Peel ACORN Lead Organizer

Is social justice a passion of yours? Are you tired of just talking about change and are ready to take action?

Then we want YOU to join the ACORN organizing team!

What is ACORN?

ACORN Canada, the nationwide community union of low-to-moderate income people, is expanding our organizing in Mississauga and Brampton. Our purpose is to give low-to-moderate income people the power needed to have their voices effectively heard at the highest levels in the country.

Current Campaigns:

Affordable and livable housing, stop no-fault evictions, end financialized housing, climate justice, retrofits for renters, fair banking, internet for all, better social assistance and more.

How do we win?

Organizers do direct outreach, listen to community residents’ concerns, and connect what they want to see changed to effective mass-based action. Organizing protests, developing campaigns, coordinating communications and research, and, most important, building powerful local groups all across Peel Region!

ACORN is a multi-issue, mass based union of low-to-moderate income people. ACORN is able to be both a local-based union winning local campaigns, as well as a large-scale organization combining forces to fight national corporations and governments that are at the root of most of our problems.

We are a tenants’ union. We are a disability action union. We are a worker’s union. We are a consumer’s union. We are whatever our members are. Our members pay dues so that the organization can be sustainable and not dependent on outside funding from government and corporations. Each dues member has a vote, and only members speak for the organization. Our members get elected to our board of directors and set our policy and help determine the tactics.

*APPLY WITH COVER LETTER*

Job Description:

• Building/expanding neighbourhood groups by being directly in the communities we’re organizing.
• Develop building, neighbourhood, and municipal campaigns with the current ACORN leadership and new leaders from the community that you help develop.
• Are responsible for their own projects such as organizing neighbourhood meetings, press conferences, townhalls, protests, sit-in’s and other direct actions. This includes all of the strategic planning, logistics, leadership development, media relations, communications and outreach.
• Represent the organization in the neighbourhoods, as well as with our leadership at external meetings or events (allies or targets).
• Work with our Ontario Regional Director on a day to day basis to learn the basics of ACORN’s organizing methods and techniques.
• Fundraising and asking for money is a fundamental part of ACORN staffs’ jobs. We are structured like a union: ACORN members pay membership dues. While this is not the entire job, it’s fundamental that outreach workers sign up members and can ask for dues and donations.
• 42 hours per week – working in afternoons and evenings between 12-9pm.

Career Advancement: 

•  We are looking for a self-motivated and ambitious individual to train to become Peel ACORN’s Lead Organizer. Highlights of the training program involve 8 weeks of learning the basics of field organizing in another ACORN office (Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton), completing a successful organizing drive with neighbourhood chapter elections, planning bit meetings/actions and more.
• Includes responsibility pay increases and participation in senior organizer meetings across Canada – sometimes international.

Perks of the Job:

• Compensation including benefits is $44,500 in Year 1, and $47,625 in Year 2 with the potential for $49,725 with available promotions. Annual seniority and cost of living increases in additional years.
• Benefits include mileage/phone reimbursements, sick days, RRSP and paid vacation.
• Paid training/travel opportunities across Canada (usually 3 times a year).
• Lot’s of opportunity for growth. Organizers are advanced quickly who do a good job.
• Making a meaningful impact in your community and across the country.
• Working with and learning from like-minded people dedicated to social change.

Qualifications and Skills

• No paid experience required.
• Must have access to a vehicle.
• Be willing to travel to another city for 8 weeks for training (accommodation/transit is covered)
• Have strong social and people skills.
• Be self driven.
• Have the ability to work both independently but also follow direction.
• Ability to listen in order to identify issues that are affecting our people.
• Must be able to handle multiple tasks in the same day – flexibility and resilience are keys to success.

*APPLY WITH COVER LETTER*

Please send your resume and cover letter to [email protected].