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.

Youth Counselor & Housing Support Assistant, June Callwood Centre for Young Women, Toronto

Youth Counselor & Housing Support Assistant Summer Student

Posted on: April 19, 2013
Application deadline: May 21, 2013
Posted by: June Callwood Centre for Young Women

DESCRIPTION

Jessie's - The June Callwood Centre for Young Women is a multi-service resource centre for pregnant
teenagers, young parents, and their children. Jessie's Centre operates from a feminist perspective. We
strive to demonstrate our commitment to feminism, anti-oppression and positive social change in every
aspect of our structure and functioning.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide informal support to pregnant and parenting youth
• Accompany youth to appointments in the community
• Assist youth in completing application forms for community resources
• Work closely and build relationships with youth facing a variety of barriers as young parents that
often prevent them from accessing affordable, suitable housing for their families.
• Support our youth during housing searches by looking through local rental ads with the youth,
calling landlords, accompanying youth to view apartment units and advocating on behalf of the
youth with landlords when necessary
• Provide assistance accessing income supports, including accompaniments to welfare intake
and advocacy with welfare workers.
• Develop an understanding of housing rights and responsibilities and provide this education and
information to the youth on her caseload.
• Work to prevent eviction, including advocacy with landlords and assistance at the Landlord
Tenant Board.
• Answer calls and provide welcoming and informal support at reception
• Provide care and support to infants and toddlers in nursery
• Support summer outings, groups and swap shop
• Document in files and participate in case management with multi-disciplinary team

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA 

The Government of Canada has strict eligibility criteria for these positions. Applicants must be:
• between 15 and 30 years of age;
• registered as a full-time student in the previous academic year (2012/2013) and intend to return
to school on a full-time basis in the next academic year (2013/2014);
• are Canadian citizens or permanent residents or have official refugee protection status under
the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (foreign students are not eligible); and
• are legally entitled to work in Canada, according to relevant provincial/territorial legislation and
regulations.

REQUIREMENTS

• Some professional and/or personal experience working with youth
• Understanding issues and barriers relating to pregnant and parenting youth; non-judgmental,
pro-choice approach to sex, birth control, parenting, abortion, adoption
• Positive and friendly demeanor
• Physically able to lift up to 35lbs
• Ability to pass a vulnerable persons police check
• Second language considered an asset


Start Date: early June 2013
End Date: late August 2013
Wage rate: $15.00
Hours: dependent on funding


HOW TO APPLY

Eligible applicants should apply by noon on May 21, 2013. Please email your resume, cover
letter and responses to the below-listed questions, as a single .doc or .pdf file, to
mail@jessiescentre.org


All applicants must respond to the following questions and include their responses in their application:

1. What concerns, if any, do you have for the children of teen parents?
2. How does culture impact on parenting?
3. How has discrimination affected you personally and professionally? How would your
perspective on racism/discrimination affect your work here at Jessie's Centre?

Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Please, no phone calls.
Jessie's is committed to the principles of employment equity. We strongly encourage applications from
women of diverse race and culture groups, aboriginal women, women with 'dis'abilities, and LGBTQ
women.