Community and Outreach Specialist

Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services; Dearborn (MI); On-site; USD 52,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services is seeking a Community and Outreach Specialist in Dearborn, MI. You will oversee civic engagement programs and empower residents to participate in local government, public programs, and civic life.

The role blends relationship-building, public communication, event coordination, data management, and strategic outreach to ensure goals are met, with emphasis on underrepresented groups accessing resources and information.

Qualifications

• Awareness of the needs of the populations served.
• Social media, digital communication, and public awareness campaigns.
• Developing, running, and evaluating outreach programs.
• Presenting information to community groups, stakeholders, and the public.
• VAN and voter databases and digital election tools.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a field strategy for voter education, registration, and turnout.
• Build relationships with residents, neighborhood groups, nonprofits, faith organizations, and civic leaders.
• Develop and deliver workshops, presentations, and materials on local government, voting and services.
• Plan election protection programming for local elections.
• Plan and execute large-scale community events, town halls and listening sessions.
• Create accessible outreach materials including newsletters, social media, flyers, and campaigns.
• Manage voter-engagement platforms and support NNAAC member organizations.
• Track engagement metrics and prepare impact reports.

Skills

Community awareness

Social media & digital comms

Outreach program development

Public speaking

VAN & voter databases

Education

Political Science/Communications/Sociology

Job description

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Department: NNAAC (National Network for Arab American Communities)

Job Title: Community and Outreach Specialist

Job Status: Full-time

Job Summary: Under direct supervision the Community and Outreach Specialist will oversee all local civic engagement programming and will lead efforts to educate, activate, and empower community members to participate in local government, public programs, and civic life. The role blends relationship-building with key stakeholders, public communication, event coordination, data management, and strategic outreach to ensure civic engagement goals are met. This position focuses on underrepresented groups to ensure they have access to information, resources, and opportunities to engage with our community of interests.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute a comprehensive field strategy for voter education, registration, and turnout
• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders: residents, neighborhood groups, nonprofits, faith organizations, and civic leaders to increase awareness of public programs and engagement opportunities
• Develop and deliver workshops, presentations, and materials that help residents understand local government processes, voting, public meetings, and available services
• Plan and maintain election protection programming for all local elections across our community of interest
• Plan and execute large-scale community events, town halls, listening sessions, and engagement activities in our community of interest
• Create accessible outreach materials, including newsletters, social media content, flyers, and digital campaigns tailored to community needs
• Manage voter‑engagement platforms including VAN, GetThru, ThruText, and related tools and provide support for NNAAC member organizations
• Track engagement metrics, analyze participation trends, and prepare reports to guide outreach strategies and measure impact
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Awareness and sensitivity to the specific needs of the population being served
• Social media, digital communication, and promoting public awareness campaigns
• Developing, running, and evaluating outreach programs
• Presenting information to community groups, stakeholders, and the public
• VAN and voter databases, and digital election tools

Skill in:

• Public speaking
• Creating, planning, and implementing strategies to engage the public and build partnerships
• Conflict resolution, cultural competence, and proficiency in outreach strategies
• Exceptional verbal and written communication
• Representing the organization at events, fostering partnerships, and advocating for community needs
• Translating complex organizational information into easy‑to‑understand language for the public
• Operating standard office equipment and using required software applications for program area and other applications, including Microsoft Office

Ability to:

• Build trust, rapport, and maintain professional relationships with diverse community members,

stakeholders, and organization staff

• Manage disputes and handle challenging or sensitive situations with tact and diplomacy
• Understand local community needs, demographics, and cultural norms to effectively connect with

Specialized, underserved, or diverse populations

• Detail oriented management of multiple projects, community events, and outreach schedules
• Establish trust rapidly, connect with diverse stakeholders, and manage partnerships
• Identify community needs and bridge gaps with available services

Educational/Previous Experience Requirements:

• Minimum Degree Required:
• Required Disciplines:
  • Political Science, Communications, Sociology, or a related field

~and~

• 2 years’ of experience organizing communications/or community building. Proficient in voter databasis such as VAN, Getthru, Thrutext and other voter engagement tools. Any equivalent combination of experience, education and/or training approved by Human Resources

Licenses/Certifications:

• Licenses/Certifications Required at Date of Hire:
  • None

Working Conditions:

Hours: Normal business hours, some additional hours may be required

Travel Required: Local, in‑state, national, and international travel, up to 50%

Working Environment: Climate controlled office