Organizer & Research Associate, Association of Independent Midwives of Maryland, Baltimore, MD

Organizer & Research Associate

Posted on: June 5, 2013
Posted by: Association of Independent Midwives of Maryland

DESCRIPTION

Maryland is currently one of 7 states where home birth midwives are illegal, a limitation that poses a severe threat to women's reproductive choices in Maryland. This fundamental imposition on birth autonomy removes women's most basic right to decide how, where and with whom she will birth her baby. Our effort is to put that choice back in women's hands by licensing Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) in Maryland. This summer, the Association of Independent Midwives of Maryland will be launching a state-wide campaign to build support for legislation to license CPMs. We are seeking a motivated, activist, feminist intern who will be fired up about making change for women in Maryland. Our ideal candidate will be somewhat familiar with the midwifery model of care and the radical shift it represents from traditional medical obstetric care. She/he will be passionate about protecting a woman's fundamental right to make choices about her body and her birth.

Specifically our intern will work with the legislative team of AIMM to:

• Mobilize constituents in a state-wide lobbying campaign for licensing midwives in Maryland
• Provide administrative support and research assistance to the legislative team of AIMM
• Help build a broad Maryland coalition to support access to midwives
• Help develop legislation for the coming session to legalize CPMs

DETAILS

We are looking for a 20-hour/week commitment. Hours can be worked flexibly. Ideally early June through late August with flexibility for some travel time off.

• We would prefer an intern in the Baltimore/DC metro area. Our intern will largely work remotely (needs phone and internet access), on occasion meeting with midwives in cafes or homes. Access to transportation would be a plus.
• We can offer a $250/month stipend.
• This is an incredible opportunity to engage in the political/legislative process directly and make meaningful change in Maryland. The home birth midwives of Maryland with whom the intern will be working are a warm and loving bunch who will give back with whole-hearted, earnest support for an intern who commits her/himself to this important cause.

SKILLS

Ideal for a graduate student or law student, top undergrads with tons of passion will be considered.

• Strong research skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Intern will be interacting with legislators, public health regulators, non-profit coalition partners and home birth families including folks from extreme left and right political positions, Mennonite/Amish and other fundamentalist religious communities and everything in between. S/he must be comfortable in all settings.
• Fluency with Microsoft Office and other basic computer skills
• Problem-solving, action-oriented qualities
• Experience in some of the following areas is a plus: organizing, reproductive rights, campaign/legislative processes, coalition-building, law/legal issues.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to us at info@aimmmidwives.org. Applications reviewed on a rolling basis.

Temporary Part-Time Organizer, New York Civil Liberties Union, Syracuse, NY

Temporary Part-Time Organizer

Posted on: April 22, 2013
Posted by: New York Civil Liberties Union

DESCRIPTION

The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) is one of the nation's foremost defenders of civil liberties and civil rights. Founded in 1951 as the New York affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, the NYCLU is a not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization with eight offices and 50,000 supporters statewide.
The NYCLU seeks to fill the position of temporary part-time Organizer for the Central New York Chapter office in Syracuse. This position is for a three-month contract, twenty hours per week. He or she will report to the Chapter Director and the Statewide Advocacy Coordinator.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist the chapter director in implementing legislative campaigns to pass women's equality legislation on the state level and comprehensive immigration reform on the national level.
• Engage in a wide array of tactics, including lobbying, coalition building and organizing to mobilize NYCLU members and supporters.
• Assist chapter director in building and maintaining a grassroots network of members supportive of women's and immigrants' rights.
• Organize and provide logistical support for public education events and lobby visits.
• Respond to requests for support and information from the public.
• Other duties as assigned.

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• A passion for and a familiarity with civil liberties issues and a commitment to organizing communities around those issues.
• An Associates' degree, and at least one year experience working with advocacy groups or community organizations on social justice issues. Or, lieu of a college degree, at least three years of experience working with advocacy groups or community organizations on social justice issues.
• A willingness to travel around the Central New York region.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong cultural competency.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and motivate people.
• Ability to explain concepts of law and public policy to a variety of audiences.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including some evenings and weekends.
• Proficiency with MS Office programs.
• Spanish language skills a plus.
• Experience with organizing around woman's equality and/or immigrant's rights a plus.
• Familiarity with the Central New York region or ties to the area a plus, but not a requirement.

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants should email a cover letter (with salary requirements), resume, and a writing sample by email to jobs@nyclu.org with "CNY Organizer" and where you saw our posting in the subject line.
Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled. This temporary position is for a three-month contract.

The NYCLU is proud to be an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from women, people of color, persons with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals.

Student/Youth Organizer, Democratic Socialists of America, New York, NY

Student/Youth Organizer

Posted on: April 9, 2013
Application deadline: May 3, 2013
Posted by: Democratic Socialists of America

DESCRIPTION

Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), the largest socialist organization in the US, and an affiliate of the global Socialist International, seeks an organizer for its youth division, the Young Democratic Socialists (YDS). The position includes work for both DSA and for our affiliated 501(c)3, the Democratic Socialists of America Fund.

YDS is an organization of campus-based chapters and regionally-based groupings of younger (under 30) socialists who wish to develop a political and cultural space of their own, yet one that is an integral part of DSA. The organizer works out of DSA's national office in New York City and travels throughout the United States to speak to both new and experienced YDS campus chapters, as well as to independent progressive students interested in learning about democratic socialism.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Organize an annual winter outreach conference and an annual summer conference for current members and chapters, in collaboration with the elected and volunteer leadership of Young Democratic socialists (YDS):
• Recruit new members and assist in the formation of new chapters of YDS
• Facilitate the ongoing political work of the members and chapters of YDS
• Provide staff support, especially leadership development, for YDS
• Represent YDS at conferences and meetings of other radical activists
• Participate in meetings of the DSA National Political Committee and serve as a liaison between YDS and DSA's locals and commissions
• Report to and assist DSA's National Director as needed.

REQUIREMENTS

• Be grounded in democratic socialist politics and history; general agreement with the positions and perspectives of YDS and DSA
• Experience organizing campus, labor, political, or community-based groups and events
• Excellent public speaking, communication, writing, and computer skills
• Strong time management skills and ability to use limited resources effectively
• Thorough understanding of academic settings, politics, and calendars at secondary and post-secondary levels
• Ability to work effectively with young people from diverse backgrounds
• Commitment to feminist, anti-racist, and anti-heterosexist principles and action
• Willing and able to travel extensively around the United States on a moderate budget
• Available to start work in New York City by mid-June of 2013 (or earlier in June if possible).

QUALIFICATIONS

• Creativity
• Sense of humor
• Fund-raising experience
• Web design, HTML, database, and graphic design experience and skills
• Bilingual Spanish and English speaker

HOW TO APPLY

Email resume and statement of how your qualifications make you a good candidate for this position to: Maria Svart, National Director, DSA, msvart@dsausa.org. Please send attachments in Microsoft Word.

DSA is an equal opportunity employer.