ORGANIZER
JOB DESCRIPTION
The mission of Oakland Kids First (OKF) is to increase youth voice, leadership, and power to create engaging and equitable public schools where all students learn and achieve. Founded in 1996 by a multi-racial coalition of youth serving agencies, Oakland Kids First uses youth leadership development, service provision, and youth organizing to provide youth with the skills and opportunities to both navigate and transform systems.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The core of OKF’s youth leadership and organizing programs consist of the REAL HARD (Representing Educated Active Leaders Having a Righteous Dream) and YOC (Youth Organizing Council) programs. The Organizer works within the REAL HARD program and in collaboration with the YOC. The Organizer recruits new youth members and trains them as youth organizers focused on power building, policy change, and improving material conditions in their schools through strategic campaigns. The available position is a 0.6 FTE Organizer role with the REAL HARD program at Skyline High School. The Organizer will work on a team that is collectively leading campaigns at five OUSD high schools. The Organizer will lead programming that engages youth in socioemotional development, political education, research, facilitation, campaign development, base-building, and other organizing competencies in service of educational justice. The Organizer will also collaborate on other campaigns that have bearing on the lives of our youth, including the Oakland Youth Vote/ Measure QQ implementation push. We are looking for a driven, self-reflective, and politically savvy candidate who has actual organizing experience or a member of our community who is willing to learn on the job, challenge themselves, and be accountable to their peers and students.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
Organizing & Campaign Development
● Run a REAL HARD program chapter at Skyline High School afterschool by recruiting and developing youth into organizers. Support the development of their political identity and ability to base build and lead campaigns that build power for students.
● Conduct regular one-on-ones with current and prospective REAL HARD members to bring new youth into the organization and develop them in accordance with OKF’s leadership ladder.
● Cultivate a personal connection to organizing but not a personal orientation to it. Remember, this is a community organizing position, not an activist role.
● Proactive willingness to learn new approaches and competencies in order to then teach them to youth organizers. Examples include power mapping, youth participatory action research, one-on-ones, curriculum development, organizing strategy, political education, and more.
● Help youth organizers and your OKF organizing team develop sound strategies and tactics to advance educational equity campaigns.
Preparation and Facilitation of Programming
● Work with the REAL HARD Program Manager to develop a recruitment and retention plan and maintain at least 15 actively and regularly involved youth in your REAL HARD chapter.
● Promote a safe and positive programmatic environment rooted in restorative justice, collective ownership, reflective growth, and empathetic shared struggle; actively supervise and ensure student safety; implement a structured classroom culture; maintain positive, appropriate, professional, and student-friendly speech, behavior, and attire.
● Collaborate with student organizers to reach a critical mass of students at your school site via one-on-ones, events, youth participatory action research, new member orientations, campaign actions, etc.
● Work with REAL HARD team to develop lesson plans and prepare weekly materials in advance of programming.
● Track growth of youth through a year long plan and databases to develop skills, demonstrate learning, and practice those skills through a campaign organizing cycle.
● Manage collection and analysis of survey, attendance, and photographic data to document the impact of REAL HARD for grant and impact reporting purposes.
School & Community Partnerships
· Build strong relationships with our students to ensure they feel able to be their full selves and supported in whatever personal or academic issues they may be facing.
· Build relationships and maintain good communication with teachers, administrators, and other support staff at Skyline High School to help position REAL HARD to advance students’ organizing objectives.
· Train REAL HARD students to partner with staff and families on campus to base build and coalition build to advance campaign objectives.
· Participate in school-based meetings related to our work such as School Site Council, School Climate and Culture Team, Afterschool Collaborative meetings, etc. to increase community engagement and share decision making power between all stakeholders.
· Support school improvement efforts and policy in alignment with our work around equity, educational justice, and student power.
Organizational Support and Personal Growth
· Support Youth Organizing Council, parent and alumni organizing, our summer organizing institute, and other aspects of OKF’s work as needed.
· Participate in larger efforts to bridge our students’ organizing to district, city, state, and national organizing via school board meetings, citywide convenings, coalitions, elections, etc.
· Participate in professional development activities, staff meetings, and program meetings with extended day staff and OKF staff where applicable.
· Be proactive, thoughtful, curious, and meet deadlines with consistency.
· Willingness to learn new skills and organizational approaches to reach educational justice goals.
· Open to principled struggle, active accountability, and honest self-critique in order to improve.
· Desire to continue deepening political education.
· Comply with all school district and OKF policies and procedures.
· Perform additional duties as needed and/or assigned.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
● 2+ years of experience of community organizing and/or providing leadership development training to high school age youth.
● Experience developing and writing lesson plans for high school age youth.
● Experience in facilitation, collaboration, and fostering partnership across organizations.
● Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with teams to create and model a culture of peer support, collaboration, and appreciation.
● Flexibility, sense of humor, commitment to collaboration, learning, self-reflection, and accountability.
● Detail-oriented, organized, has good time management skills, and an ability to follow-through and balance multiple tasks simultaneously.
● Grounded in youth development and social justice principles and practices.
● Strong writing, speaking, and communication skills.
● Proficiency in word processing, online file sharing, and database entry.
● Knowledge of Restorative Justice practices is a plus.
● Teaching credential and/or organizing experience a plus (especially with youth)
● Preferred for staff to have a valid driver’s license, insurance, and access to a car
● Ability to speak Spanish, Mam, or Arabic is a plus.
● People of color, LGBTQIA+, people, and those who grew up in Oakland are encouraged to apply.
● Graphic design skills are a plus.
REQUIREMENTS
● Must have at least a high school diploma or GED
● 48 College credits/units or passage of the Instructional Aide Examination (OUSD Requirement)
● Ability to lift 20 lbs. and engage in physical activities such as active icebreakers.
● Must pass a criminal background check and TB test clearance.
● COVID vaccine is a strongly encouraged for this position
● Reliable transportation to the school campus
Offer of employment is contingent on passing a criminal background screening and TB test.
COMPENSATION:
● Position is .6 FTE (24 hours per week)
● Desired Start Date: July 29th 2024
● This job is offered at $33.65 per hour to start
● Position is non-exempt and hourly
● Benefits include:
o 100% Medical, Dental and Vision Coverage
o Vacation, Health, and Holiday Leave
o Matching 403b retirement plan contributions
o Three additional paid restoration weeks per year
o Phone stipends and more
● Directly Reports to: REAL HARD Program Manager
TO APPLY:
Please submit your résumé and a cover letter describing why you’re a good fit for this position to our human resource at info@kidsfirstoakland.org.
OAKLAND KIDS FIRST DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE IN ANY PROGRAM, ACTIVITY OR IN EMPLOYMENT ON THE BASIS OF AGE, CREED, GENDER IDENTITY, RACE, ETHNIC BACKGROUND, MARITAL OR VETERAN STATUS, NATIONAL ORIGIN, DISABILITY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, OR RELIGION.
Job Type: Part-time
Pay: From $33.65 per hour
Expected hours: 24 per week
Benefits:
Schedule:
License/Certification:
Ability to Commute:
Ability to Relocate:
Work Location: In person
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