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Criminal Justice Organizer

Full-Time/Temporary

Salary Range: $38,000 annual equivalent

Four months with an opportunity to extend

Location: Metro-Detroit preferred. Work is remote, requires reliable access to the internet

Benefits:

  • Health care, health savings account, retirement plan, generous paid time off, two-month paid sabbatical after four years of service, phone, and internet stipends

Job Summary 

Michigan United is looking for a Criminal Justice Organizer to organize the formerly incarcerated, people directly impacted by the criminal justice system, and those who have been newly activated by racial justice protests. This position will require you to train and develop leaders and to implement campaigns and strategies to reduce or prevent incarceration in Michigan. It will be very important to be able to do this work with a strong racial and gender lens. 

 

Due to the pandemic, Michigan United now primarily works remotely via video and conference calls. This position will occasionally involve attending in-person events with appropriate social distancing and safety precautions.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

  • Recruit new leaders, particularly those who are newly activated by the racial justice protests, the formerly incarcerated, and others directly impacted by incarceration

  • Train community leaders in organizing skills and understanding the political landscape.

  •  Engage community leaders in having leadership roles in organizing a criminal justice campaign.

  •  Organizing meetings with at least 5 elected officials and engage new committee members in meetings

  • Work closely with Michigan United criminal justice organizing staff and leaders to develop, refine, and further the goals of all of the campaigns. 

  • Promote the criminal justice campaign to earn media coverage and bring increased exposure to our issues.

  • Build and nurture relationships with other criminal justice and/or social justice organizations around our work.

  • Connect Criminal Justice campaign to a larger Michigan United vision. Assist in the recruitment of new members to Michigan United.

  • Stay current on issues vital to the affected communities, the political landscape, and other matters that affect the ability of Michigan United to fulfill its mission, goals, and objectives.

  • Participate in organizational training to expand your organizing and leadership skills 

  • Assist in civic engagement before November 2020 elections

  • Turn-out for Criminal Justice and statewide events.

  • Fundraising via membership building and donations.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

  • Proficiency in Google productivity tools (ie Google Docs, Gmail, Google Calendar)

  • Ability work some evenings and weekends if necessary 

  • Excellent listening and communication skills

  • Proficient writing skills

  • Organized

  • Able to work independently and as well as part of a team

  • Zoom knowledgeable 

  • Serious about achieving qualitative and quantitative goals.

  • Brings racial and gender lens or analysis to work

  • Ability to develop and support leadership development

  • Lived experiences in the criminal justice system will be considered

 

APPLICATION DETAILS:

  • Current Michigan United members and leaders will be prioritized.

  • This position will remain open until filled. 

  • Submit resume 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 

  • Please put the name of the position you are applying for in the subject line 

  • If you were referred by a member of the Michigan United staff, please let us know in your application.

 

ORGANIZATIONAL 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 by 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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