest independent grassroots electoral field operation in the state, activating over 200,000 voters of color each election cycle.

Responsibilities

Working under the supervision of the Lead Community Organizer, the Community Organizer will be directly responsible for building a base of directly impacted community members to establish an active committee who can effectively organize to win campaigns around racial and economic justice that begin to dismantle racial capitalism.

• Build a community centered membership base in support of black and brown unity
• Identify and develop grassroots leaders through ongoing organizing efforts
• Build a member organizing committee that creates and executes a plan to win campaign demands and build people power
• Organize events including house meetings, community listening sessions, committee meetings, and direct actions on at least a monthly basis
• Working with other staff and leaders to help develop a comprehensive strategy to advance campaign goals
• Conduct grassroots lobbying activities (ie petition drives, letter writing campaigns and meetings with local elected officials)
• Help develop and execute community organizing plans; map out key community and constituent targets; and identify, experiment with, and implement effective strategies to engage impacted communities
• Prepare written reports and compile statistical data as needed
• Consistently track and input data into EveryAction database, training provided
• Consistent (weekly) community outreach and base-building responsibilities, including but not limited to canvassing/door-knocking; phone banking, text banking, etc.
• Participation in electoral organizing during election season on an as needed basis, including canvassing/door-knocking, phone-banking

Requirements

• Demonstrated commitment to racial and economic justice issues
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and conversational skills
• Commitment to live out TOP’s values (solidarity, visionary, regeneration) and to do the challenging work of building a pro-Black organization
• Ability to work well with all religious, cultural, ethnic and social groups
• Must be committed to building Black & Latino power/solidarity
• Willingness to work long and often irregular hours including evenings and weekends (flex scheduling available)
• Valid driver’s license and full time access to a car
• Bilingual Spanish/English
• Computer competency – Google Suite, Internet required; Experience in working with database systems a plus

Pay and Benefits

Salary: $50,350 – 53,000. A generous benefits package includes: comprehensive medical, dental, vision, 401(k), paid holidays including a weeklong period of rejuvenation during the summer and at the end of each calendar year, personal leave, sick leave, and travel reimbursement.