Toronto ACORN Community Organizer

Toronto ACORN Full-Time Community Organizer Job summary

We are seeking a passionate Community Organizer to join our team in Toronto.

The job of an ACORN organizer is to build formal groups of low-to-moderate income people so they can disrupt and change the systems that negatively impact their community.

The on the job training provided allows someone to learn all the fundamentals of how to be a community organizer. This includes effective outreach, strategic research, campaign planning, communications, organising events and actions, getting press to cover our actions and campaigns, and internal fundraising.

ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) Canada is a multi-issue, membership-based community union of low- and moderate-income people. We believe that social and economic justice can best be achieved by building community power for change. Each member has a vote, and only members speak for the organization and have the authority to set the policy and determine the tactics of each group.

Our local and national boards are elected directly from our membership.

We have a long and deep history of organising in low- and moderate-income neighbourhoods, fighting and winning change through a variety of means – including door knocking; petitioning; local, regional, and national meetings (both internal and public forums); and last but not least, peaceful direct actions – all building power in the process.

We have over 177,000 members organised into 31 neighbourhood chapters in 6 provinces across Canada. We have three levels of membership. Full members pay $15/month; associate members chip in what they can; provisional members join the vision of the organisation. General community members wanting to participate are always invited to our community events!

Since 2004 we have won several important victories including payday lending legislation, raises in the minimum wage, lowering the NSF fee, lowering the interest rate of predatory loans, housing rights by‑laws across the country, affordable internet programme, disability rights and more.

• Anti-Displacement campaign fighting back against renovictions/demovictions
• Full Rent Control / Ban AGIs

• Building/expanding neighbourhood groups by being directly in the communities we’re organising
• Work with existing ACORN members and cultivating new leaders to expand both our neighbourhood and municipal campaigns.
• Work with our Lead or Head Organizer on a day to day basis to learn the basics of ACORN’s organising methods and techniques.
• Fundraising and asking for money is a fundamental part of an organiser’s job. We are structured like a union: ACORN members pay membership dues. While this is not the entire job, it’s fundamental that organisers sign up members and can ask for dues and donations.
• Willing and able to travel to training and staff meetings (some outside Canada). Usually 3 times a year.
• Dealing with multiple tasks in the same day – flexibility and resilience are keys to success.
• Representing the organisation in the neighbourhoods, as well as with our leadership at external meetings or events (allies or targets).

• No paid experience required; professional organiser training provided
• Have strong social and people skills.
• Another language is not required but considered an asset.
• Be self‑driven and the ability to work both independently but also follow direction.
• Ability to listen in order to identify issues that are affecting our people.

42 hours per week – hours are 12‑9 PM Monday to Friday, 1‑8 PM on Friday. Work every second Saturday for 3 hours doing events.

Salary: $42,000 per year

Plus transportation allowance (approx $90 per month) + phone allowance ($20 per month). After the probation period of 6 months, health benefits, five paid sick days, and RRSP retirement programme.