Environmental Justice Community Organizer position

Environmental Justice League of Rhode Island (EJLRI)
Community Organizer


The Environmental Justice League of Rhode Island (EJLRI) seeks an experienced community organizer who is ready to take on responsibility for developing the CARE Alliance in Providence, RI and for building the strength of our organization. CARE stands for Community Action for a Renewed Environment, a project to assess environmental justice issues in Providence and developing a plan to address them.

Duties Include:

* Identifying and recruiting new members by planning and implementing outreach strategies and building relationships. This will include outreach to, and collaborations with, a diverse selection of community-based and governmental organizations.
* Organizing, coordinating, and facilitating community meetings and committee meetings.
* Developing and using instruments to measure the effectiveness of all activities related to the CARE Alliance including: recruitment, training, and communication of issues and outcomes.
* Conducting research, maintaining databases, analyzing data, and preparing reports to EPA and EJLRI on the CARE Alliance activities.
* Taking on key roles in developing the overall capacity of the organization.
* Assisting in the development of funding proposals to sustain and expand program activities.
* Assisting with duties such as member renewal, special events, and routine office tasks, as needed.
* Hours will include some evenings and weekends, as needed.



Qualifications Include:

* Experience and passion for working towards social justice and improving the lives of low income and/or minority people.
* Proven experience in the planning, organizing and implementing grassroots advocacy campaigns including effective outreach, recruitment and mobilization techniques and strategies.
* Ability to work independently and cooperatively with volunteers, members, and Board of Directors in a culturally diverse environment.
* Proficiency in another language other than English is a plus.
* Strong oral and written communication skills, including experience in preparing and delivering public presentations.
* Proven team player with effective interpersonal skills, such as leadership and team building.
* Ability to design a work plan, prioritize and meet goals.
* Experience with database systems and grants management highly desirable. Knowledge of Word and Excel programs also desirable.
* Familiarity and/or experience with environmental and public health issues.


Salary for the position is $39,000/year plus health benefits. This position is funded for 2 years. Start date projected for November 10, 2008. Send resume and cover letter (preferably by email) by October 15, 2008 to:

Personnel Committee
c/o ECRI
PO Box 9061
Providence, RI 02940
resume@ejlri.org

The Environmental Justice League of Rhode Island (EJLRI) is an alliance of individuals and organizations working together to promote environmental justice (EJ) in Rhode Island through advocacy, education, networking, organizing, and research. The Environmental Justice League of Rhode Island developed out of the Providence Environmental Justice Forum, which had held a series of education meetings for three years where environmental justice and other environmental activists shared their efforts and built a friendly network. With a $50,000 EPA Healthy Communities grant, we conducted education and outreach activities in Providence on environmental justice, and sponsored a major statewide environmental justice conference in November 2007, attended by 75 people. Conference participants followed up with a meeting in December of 2007, where the Environmental Justice League of Rhode Island (EJLRI), was formed. The EJLRI has a vibrant set of people representing a wide range of community-based organizations and health providers, and has much potential to play a leading role in improving environmental health in our state. The EJLRI developed sufficient infrastructure and membership in a short time, enabling us to write a successful EPA CARE grant proposal ($100,000, awarded in 2008). The EJLRI’s first major public presence was at a large press conference/rally in May 2008 at the RI Supreme Court, where an appeal was heard on the RI Attorney General’s nationally significant lead paint suit.
The EJLRI has much of its origins in activism around building schools on contaminated sites in communities of color. In addition to continuing that work, we are engaged in statewide efforts for environmental justice guidelines for brownfields, and for broader environmental justice policies in the state. Through the CARE grant we will conduct a two-year assessment of EJ needs in Providence, and write a larger level-2 CARE grant to attain those needs. We will be presenting our “What is EJ?” slideshow to many civic, educational, and community groups, in order to build broad awareness of EJ. Our membership consists of both unafilliated individuals and activists with specific connection to like-minded organizations. We have an office in the building that houses the Childhood Lead Action Project.