Community Organizer

The Hawai‘i Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice is seeking a Community Organizer to support our “people first” advocacy work aimed at advancing economic justice for Hawaii’s working families.

Hawai‘i Appleseed is committed to a more socially and economically just Hawai‘i, where everyone has genuine opportunities to achieve economic security and fulfill their potential. We change systems to address inequity and foster greater opportunity by conducting data analysis and research, educating policymakers and the public, engaging in collaborative problem solving and coalition building, and advocating for policy and systems change.

The work of Hawai‘i Appleseed is about people. The issues we work on—housing, food, wages, state budget and taxation, and racial and indigenous equity—are important because they ensure people have access to shelter, sustenance, and the means to survive and thrive individually and collectively. Addressing these issues requires the knowledge and expertise of the people that have first-hand experience and live with the adverse consequences of our flawed systems.

The Community Organizer position is responsible for helping to build a grassroots, people-centered movement for Hawaiʻi residents. The Community Organizer will work directly with Hawaiʻi Appleseed’s Director of Community Engagement, to support our “people first” approach across Hawaii Appleseed’s priority issue areas.

Under the guidance of the Director of Community Engagement, specific responsibilities include:

• Conducting at least 5-10 one-on-ones per week to build strong relationships with community leaders and people with lived experience of economic insecurity primarily on Oʻahu (and neighbor islands as possible)
• As a result of one-on-ones, identifying potential leaders and building and maintaining a contact list of statewide individual and organizational advocates in each issue area.
• Maintaining consistent communication with potential leaders and developing their leadership skills by keeping them engaged in our advocacy work
• Organizing and facilitating power-building trainings, community listening sessions in both rural and urban communities, and other public actions based on the needs of the issue areas (including letter writing campaigns, sign-waving, press conferences, rallies/marches)
• Making logistical arrangements for all community engagement-related meetings and events
• Actively participating in the work of the Hawaiʻi Appleseed’s advocacy coalitions and helping to build community support for their identified policy priorities
• Coordinating and staffing tabling at community events as requested and approved
• Contributing to Hawaiʻi Appleseed management decision-making, equity agenda, and strategic planning and fundraising, as requested
• Regular reflection on organizing and community building including insights, challenges and opportunities and sharing them in conversation with Director of Community Engagement
• Other duties as assigned to support the mission of Hawaiʻi Appleseed

The right candidate will have the following strengths and qualifications:

• Terrific listening and interpersonal skills
• Strong desire to connect and build relationships with people from diverse backgrounds
• Strong commitment to equity and inclusion and the mission to ensure that all Hawaiʻi residents have opportunities to thrive economically and socially
• Relevant experience in community engagement and/or organizing preferred
• Knowledge of Hawaiʻi’s unique social, political, cultural, and systemic issues that affect policy and the well-being of marginalized communities
• Excellent communication skills, both verbally and in writing
• Proficient in MS Office, Google Suite
• Self-directed, while also being able to work well in teams and with coalition partners

This is a full-time, year-round position and the successful candidate will either live in or relocate to Honolulu, Hawai‘i.

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience, within the range of $65,000 to $75,000, commensurate with experience. The position also provides comprehensive benefits including health care, paid holidays and personal leave and a 401(k) plan.

Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume to jobs . The position will remain open until filled.