Climate Justice Organizer

ABOUT SAJE

Since 1996, SAJE has been a force for economic justice in Los Angeles. We believe that all people have a right to the city and that the future of neighborhoods should be decided by those who dwell there. For over 25 years, we have worked side-by-side with our members to improve our community by advocating for tenant rights, healthy housing, and equitable development. We focus on housing policy and the built environment because they are a root cause of economic and social inequality, shaped by decades of redlining, racial covenants, and, most recently, predatory lending and foreclosure practices. Our work seeks to protect vulnerable communities from eviction, lockouts, and harassment, preserve existing affordable housing, and promote the production of additional affordable housing in new construction. Ultimately, our aim is to decommodify housing through the creation of permanent affordable housing, community land trusts, and public and social housing that prioritizes people over profits.

SAJE (Strategic Actions for a Just Economy) is hiring a Climate Justice Organizer for our Building Equity and Transit Team. The Climate Justice Organizer will be responsible for base-building and outreach related to residential building decarbonization, water and power conservation, and environmental justice. The position reports to the Director of Policy and Advocacy for Building Equity and Transit.

The ideal candidate for this position is committed to creating authentic spaces of power and autonomy for working-class communities of color and is seeking to make a meaningful difference by supporting SAJE in addressing Los Angeles’ most pressing issues: the housing and climate crisis. The candidate has experience in community organizing and advocacy, project management, event planning, and on-the-ground fieldwork.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Develop a strong working knowledge of resident rights and policies related to SAJE’s projects and campaigns and keep that knowledge base current

Build a base of tenants in Los Angeles to drive our climate justice work and be involved in campaigns on decarbonization, extreme heat, and ending renovictions.

Identify, develop, and retain leaders in the community who can help guide, ground, and shape SAJE’s projects and campaigns

Conduct field outreach and recruitment through activities such as door-knocking, surveying, follow-up phone conversations, and house visits with potential community leaders on a weekly basis

Maintain campaign contact and referral databases and records on SAJE projects ● Maintain time-keeping records on a weekly basis (hours worked and activities conducted)

Develop materials to aid in organizing and advancing campaigns, such as fliers and workshop curricula

Organize, facilitate, and/or supervise grassroots campaign meetings

Speak to the media about SAJE campaigns, as well as prepare community leaders to speak to the media

With your team, develop and implement organizing and political strategies

Organize, prepare, and supervise community delegations to key decision-makers and public forums

Conduct surveys and focus groups as needed to support campaigns

Develop and maintain relationships with other organizations and institutions to increase our presence in the community

Reach out to, onboard, and coordinate coalition organizations

Support campaign advocacy efforts as needed

QUALIFICATIONS

Strong commitment to social justice and an understanding of the challenges facing working-class people and communities of color.

Experience in community or labor organizing or health or housing outreach and education

Ability to gain the trust of, motivate, and cultivate interest in SAJE’s campaigns among local residents

Ability to support, track, and increase local residents’ leadership skills and other relevant data

Good presentation and speaking skills

A capacity to explain complex information and issues in an easy-to-understand manner, including through popular education techniques

A strong track record of working with different kinds of stakeholders and groups, including immigrant workers, low-income community residents, clergy and churches, unions, community-based organizations, academic institutions, and government gatekeepers and staff

Valid driver’s license and good driving record.

Valid auto insurance that meets SAJE’s required limits

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Fluency in a language that isn’t English.

Prior experience leading a campaign or project.

Prior fieldwork and organizing experience.

Fluency in a specific software or database application.