Earth Quaker Action Team is a grassroots, nonviolent action group including Quakers and people of diverse beliefs, who join with millions of people around the world fighting for a just and sustainable economy.

Believing that rooftop solar power can both mitigate climate change and produce good jobs, in our current campaign – Power Local Green Jobs – we are challenging energy corporations to do just that by making a major shift to locally generated solar rooftop power for electricity. In this first phase, we are demanding that PECO, the local electricity provider, commit to supporting the local economy by purchasing energy from rooftop solar in high-unemployment areas of Philadelphia. This will provide much-needed jobs and income to neighborhoods across the region, particularly communities of color that have faced decades of disinvestment and racial barriers to employment.

Position Summary

The Communications Assistant will support the organization in telling the story of the campaign, while developing a solid infrastructure for communication. EQAT is an action organization that is mostly operated by volunteers. The Communications Assistant will create external communications content alongside volunteers. Additionally, this person will provide back-end support for internal communications, helping the organization build a strong campaign. The Communications Assistant must be passionate about the mission and vision of EQAT. This job requires someone to multitask, be detail oriented, be curious about direct action, and have experience or an interest in learning how to sustain a small non-profit. Communication skills, flexibility, and experience with self-supervision are important. This position reports to the Coordinator.

Duties

• Assist in the creation and implementation of communications strategies alongside the Communications/Media Team
• Manage EQAT’s NationBuilder database. Adding new people to the database, correcting contact information, and removing duplicate information
• Gather materials and send out the EQAT e-newsletter
• Develop content for EQAT’s website and provide regular maintenance to keep it up-to-date
• Coordinate regular updates for EQAT’s Facebook page & Twitter feed presence
• Promptly respond to the organization’s mail
• Respond to donation issues, including follow-up with lapsed monthly donors
• Support the fundraising committee through coordinating thank-you notes and the Annual Report
• Others tasks as assigned

Qualifications

The ideal candidate for this position will. . .

• have access to a computer and the internet
• have experience with Microsoft Word and Excel
• be a self-starter: able to balance varied projects and working independently
• have experience with creating content in a team environment via phone, email, and in person
• be able to attend regular staff meetings in Philadelphia
• possess solid writing skills
• be highly organized and detail-oriented
• have media relations experience
• be able to effectively use Facebook and Twitter
• have digital data management skills with services like NationBuilder, Google Drive, and Dropbox
• preferably have experience with graphic design (Photoshop) and web-site management (NationBuilder or other Content Management Systems)
• Familiarity with the Religious Society of Friends and Quaker Culture is a plus

To Apply
Please submit a cover letter, resume, and at least two references to Matthew Armstead at matthew.eqat@gmail.com with “Communications Assistant Position” in the subject line.

EQAT is an equal opportunity employer. Women, people of color, LGBTQ candidates, persons with disabilities, persons with diverse faith traditions and beliefs, persons with past contact with the criminal justice system are strongly encouraged to apply. Applications will be accepted until the position has been filled.

10-20 hours/week
Summer 2015

Earth Quaker Action Team (EQAT) is a grassroots nonprofit based in Philadelphia. Our mission is to build a just and sustainable economy through campaigns that draw on the Quaker legacy of non-violent direct action. In spring 2015, EQAT won a 5-year campaign called BLAM! – Bank Like Appalachia Matters! – when PNC Bank effectively ceased it’s investments in mountain removal coal mining. Now the organization is in the exciting moment of choosing a new eco-justice campaign that echoes the mission statement. The intern will get to join on the ground floor of this new campaign!

Position

The intern will support EQAT with the launch of a new campaign, which will include participating in the initial direct actions (planning, execution, and debriefs to analyze for lessons useful for the field of peace-building and nonviolent action). The intern will assist in research to help in the development of campaign strategy. This summer EQAT will be updating our database and building a new website, and the intern would be part of a team working on these projects.

EQAT is a small organization where staff and volunteers work out of homes, libraries, and coffee shops. The intern will need his/her/their own computer and housing. There are opportunities for co-working, yet this internship is most ideal for a person who can be self-directed and work alone, with support and guidance. The intern will be part of regular staff check-ins and report to EQAT’s Coordinator.

This is an unpaid internship, but the intern will receive mentoring from an intergenerational group where peers and elders will be available to reflect and support the intern’s growth. EQAT values experiential learning, and will support the intern to increase direct action, project management, and/or facilitation skills based on interest and emerging organizational needs. Additionally, a reading list is available if the intern plans to receive academic credit for the internship.

How to Apply: Please send an email with responses to the following questions to Matthew Armstead at matthew.eqat@gmail.com. Do not send a resume.

1. Provide your name, email & phone number.
2. What dates are you available for a summer internship?
3. Why do you want to work with Earth Quaker Action Team? What excites you about this opportunity?
4. Describe three paid or unpaid work/organizing experiences that have given you skills that you can apply to the responsibilities of this internship.
5. What are the three greatest strengths you think you would bring to this position?
6. What are two things you’d like to learn through the experience of this internship?