Participatory Defense Organizer
Grassroots Leadership is seeking a full-time Participatory Defense and Bond Fund Organizer for our Austin chapter. The position will be responsible for maintaining the PD member base in the corresponding city for which the applicant is hired. An ideal applicant will have the ability to work in a fast-paced environment, be a self-starter, and have experience with building relationships with members and families in supporting them with their court case or supervision. This position typically reports to the CJ Campaign Manager.
Essential duties and responsibilities:
Identify and conduct community outreach to identify impacted individuals and family members tangled in the criminal justice system.
Conduct PD Intakes and support families in identifying individual case interventions including court-watch, socio-bio packet, petitions, etc.
Support and coach family members on organizing, self-advocacy and craft plans of action accordingly.
Work with the campaigns manager to identify policy level campaign intervention is necessary, and develop a plan of action or campaign map accordingly.
In collaboration with CJ and Immigration organizers, to alternate answering the Hotline calls, coordinate and manage community defense hotlines with volunteers.
Refer individuals who are part of the PD program to Grassroots Leadership organizers.
Build relationships with members and/or families through 1-1s, welfare checks, and follow-up.
Coordinate with partner organizations and elected officials for case work
Schedule, plan, and facilitate in collaboration with the immigration team, in person and virtual PD family meetings
Document case notes in Google Drive or other software data used
Locate additional resources that may assist members
Develop and oversee bail process
Work with Development Manager to identify bail/bond fund fundraising opportunities
Track all bail/bond fund expenses separately from regular expense reports
Reentry support: Coordinate resources as needed by members
Manage the jail letter writing and commissary process
Identify potential leaders
Attend organizational standing meetings as identified
Monthly expense reports
Team budgets-create and implement
Any other tasks assigned by the CJ Campaign Manager
Experience, Knowledge, and skills required:
One or more years of experience in community organizing, base-building efforts, and facilitating leadership development amongst directly impacted communities
Knowledge of the criminal justice system and a commitment to ending the disproportionate impact of mass incarceration and criminalization on communities of color
Ability to organize and prioritize time.
Strong written and oral communication skills
Ability to craft agendas, facilitate meetings, and develop follow-up plans
Ability to work in a judgment-free environment and work with individuals who have multiple interactions with the criminal legal system
Ability and willingness to take initiative
Ability to work effectively with diverse individuals, coalition partners, and policy-makers
Strong ability to manage partner relationships and conflict
Ability to work in close proximity to others or alone, and manage multiple tasks simultaneously
Able to strategically adapt to rapidly changing situations in a politically challenging environment
Ability to work evenings and weekends
Comfort and prior experience with asking people to donate money to a good cause.
Familiarity with Office Suite products including but not limited to: Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Familiarity with Google products including but not limited to: Google docs, Google sheets, Google drive, Google Calendar, Google Meets and Google Forms.
Familiarity with Zoom
Must have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation
Strong applicants also have:
Case-work experience
Experience working with nonprofit and/or base-building organizations
Experience working with Every Action (CRM)
Direct experience with incarceration or immigrant detention of a loved one
Bilingual written and oral proficiency in English & Spanish
Have an unbiased mindset
More about the job:
This salaried position will be located in our Austin/ Houston office. Some travel within the city and occasional travel outside of the city or state may be required. Salary for this position will be $54,000.00 a year with full benefits. Full-time staff members are automatically enrolled in comprehensive health care plans, have flexible work schedules, and are able to take part in various employee benefits.
It is the policy of Grassroots Leadership not to discriminate in the employment of staff, or in the selection of volunteers, on the basis of race, creed, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, financial status or HIV status. Grassroots Leadership works affirmatively to build a staff and board that includes people of many different races, classes, genders, physical and mental abilities, ages and sexual orientations.
Grassroots Leadership is committed to investing in the leadership of people of color and formerly incarcerated people. People of color, formerly incarcerated people, people who have family in prisons or have been impacted by the immigration enforcement system, women, queer, and trans people are encouraged to apply. We do not discourage or discriminate against people with convictions, and you will not be asked if you have ever been convicted of a crime on the application or interview. Please feel free to mention your experience with the criminal justice or immigration system as those experiences will be considered as an asset in this job.
Please send a letter of introduction, resume/vitae, and three employment-related references toHR@grassrootsleadership.org with “Participatory Defense & Bond Fund Organizer” in the subject line. Please brieflytell us why this position is of interest to you. Questions about the position should be directed to the same email address.
