We're hiring!-filled

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Equitable Climate and Clean Energy Policy Fellow position

 

Job Title:  Equitable climate and clean energy policy fellow

Location: Downstate Illinois, in proximity to Bloomington IL. Work from home and, and as COVID permits, conduct in-person meetings and trainings.

Position: Full-time, two-year commitment with possibility of continuation based on funding.

Salary: $50,000 to start with advancement in year two. Full health and dental benefits, home office stipend, technical support and professional development/mentoring in addition to base salary.

Contact:  Don Carlson, Executive Director, don.illinoispeoplesaction@gmail.com with resume and cover letter.

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Who we are:

Illinois People’s Action (IPA) is a progressive grassroots, faith and community organization located in downstate (outside of Chicago) Illinois that organizes to address the systemic causes of injustice and not its symptoms.  Our mission is to empower everyday people, along with faith communities, to become true partners in decisions affecting their lives and communities.  Our organizing base is “downstate Illinois”, with a focus in the communities of Bloomington-Normal, Peoria, Decatur, Galesburg, Danville and membership across the state.

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Over the last 27 years we’ve fought and won on a variety of issues.  We helped lead the successful downstate grassroots fight for racial equity in the state’s new climate law, stopped 300% interest predatory lending statewide, kept families together by stopping ICE immigration enforcement, and negotiated millions in new banking reinvestment – to name a few big victories.  We did this through organizing to build power, meeting with decision-makers and, if denied, using direct actions to bring about negotiations.

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What’s the job:

This position is new to Illinois People’s Action.  Increasingly, IPA has been involved in policy on climate and equity at the state level but without our own policy expert.  We seek to hire our own policy expert who can use their expertise to both interpret existing policy craft new policy that reflects our organizational goals.  The Policy Fellow will help our leaders achieve deeper equitable climate and clean energy policy leading to institutional change on the racial and climate issues that disproportionately affect Black, Indigenous and People of Color, and individuals lower the socioeconomic ladder.

Primary Responsibilities: 

• Engage IPA grassroots and faith leaders on policy issues addressing racial equity in our existing People and Planet First campaign.

• Identify and analyze community based environmental justice policy issues, leading with racial equity.

• Promote the implementation of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) prioritizing ≥ 40% of benefits going to Environmental Justice and BIPOC communities.

• Help develop policy, as needed, to defend CEJA.

• Lead in potential rulemaking filings with state regulatory agencies and participate in public events.

• Work collaboratively with local, state and national affiliates and allies.

 

Qualifications: A working understanding of climate equity policy issues, with an emphasis on the state level.  Strong writing and communication skills, and ability to convey complex issues and solutions toward the empowerment of everyday people. Demonstrated policy work a plus.

• Commitment toward racial and economic justice.

• Belief in the leadership of grassroots and faith communities as vehicles toward self-determination and justice.

• Ability to forge strong relationships with relevant partners and groups in downstate Illinois.

• Attention to detail and the ability to manage technical aspects of environmental justice issues, paperwork and deadlines.

• Willingness to work non-traditional hours.

 

Illinois People’s Action is an equal opportunity employer.  Women, people of color and LGBTQ individuals are strongly encouraged to apply.

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Community Organizer Position - filled

Job Title:  Community Organizer

Location:  Central Illinois (downstate)

Position:  Full-time

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Salary:  $40,000 plus full health and dental insurance.  Home office stipend. Generous paid time-off.

At Illinois People’s Action, we seek to build power to have a voice in response to social, racial, economic, and environmental injustices.  We believe that ordinary people, working together, can be a powerful force for justice and equity.  Our members are united in the belief that downstate Illinoisans deserve to have an economy that serves the common good rather than corporations and the wealthy few.  We want our communities to be more just, more humane, and more (small-d) democratic. We believe that community organizing is the most effective way to make that happen.  Through 1-1 conversations and “deep canvassing” the Community Organizer will identify, work with, and train grassroots and faith leaders to be the public face and own all facets of the campaigns in which they participate.  We meet people where they are at, bring them into the organization, build power, and move those leaders into action to win on issues.

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Primary Responsibilities: 

1. Engage in outreach and relationship building with grassroots and faith-based leaders across downstate IL urban and rural communities toward community empowerment.

2. Identify and support community-based climate justice issues leading with racial equity.

3. Provide leadership training with grassroots and faith leaders on empowerment strategies.

4. Work collaboratively within IPA’s regional environmental justice strategy campaign.

5. Working collaboratively with local, state and national affiliates and allies.

6. Participate in Staff Meetings/Supervision.

7. Some administrative work- reporting, time sheets, as needed.

 

The Community Organizer we hire will work with their direct supervisor and organizing team to develop and implement effective organizing strategies and tactics to bring people into IPA campaigns and win positive changes that people can see in their everyday lives.   The Community Organizer would be expected to live in downstate Illinois (in or near the IPA home office, Bloomington, IL) and to work from home when not in the field. The organizer should be ready to travel across central Illinois and occasionally Chicago as necessary.

 

How to apply:

Email resume, cover letter and three references to ILPeoplesAction12@gmail.com  .  Please put “community organizer” in the title.  We will let candidates know before we contact references.

 

Illinois People’s Action is an equal opportunity employer.  Women, people of color and LGBTQ individuals are strongly encouraged to apply.

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