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Job Openings

Elder & Disability Justice Organizer

Location: Detroit

Full Time
Compensation: $35,568 annually

Michigan United is working to win a next generation safety net for our elders and those with disabilities. Long-term care is a massively growing need in our country, and most families simply have no way to pay for this enormous expense. The cost of long-term care is bankrupting those who need care, as well as their children and families. The only safety program is Medicaid, which requires that patients spend all of their life's savings to qualify. That's not right.

We're all going to get older and need help. We should be able to provide safety net social programs to support this common need. Dignified long-term care shouldn't just be a privilege for those who can afford it.

 

The Elder & Disability Justice Organizer will organize families, caregivers, and communities that are impacted by these issues, build public support for a long-term care safety net, and ensure politicians are enacting just long-term care policies. We call our Elder & Disability Justice work: “Caring Majority”, therefore the description below refers to our “Caring Majority” campaign.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

  • Work with Michigan United Caring Majority leaders in building political power for our members, especially in communities of color; 

  • Identify and recruit people most impacted within the care landscape (caregivers, direct care workers, people with disabilities) and Michigan United Caring Majority members into leadership opportunities within the Caring Majority campaign through relational meetings, door knocking, phone banks, presentations, house parties, and other outreach efforts; 

  • Assist, staff and provide support for the Caring Majority Steering Committee and Caring Majority Legislative Caucus to build power and leadership around our family care and racial and economic justice agenda; 

  • Assist and carry out a series of grassroots actions on family care as part of the Caring Majority campaign. Actions could include: care town hall forums, direct actions, press events, and letter to the editor campaign. Manage logistical details, materials development and preparation of leaders; 

  • Support the growth and stability of Michigan United by bringing in new members, supporting membership dues drives, contributing to fundraising events, and foundation applications; 

  • Build the skills and capacity of Michigan United Caring Majority members through one on one meetings and workshops/trainings to understand the political underpinnings of campaigns, and to take on leadership roles. 

  • Work closely with Michigan United organizing staff to develop, refine and further the goals and policy platform of the Caring Majority campaign; 

  • Assist with the coordination of Michigan United events, such as the annual meeting, actions, accountability sessions and small group meetings with decision makers; 

  • Communicate with leaders and members information vital to their work, to their commitment to the mission of Michigan United, and to the successful completion of that mission to win improvements in the quality of life for seniors, family caregivers, direct care workers with the Caring Majority campaign; 

  • Stay current on issues vital to seniors, family caregivers, direct care workers the political and community landscape, and other matters that affect the ability of Michigan United to fulfill its mission, goals and objectives; and 

  • Take initiative and responsibility, as appropriate, to ensure the day-to-day optimal functioning of Michigan United and the Caring Majority campaign. 

 

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

  • Experience working in community-based settings and/or demonstrated relationship-building skills; 

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills; 

  • Ability to motivate diverse groups of people and work well as a team member; 

  • Self-direction and self-motivation, and ability to work collaboratively and independently; 

  • Ability to build and maintain constructive, positive relationships; 

  • Strong commitment to social, racial and economic justice; 

  • Self-motivation and creative in problem solving; 

  • Literate in common computer applications; 

  • Ability to handle multiple job tasks and to meet deadlines; 

  • Commitment to leadership development of leaders and members; 

  • Ability to travel and to work flexible hours including weekends and evenings; 

  • Multilingual skills are a plus; and 

  • Access to reliable transportation daily

 

COMPENSATION:

Pay: $35,568 annually

Benefits: Health care, Health savings account, IRA, generous paid time off, two-month paid sabbatical after 4 years of service, phone and travel stipends.

 

APPLICATION DETAILS:

This position will remain open until filled.

Submit resume, statement of interest with the names and contact information of three references (at least two references must be work related, one may be personal).

Please submit all application materials to: resumes@miunited.org.

Organization Background:   

Michigan United is a statewide organization of community members and institutions fighting for economic and racial justice. We use the tools of community organizing, leadership training, advocacy, media work, and civic engagement to run strategic campaigns that win real change. We're committed to winning a better world for all of our communities, not just the privileged.

We are the largest community organizing group in the state, with offices in Detroit, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids and Flint. We represent 100 member community organizations.

Michigan United organizes along the following issue areas: immigrants’ rights, criminal justice reform, environmental justice, universal family care (including health, child care, elder care and paid sick time) and civic engagement. We work to build the capacity of community members who are directly impacted these issues to lead and win concrete reforms that will change their own lives and shift the balance of power in our state.

Michigan United, along with Michigan People’s Campaign, our affiliated 501(c)(4), is serious about building long-term, political power with the aim of transforming our political and economic system into one that puts people and the planet first. Our main office is in Southwest Detroit, with additional offices in Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, and Flint. As a racial and economic justice organization, we actively encourage individuals who are underrepresented on the basis of race, ethnicity, income and sexual orientation, as well as those who share the life experiences of the members we serve, to apply.

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