Racial Justice Community Advocate at ACLU of Massachusetts – Boston, Massachusetts

Summary

The ACLU of Massachusetts is seeking a Racial Justice Community Advocate to join its Racial Justice Program team. This position plays an integral part in advancing ACLUM’s work to promote civil rights and civil liberties in Massachusetts, and strengthen the organization’s network of advocates. The focus of this role is to educate the public about ACLUM priority issue areas and racial justice implications; engage communities of color across the Commonwealth and foster their civic participation; develop, expand, and maintain relationships with community partners, local leaders, and other stakeholders; work in coalition with partners to promote policy reforms at the state and local levels; serve as an ACLUM ambassador at public events; and work at the intersection of racial justice and other ACLUM priority issue areas including democracy, reproductive rights, policing, LGBTQ+ and gender equity, and environmental justice. This position reports to the Racial Justice Program Director and collaborates closely with other ACLUM colleagues to achieve the organization’s public advocacy objectives.

The ideal candidate for this position brings a passion for racial justice, along with sharp knowledge about the political landscape and processes in Massachusetts, direct experience in community engagement and public advocacy for policy reform, and an interest in all components of this job, including research and analysis, and close coordination with internal partners. Strong candidates will have demonstrated ability to spur stakeholders to action, navigate dynamic partnerships, manage multiple responsibilities simultaneously, and work both independently and collaboratively with colleagues across departments in a fast-paced environment.

Essential Duties

• Stay abreast of and highly conversant with ACLUM’s strategic priorities and focused issue areas, as foundational context for stakeholder conversations and Racial Justice Program activities.

• Conduct research, gather ground-level insight, and assist the Racial Justice Program Director in planning for Program-led activities, projects, and campaigns to promote/advance civil liberties and racial justice across the Commonwealth.

• Collaborate with the Racial Justice Program Director and colleagues across the Advocacy department to implement RJ Program plans and contribute to other field-based initiatives.

• Table at advocacy events, present at community meetings, and participate in canvassing, to raise awareness about civil rights and racial justice issues and foster civic participation.

• Coordinate with Advocacy department colleagues to plan and host events in and for covered communities to mobilize them to action on ACLUM-led campaigns.

• Attend events, facilitate listening sessions, and liaise with stakeholders in covered communities, to learn about their needs and structural challenges. Share learnings with ACLUM colleagues to help inform the organization’s policy reform work.

• Cultivate and maintain relationships with local community advocates and leaders, grassroots organizations, and elected representatives in assigned municipalities to strengthen ACLUM’s network of civil rights and racial justice advocates.

• Help forge and support ACLUM’s participation in coalitions with issue-aligned organizations to spur legislative and policy change in ACLUM priority issue areas. Manage relationships with and provide peer leadership support to assigned coalition partners.

• Work with the Field and Communications teams to develop public education materials for presentation and distribution to public audiences.

• Work with the Field team to engage ACLUM volunteers in RJ Program activities and events.

• Represent ACLUM at various public engagements, in coordination with the Field and Communications teams, as assigned.

• Work with colleagues across the Advocacy department to identify potential new opportunities for ACLUM’s public advocacy work, and partner in pursuing those that align with strategic and tactical priorities, as approved.

• Capture and maintain supporter contact data in the Field relationship management database.

Other Responsibilities

Special projects and other tasks as assigned by the Racial Justice Program Director.

Qualifications, Experience and Attributes

• Minimum of three years’ experience in grassroots organizing or mobilization for issue-based campaigns required. Experience in public advocacy for policy reform related to social and racial justice highly preferred.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in political science, government relations, social work, community organizing, or related fields a plus.

• Strong knowledge of social justice and organizing principles, as well as mobilization and coalition-building tactics.

• Familiarity with how local, state, or national political processes work in the development of policy and passing of legislation.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, adeptness in public speaking, and ability to convey complex concepts in simple terms to various audiences.

• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively engage people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.

• Strong research and analysis skills, and ability to identify key issues to inform campaign work.

• Proven ability to work collaboratively with internal partners, and form trusting and productive relationships with external stakeholders.

• Proven experience working with coalition partners to agree on split of responsibilities, negotiate disagreements, and achieve common goals.

• Strong project management skills with the ability to effectively prioritize tasks, manage multiple responsibilities simultaneously, and deliver against tight deadlines.

• Self-starter, comfortable working in a fast-paced environment, and capable of working in partnership and independently to get things done.

• Ability to flex and achieve proficiency in new issue areas, as assigned.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint; Google applications, including Docs, Sheets and Slides; and common social media platforms.

• Experience working with a volunteer or client management database.

• Strong belief in the ACLU’s work and mission to defend and strengthen civil rights and civil liberties.

• Commitment to diversity, and respect for differences in race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, ability and socio-economic background.

Key Performance Indicators

• Effectiveness and efficacy in public outreach and education, and community engagement.

• Accuracy in research, diligence and clarity in analysis, and timeliness in knowledge sharing.

• Proactivity and effectiveness in cultivating, expanding, and maintaining collaborative relationships with community organizations, elected leaders, and other advocacy partners.

• Attentiveness and diplomacy in managing coalition work and relationships.

• Effectiveness in coordination, communication, and collaboration with ACLUM colleagues and other stakeholders.

• Agility in pivoting between current priority issue areas and achieving proficiency in new issues when needed.

Other Requirements

• Frequent written and verbal communication.

• Extensive reading, preparing, analyzing, and synthesizing information, in hard copy and electronic format.

• Frequent and extended periods of being in a stationary position, in an office environment and outdoor venues.

• Frequent handling and transport of light packages and bundles of printed materials.

• Ability to set up and manipulate settings for small A/V equipment and software and configure standard office furniture in event spaces.

• Ability to frequently and independently travel to various locations across Massachusetts.

• Flexibility to accommodate work outside of regular business hours as needed, including early mornings, evenings, and weekends.

Compensation

Salary range for this position is $78,000 to $84,000, with consideration for and commensurate with direct experience. Benefits include 401(k) plan plus employer match, medical and dental insurance, and paid vacation and holidays. Reimbursement for mileage may be provided in accordance with ACLUM policies, when applicable.

About the ACLU of Massachusetts

The ACLU of Massachusetts (ACLUM) was founded in 1920 and is an affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), a nationwide, non-profit, non-partisan membership organization that works to preserve and expand the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. Through strategies of litigation, advocacy, public education, and grassroots activism, we strengthen and expand public understanding of racial justice, juvenile justice, LGBTQ rights (including equal marriage), women's rights, criminal justice issues, equal opportunity, free speech and assembly, privacy rights, religious liberty, students' rights, voting rights, and reproductive rights. ACLUM staff are unionized and this position will be within the bargaining unit.

ACLUM is an equal opportunity employer and encourages women, people of color, persons with disabilities, queer people, and formerly incarcerated people to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

This position will be based in Boston, MA and eligible for a hybrid work schedule, being in-person an average of three days per week, with the ability to be in the office on any given day as needed and assigned. ACLUM has a Covid-19 vaccine mandate, and candidates receiving a job offer will be required to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to commencing employment. Exemptions to this requirement will be considered on a case-by-case basis in accordance with applicable law. Applicants should be aware that fully remote work will not be deemed a reasonable accommodation.

TO APPLY: Applicants for this position should submit a resume, cover letter that best expresses their interest and unique qualifications, and three references (two former or current direct supervisors plus one colleague or peer). Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and accepted until the position is filled.