Memorial Episcopal Church
1407 Bolton Street, Baltimore MD 21217 Full-time: Justice and Reparations Organizer
Who you are:
An experienced community organizer with a faith background who is excited to lead a predominantly white congregation through the challenging work of repairing relationships, restoring trust, and partnering with black-led justice organizations to transform the 21217 zip code and work with local and state organizations to effect systemic change necessary to eliminate racial injustice.
Job Title: Justice and Reparations Organizer, Hollyday Justice and Reparations Initiative Location: Baltimore City
Reports To: Rector, Memorial Episcopal Church
Who we are:
We are a Justice-Focused, Jesus-Centered Community in the heart of Baltimore. Memorial seeks to be a diverse and inclusive home for all those seeking a deeper relationship with God. We strive to follow Christ's commandments by actively working to make each other, our community, city and world better.
What We do:
Since 2018 Memorial Episcopal Church has been invested in uncovering the truth of our past and coming to terms with the legacy of slavery and segregation at Memorial and here in Bolton Hill. We acknowledge that clergy and laity of this church were instrumental in housing segregation and redlining, disenfranchisement of black voters, and inequity in school and youth programs here in Baltimore. Over the last year of the COVID pandemic we have come to realize how these historical facts have shaped our present reality as that inequity persists around us. This awareness has helped us as a community to crystalize our core values of Faith, Community and Justice.
Now we are focused on our work for the 21st century:
In reparations for our predecessors efforts to segregate, to deny rights and to create and maintain inequality, and because we each are children of the same God and we are called to work for the least of these:
1. identify and invest in community partners that are doing justice-centered work to undo the inequality in Housing, Education, Environmental Justice, Criminal Justice and Civic Engagement
2. study as a community the topic of Gospel Centered Justice and to make the transition from ministry that is charity focused to justice focused, from transactional to relational.
3. foster programs and partnerships to respond to the breaches created by our past and to create new opportunities for relationship and community.
What You Do:
Lead community mobilization through canvassing and street outreach.
Train/develop the Justice and Reparations Steering Committee on community organizing principles and lead efforts to identify Justice needs
● Develop leadership of members that builds individual capacity to speak to the media and elected officials, organize and run meetings, engage in campaign strategy development, and recruit, build and lead growing membership.
● Recruit new members to the effort
● Collect data on potential members and day to day outreach and organizing.
● Assist members in organizing and running community meetings and actions.
In response to identified Justice needs, lead or walk alongside city and statewide advocacy efforts to effect substantive policy change.
Lead fundraising campaigns with an annual goal of at least $100,000 per year for 2022-24. Identify key contributors in and out of the congregation to support continuing work. Identify key foundations and corporations that support Justice and Reparations.
Build public awareness of campaign, communicating messages clearly, both verbally and in writing.
Core Competencies:
● Successfully build relationships inside and outside the congregation through one-on-one conversations and day to day, hands on engagement
● Exercise strategic judgment and problem-solving skills.
● Pitch in; work with a diverse team of staff, members and community ● Work independently and as an entrepreneur to meet plan deliverables while being accountable to a team.
Primary Qualifications:
● Organizing experience (labor, community, issue campaign or election related) required;
● A commitment to and previous engagement with social, racial and economic justice initiatives and the power of grassroots community organizing to achieve such justice;
● Understanding of issues regarding race based inequity in Baltimore City, particularly in areas of Criminal Justice, Housing, Education, Civic Engagement and the Environment;
● Successful experience with grant writing, fundraising and other non-traditional forms of raising support;
● Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
● Competence with the use of various forms of social media and communication technology useful to organizing;
● Ability to research and analyze data to inform the campaign;
● Excellent organizational skills – good attention to detail and follow-through;
● Self-motivated - proven ability to work independently;
● Patience and ability to work well with diverse groups and populations;
● Dedication and ability to work flexible hours, including some nights and weekends;
● Ability to be a team player and work in a highly collaborative, fast-paced environment;
● Possession of valid driver's license preferred but not required.
Pay & Benefits:
● Beginning at $50,000 (negotiable based on experience)
● Health insurance
● Compensated travel
Memorial Episcopal Church is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, origin, sex, orientation, gender, or disability.
