Community Organizer, Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia

Posted by on January 07, 2013

The Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia (the Law Center)’s Garden Justice Legal Initiative is seeking a part time community organizer. The organizer will work on campaigns aimed at ensuring that community farmers and gardeners in Philadelphia have the resources and tools they need to preserve their individual farms and gardens, and supporting movement building, self advocacy, and informed leadership to effect equitable and meaningful reforms needed for community land and food security and sovereignty at the neighborhood, city, and state levels.

Specific Responsibilities will include:
1. Engage in strategic, on-the-ground outreach to Philadelphia’s 350+ gardens and farms, prioritizing more legally vulnerable projects and providing information on legal rights, resources, and opportunities for advocacy
2. Work with neighborhood-based and youth partner organizations to interview at least 100 gardeners and farmers on challenges and resource needs
3. Conduct neighborhood-based and citywide workshops on legal and policy issues related to urban agriculture, community planning, and vacant land
4. Build a local network for support for community controlled land-based projects, starting with gardens and farms
5. Work with New York-based partner, 596 Acres, to develop and create campaigns related to an interactive web-based platform to help individuals and groups in Philadelphia identify, organize around and access publicly- and privately-owned vacant land in Philadelphia, as well as provide information about pathways to protect land for Philadelphia groups that are already land stewards
6. Serve as a liaison to other organizations within Philadelphia that share similar goals

This position will report to the staff attorney for the Garden Justice Legal Initiative.

Qualifications & Abilities:
1. At least 3 years experience in community organizing/outreach, leadership development, and/or popular education work
2. Strong communications and interpersonal skills – listening, public speaking, emailing, strategic thinking, and writing
3. Excellent people skills; ability to build and grow relationships with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds
4. Earned college degree or high school diploma with some post-secondary education and/or equivalent learning or training

Ideal applicants should also display:
1. Strong interest in and knowledge of food justice, environmental justice, urban land reform, and community land sovereignty
2. Commitment to community-based, community-led participatory methods of organizing and development
3. Experience in facilitating group decision-making processes
4. Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively and to excite and motivate others
5. Strong time management/coordinating skills and ability to prioritize and successfully carry out outcome-based projects
6. Familiarity with Philadelphia neighborhoods, particularly those with high incidence of vacant and abandoned property
7. Conversational ability in another language in addition to English is a plus – particularly Spanish
8. Proficiency with Microsoft Office, internet, and forms of social media

This position is funded from February through October at approximately 25 hours per week, with a possibility of continuing. The hours are flexible, but will require some evenings and weekends. The proposed start date is February 1st.

ABOUT the Law Center:
The Law Center uses high-impact legal strategies to improve the well-being and life prospects of the Philadelphia region’s most vulnerable populations by assuring that they have access to the resources and services that all of us need to lead our lives. The Law Center’s Garden Justice Legal Initiative provides legal and advocacy support to urban gardens and farms in historically disinvested communities who are working to grow healthy, affordable, culturally-appropriate food; promote community land and food sovereignty; engage in leadership and economic development; and reclaim vacant land.

To apply, submit a letter of interest, a resume with salary requirements, and at least three references by mail or email to:

Amy Laura Cahn
Staff Attorney/Skadden Fellow
Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia
United Way Building
1709 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19103
jclarke@pilcop.org

For more information, visit us at http://www.pilcop.org.