CACP: Community Arts & Housing Justice Fellow with City Life Vida Urbana - MassArt in Boston, Massachusetts at MassArt

Position Title: CACP: Community Arts & Housing Justice Fellow with City Life Vida Urbana - MassArt

Location: Boston, MA Category: Student / Workstudy Job Type: Contract Posted On: Mon Aug 17 2026 Job Description:

Wage: $15/hr | Hours: 8-10/week

Community Arts & Housing Justice Fellow with City Life Vida Urbana

About the Organization:

City Life/Vida Urbana is a grassroots community organization committed to fighting for racial, social, and economic justice and gender equality by building working-class power. We promote individual empowerment, develop community leaders, and build collective power to effect systemic change and transform society.

For more information, please visit www.clvu.org

Organization Address:

Primary location: 284 Amory Street, First Floor, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Secondary location: 28 Paris Street, East Boston (once a month). This location is a 5-minute walk from the Maverick Blue Line train station.

About the Program: City Life/Vida Urbana seeks a creative, community-minded MassArt student to serve as a Communications, Arts, and Culture Fellow. This position offers a unique opportunity to explore the role of art and creative practice within housing justice organizing.

The Fellow will work closely with CLVU's Communications Director and organizing team to create communications content, support community engagement efforts, and develop arts-based experiences that strengthen political education and tenant organizing. Students are encouraged to bring their own artistic skills, interests, and creative approaches to the work.

Position Description:

• Arts-Based Community Engagement
• Participate in weekly eviction defense meetings (twice a month) and contribute creative or arts-based activities that support political education, reflection, and community-building.
• Collaborate with organizers and communications staff to design and facilitate arts-based workshops for CLVU members and community participants.
• Lead approximately one workshop per month at CLVU's English-language meeting in Jamaica Plain and one workshop per month at its Spanish-language meeting in East Boston (interpretation provided as needed).
• Explore ways that art-making can support tenant organizing, leadership development, and community engagement.
• Communications and Content Creation
• Create and publish regular content in collaboration with the Communications Director.
• Use artistic and design skills to develop content that helps communicate housing justice issues, tenant rights information, and CLVU campaigns.
• Support social media, storytelling, and other communications projects.
• Administrative and Organizational Support
• Assist with data entry and other administrative tasks as needed.
• Complete independent project work during flexible remote hours.
• Attend regular supervision meetings and communicate consistently with staff.

Job Requirements:

Qualifications:

• Experience facilitating group activities, workshops, or community events (in any context: classroom, youth programs, clubs)
• Interest in housing justice, tenant rights, community organizing and/or political education
• Basic experience creating content for social media platforms (Instagram, etc.)
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse communities
• Reliable and able to attend required in-person meetings a few times a month
• Culturally responsive and community-oriented
• Preferred (not required) qualifications:
• Conversational or fluent Spanish
• Experience with accessible, community-based art-making practices.
• Background in printmaking, zine-making, mural work, or other community-oriented art forms
• Strong self-management skills and ability to work independently during flexible remote hours
• Curious and politically engaged, willing to learn about eviction defense, rent control, and tenant organizing Experience with data entry or administrative support

Support / Supervision:

• The Fellow will receive ongoing mentorship from CLVU staff through:
• Weekly virtual check-ins
• Biweekly supervision meetings focused on planning, reflection, and professional development

Expected Work Hours per Week:

8-10 hours per week

Work Schedule:

The schedule is flexible. However, the Fellow must be available to attend eviction defense meetings several times per month. Meetings typically take place on Tuesday and/or Wednesday evenings, 6:30pm - 8:30pm.

Wage:

$15 / hour

PLEASE NOTE:

This position is part of the PartnershipWORKS program offered through MassArt's Center for Art and Community Partnerships (CACP). If you are hired for this position, you will become a member of the team at your community site AND a member of the CACP student cohort. You will have two supervisors, one through your host site and a second through CACP..

The requirements for holding a PartnershipWORKS position through CACP are:

• Commit to your position for the entire academic year (fall + spring semesters)
• Participate in monthly PartnershipWORKS sessions throughout the year, facilitated by CACP staff
• Complete time sheets in a timely manner, every two weeks
• Provide photo documentation of your work at your host site
• Thoughtful completion of all CACP evaluations
• Maintain communication with CACP staff regarding any challenges and/or successes related to your experience at your host site

Additional Information:

Please note MassArt:

• Does not support employment-based visa sponsorship or non-student exchange visitor visa sponsorship.
• Is not an E-Verify institution.

Selected candidates must be eligible to work in the US at the time of employment, complete all onboarding tasks including a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) and Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI) background review and provide proof of eligibility to work in the US by completing the Form 19, Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.

You are required to show proof of your identity and employment eligibility within three (3) days of the start of your employment. You will not be authorized to work in any capacity until all paperwork has been completed. For a list of all acceptable documents please click here.

Comprehensive Benefits (does not apply to contractor/student positions):
When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.
Want the specifics? Please click here to view MassArt Benefits.

MassArt provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, genetic information, pregnancy or a pregnancy-related condition, or membership in any other legally protected class.

MassArt complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the college operates. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment.