Posted January 21, 2020
Fair Tax State Community Organizer
Job Description
The Fair Tax State Community Organizer is an entry level position responsible for staffing the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless’ State Network in Northern Illinois. The Fair Tax State Community Organizer is also responsible for bringing together homeless youth and adults, homeless families, homeless shelters and housing programs, and others who care about impacting homelessness to help win the Fair Tax Ballot Initiative in November 2020, and will work to advance racial equity.
For this position, Northern Illinois’ borders are I-80 on the south, Wisconsin border on the north, the state’s eastern border on the east, and the state’s western border on the west. The Fair Tax State Community Organizer will not be required to organize community leaders in the city of Chicago, however interested candidates from Chicago are encouraged to apply.
About CCH
Chicago Coalition for the Homeless is a 40-year-old systemic advocacy organization. CCH develops campaigns and initiatives to address the causes of homelessness – lack of affordable housing, lack of access to health care and services and lack of jobs paying a living wage. We place much emphasis on organizing and developing leaders within the homeless population to become spokespersons and leaders of our various initiatives. CCH does its work in accordance with its organizational values – collaboration, integrity, strategic action, compassion, and intersectionality. We recognize that homelessness is a problem that steps from systemic racism and that biases and prejudices are embedded in the fabric of society, and thus also permeate organizations like ours. CCH is committed to advancing racial equity in the workplace, through the work of our racial equity committee, and through the campaigns and initiatives we choose.
Job Responsibilities
The Fair Tax State Community Organizer’s duties will include:
- Work in collaboration with all CCH departments – CCH believes strongly in interdepartmental collaboration and expects all staff to work in close partnership with the other departments at the organization
- Building and maintaining the CCH State Network
- Identifying and registering voters most likely to support the Fair Tax within homeless shelters and housing programs in Northern Illinois
- Developing strong community leaders impacted by the lack of a Fair Tax rate system
- Working with state coalitions to develop and staff strategic campaigns on the Fair Tax Ballot Initiative
Qualifications/Skills
CCH is looking for a person that is good at developing relationships, excited to advance racial equity, understands strategy, and wants to ensure people in Northern Illinois can use their voice to create change.
Required
- Demonstrated leadership development skills
- Demonstrated communications skills
- Good collaborator
- Demonstrated ability to work independently
- Strong writing, speaking and computer skills, including video and tele-conferencing platforms, and basic understanding of the MS Office Suite
- This position requires travel throughout Northern Illinois. A valid driver’s license is required.
- Ability to work an occasional night or weekend when needed
- Ability to work with people from many backgrounds
Preferred but not necessary
- Spanish language proficiency
- Previous experience organizing and/or community engagement in northern Illinois communities
Salary range
Entry-level position at $37,000 – $38,000 based on experience, highly competitive benefits package
Please send your resume and cover letter to newstateorganizer@chicagohomeless.org
Chicago Coalition for the Homeless believes that personnel diversity is an organizational strength and recognizes and values the intersectional identities that staff members bring to our organization. We are enriched by the diverse experiences, beliefs, and ways of thinking that employees of different backgrounds bring.
People of color and people who have experienced homelessness or poverty are strongly encouraged to apply. Fair consideration is given to all qualified applicants regardless of criminal record. CCH is committed to providing equal employment consideration without discrimination on the basis of race, sex, disability, religion, national origin, ancestry, military status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or any other legally protected status.