Community Organizer

Position: Community Organizer
Salary: $21.63+ (depending on experience), Non-Exempt
Hours: 5-days a week, 8-hours a day (Some Weekends Required)
Benefits: Paid Time Off, Holiday Pay, Leadership Development Fund, Wellness Fund, and Health Insurance (Employee Only Health, Dental, and Vision)
Location: Majority onsite, seasonal remote
Reports to: Director of Organizing and Advocacy

Asian American Organizing Project (AAOP) is a non-partisan organization led by and for young Asian Minnesotans in the Twin Cities. Through our grassroots organizing efforts and programming, we aim to develop young Asian community leaders to resist oppression and co-create a more just future for their families, schools, communities, and cities.

The purpose of the Community Organizer position is to lead AAOP’s community organizing and base building efforts, and support AAOP’s Organizing and Advocacy program. The Community Organizer is responsible for organizing meaningful relationships, leading an aligned young people’ organizing agenda, providing volunteer activities and training, and creating community events to raise awareness and impact on our campaigns. This position will work closely with the Director of Organizing and Advocacy to strengthen our organizing impact with youth and young Asian voters and community members, develop a base of empowered volunteers, and ensure the presence of young Asian people are heard and felt. The Community Organizer is a key leader within and outside of AAOP to equip and support our volunteers and
leaders to build momentum in our organizing efforts, and bridge across people power for systemic change.

Please submit a resume along with a brief cover letter highlighting experience with the following qualifications to jobs@aaopmn.org. Include the Community Organizer in the Email Subject. Applications are reviewed and interviews are scheduled on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Community Organizing and Base Building

• Support and lead our base building design, metrics and strategy, and lead in the implementation of our multi-year base building and mobilization efforts
• Set up weekly 1:1s with community members and identify community needs, ideas, and solutions; ensuring there’s alignment with AAOP’s annual objectives and mission
• Network and navigate the community, civic, and political landscape to best organize our bases’ power and role
• Utilize the power of storytelling as creating change tool to develop key narratives that reflects our youth Asian base’s values and community clear actions towards positive change
• Support and consult on advocacy and campaign projects and raise community awareness
• Lead community-related meetings, logistics, scheduling, and create and maintain records, reports, presentations, and proposals; importantly, keep all members of team up-to-date on base building strategy and volunteer priorities and concerns as necessary
• Assist in development of communication materials related to community organizing priorities and events, and support with field messaging and implementation
• Support growth and development of AAOP’s base building and volunteer plans and presence
• Monitor implementation of community engagement best practices, and non-partisan compliance with the organization’s standards, policies, and strategies
• Other duties as assigned

Volunteer and Data Management

• Recruit and communicate volunteer opportunities, and manage volunteer database and source through various techniques (database, email, social media etc) for recruitment.
• Manage volunteer activities, events, and schedules such as establishing annual volunteer training, shifts, and appreciation events; and assign responsibilities to the right volunteer for events
  Maintain relationship and have targeted 1:1 meetings; and keep detailed records of volunteer’s information and assignments
  Setup up My Campaign logistics and data in VAN such as volunteer recruitment shifts and scripts via phone; and prepare materials and technology for volunteer recruitment activities
  Report to Director of Advocacy and Organizing bi-weekly on recruitment outcomes and progress to goals; annually, support in reporting field activities, goals and outcomes to local and national partners
  Responsible for meeting data submission deadlines, and stay up to date on VAN and data management related trainings and workshops
  Other duties as assigned

Community Education Workshops and Events

• Create and facilitate informative, community empowerment, and resourceful workshops and materials related to organizing objectives, and based on community needs
• Plan and implement key annual community workshops and events, and coordinate with staff and volunteer leads including partnerships.
• Develop and foster dialogues to empower and equip volunteer teams to outreach to our base to take action and participate in our efforts.
• Other duties as assigned

Organizational Culture
In a transformative organization, AAOP believes that the overall strategies should be owned by every single person in AAOP. As such, it is the responsibility of all staff to understand the overall mission, vision and direction the organization is moving towards. One must be accountable to their own work and responsibilities, while supporting and coaching each other to produce high impactful and innovative strategies for the overall success of the organization. This means taking ownership of the organization as a whole. Which means that 10% of your role may include stepping up, taking charge, rolling up your sleeves and supporting each other in functions and activities such as special events, special projects, program design and implementation, fundraising, grant writing, community support, board and funders meeting,
office support and other minor duties as assigned.

While it is the responsibility of each member to meet their work expectation, it is also critical to maintain a balanced work-life culture. AAOP believes that when we all work to support each other in the overall mission and vision of the organization, we all succeed. This will help AAOP create a work culture that is inclusive, free of bias, socially and culturally conscious and equitable.

Minimum Education and Experience
A combined minimum of two years of experience in the following: community outreach and organizing, networking and partnership, storytelling, 1:1 meetings with community members, civic engagement, public speaking, and facilitation. Comparable experience in terms of time and background in similar fields and education/degrees will be considered.

Required Qualifications

• Volunteer recruitment and management, and working cooperatively with community members
• Networking and meeting with community members, volunteers, and leaders on a daily basis
• Developing, training, and using effective advocacy and community organizing approaches
• Familiarity with the Twin Cities and metropolitan geography, demographics, communities and cultures; especially the Asian American, immigrant and refugee communities
• Knowledge of the civic and political structure at the local and state level, and engagement and organizing with people of all backgrounds and identities
• Implementation of strategic planning activities through a intersectional and equity lens, team building, and problem-solving skills, and ability to speak and facilitate in front of a group of people and the public
• Strong organizational, time management, multi-task, and communication skills (written and verbal) including ability to articulate progress, concerns, and recommendations in a concise and timely manner.
• Strong Computer skills, proficiency with Google Suite and online databases, spreadsheet, presentation and database management
• Knowledge of and commitment to social and racial justice personally and professionally.
• Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment, taking ownership and accountability, and initiative with minimal direction.
• Some evenings and weekends required to meet programming needs.
• Availability and ability to travel statewide and nationally, including occasional overnight and multi-day travel.
• Must have a vehicle to transport people and supplies with a valid driver’s license
• AAOP requires that all employees are COVID-19 vaccinated unless you have a documented qualified reason not to be vaccinated (health, religious etc.)

Preferred Qualifications

• An advanced degree in an related field
  Background and experience in leadership development, empowerment, and storytelling
  Building and mobilizing individuals and volunteer teams
  Leading and planning successful mid-large scale community events including with partners
  Experience supporting a senior staff and providing guidance to other staff
  Ability to work on a small, collaborative team or in a small nonprofit organization.
  Preference given to someone who represents the community we serve especially local candidates

Compensation, hours, and benefits
Compensation for this position is $21.63+ per hour, depending on experience. This is a full-time (40 hours/week) and exempt position. This position is majority onsite with seasonal, hybrid remote and in person work. Attending staff and internal work meetings and sessions are mandatory.

Our compensation package includes:

• 80 hours of accrued paid time off annually
• 10 paid holidays per year
• $600 professional development, and $400 Wellness Fund per year
• Employee Only Health, Dental and Vision – 80% Employer and 20% Employee
• Organizational Paid Breaks: 2 Days for Spring, 2 Days for Fall, and 8 Days for Winter Break

AAOP does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, age, height, weight, physical or mental ability, veteran status, military obligations, status on public assistance, and marital status. We strongly encourage individuals who identify as or businesses led by Asian & Pacific Islanders, Black, indigenous, people of color, disabled, queer, trans and women to submit a proposal. AAOP is unable to provide VISA sponsorship at this time.