Family Organizer

Contra Costa County Charter Coalition (5C); Richmond (CA); Hybrid; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health benefits

Retirement plan

Paid PTO

Job summary

A coalition of public charter schools in Richmond, CA seeks a Family Organizer to enhance family engagement and advocacy in public education. The role involves recruiting and training parent leaders, organizing campaigns, and collaborating with educational stakeholders. Candidates should have experience in community organizing and be bilingual in English and Spanish. This full-time position offers a hybrid work model with a salary range of $50,000 - $70,000 based on experience.

Qualifications

• Experience in charter school advocacy or grassroots organizing.
• Ability to write and speak clearly and persuasively.
• Highly-organized project manager.

Responsibilities

• Support family organizing and advocacy campaigns.
• Recruit parent leaders for Family Leadership Council.
• Train parent leaders to engage in advocacy campaigns.

Skills

Belief in high quality charter schools

Relationship building

Community organizing

Strategic thinking

Bilingual in English and Spanish

Job description

Are you an educational advocate who is passionate about increasing access, quality and equity in Contra Costa County public education? Are you passionate about building parent power to ensure that historically underserved students have access to a high-quality public education? Do you believe that the people closest to the problem of quality education should have a seat at the table when it comes to policy and decision making? If this sounds like you, we encourage you to read on and join us as the Family Organizer for a dynamic and growing coalition of public charter schools.

About 5Cs

The Contra Costa County Charter Coalition (5C) is an inclusive and growing coalition of high-quality charter schools throughout Contra Costa County (CCC), including Aspire Public Schools, Caliber Beta Academy, Leadership Public Schools, Making Waves Academy, Richmond College Prep, Summit Public Schools, and Voices College-Bound Academies that collectively serve nearly 6,000 students.

In 2023, charter school executive leaders in West County united to launch 5C, a new 501c3 organization that channels the inherent power of CCC charter school communities. Our families are united in a shared interest of high-quality public schools, and we believe in their potential to champion equitable access to high quality schools. The priorities of 5C are to support successful charter renewals and to increase the influence of the CCC charter school community and advocate on behalf of the students.

Together, we commit to these outcomes:

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• Developing a cross-school council of charter family leaders who advocate collectively for public education quality, equity and access

• Building influential relationships with key elected officials, community leaders and education decision makers

• Increasing voter education and registration among the families and staff of our school communities

• Amplifying a holistic narrative about public charter schools in CCC through information campaigns

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Core Responsibilities

This is a full-time position. 5C uses a hybrid model in our organization, meaning we have 3 on-site work days and 2 remote work days per week, in addition to in-person and virtual evening meetings.

As our Family Organizer you will support the 5C’s Executive Director to

drive family organizing, advocacy campaigns and power building within the 5C’s Coalition. Specifically, you will:

• Identify and recruit parent leaders from each member schools to join our Family Leadership Council (FLC) in collaboration with school site family engagement staff.

• Work with charter schools to build site-based family engagement and power, including supporting the establishment of a Parent Leadership Team (PLT) at each school site.

• Train and develop parent leaders to lead organizing campaigns and engage coalition members in 1-2 advocacy campaigns per year that increase quality, equity and access in CCC public education (including voter education, voter registration, and GOTV)

• Use 1:1 meetings to build relationships and identify parent/community leaders. Use a variety of outreach methods to recruit leaders and allies including school events, house visits, and house meetings.

• Develop the knowledge and understanding of family leaders in education data, the Contra Costa public education landscape, and the principles and practices of community organizing.

• Support individual charter school partners in their charter renewal

The essential daily functions of the Family Organizer include:

• Recruit, train and lead a core set of parent/community leaders to develop school-based parent-led organizing teams to empower parents, youth and teachers to act in the public arena to promote and defend their interests and values.

• Build the capacity of parents to understand the State and local educational landscape, key decision makers, and power of community, through a relational model of community organizing.

• Recruit, mobilize, and retain a network of parents and community stakeholders that build advocacy and engagement to transform our local communities.

• Complete 15 -20 one-on-one relational meetings every week with current and future parent leaders and other important stakeholders that build organizing capacity and engagement.

• Work closely with the 5C’s team to remain informed on the local education politics landscape and develop coordinated grasstops - grassroots strategies.

• Foster relationships and develop champions with community-based organizations, faith leaders, elected officials, civic and community leaders that lead to elevating parent organizing.

• Create and maintain outreach records, communication systems, databases, and project work plans.

• Perform other duties as required to support the work of the organization as a whole

Required Qualifications

• Belief in and experience with high quality charter schools and school choice

• Experience in charter school advocacy or other relevant grassroots organizing

• Demonstrated ability to build strong relationships with diverse stakeholders and communities

• Eagerness to learn and engage in community organizing

• Strong strategic thinking skills and an ability to analyze policies and institutions

• Understanding the Contra Costa County community context; ideally live in CCC or the East Bay

• Ability to write and speak clearly and persuasively, including speaking in small and large group settings

• Highly-organized project manager; able to manage multiple priorities

• A valid driver's license and reliable, insured vehicle (needed to fulfill job requirements)

• Proof of eligibility to work in the United States

• Bilingual in English and Spanish (written and spoken)

Personal Attributes

• Ability to interface and develop authentic relationships with charter school parents and leaders, elected officials, and community leaders

• Skilled storyteller and communicator (both verbal and written)

• Skilled facilitator including group decision-making

• Orientation to power building and belief in the inherent power of families

• Entrepreneurial spirit and ability to thrive in a fast-paced and achievement-oriented environment

• Willingness to go above and beyond to contribute to the success of a dynamic new coalition committed to a new future for urban education

Compensation

We offer a competitive salary, benefits and retirement package. Annual salary ranges from $50,000 - $70,000 and is dependent on candidate experience. The total compensation includes generous health benefits, a retirement plan and paid PTO. This position reports to the 5Cs Executive Director.

Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity

5C is an equal opportunity employer. You will be part of a team that values a diversity of cultures, perspectives, and lived experiences. We carefully consider every applicant who takes the time to apply. 5C strives to reflect the community it is proud to engage with and strongly encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to consider working at 5C. We seek talented and qualified individuals regardless of age, ancestry, color, creed, ethnicity, gender identity, marital status, military obligations, national origins, physical abilities, race, religion, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, and veteran status.

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to Maribel Gonzalez at [e-mail]

Sample “Week in the Life” of an Organizer

• Meet 1-1 with 8-10 of your parent leaders to strategize about the next steps in your campaign to expand educational options in the district

• Meet 1:1 with 4-5 potential new leaders in order to understand their self-interest and share the mission and vision of the FLC.

• Prepare and then support your team of 15-20 parent leaders as they hold their first meeting with the the district regarding plans to improve outcomes for low-income students

• Meet with FLC Communications and Stakeholder workgroups to plan a powerful presentation for a local school.

• Role-play your upcoming training on power and leadership for the organizing team and receive feedback from your colleagues

• Train a parent to chair a meeting with her local school board president, and coach her to think through the appropriate tone and level of challenge the group should bring to the board member about their issue

• Make calls to invite parents to attend an upcoming meeting and schedule 1-1 visits with them for the next week

• Meet with your supervisor to evaluate your previous parent leader team meeting

• Schedule a 1-1 with a local nonprofit leader to learn more about their work with families and the changing political environment in local cities

• Read and reflect on a classic organizing text, like Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals

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