Nova Scotia – Climate Justice & Housing Community Organizer
Job Summary
We are seeking someone passionate and eager to train to become our Climate Justice / Housing Lead Organizer in Nova Scotia. This role will help lead campaign development around housing standards, energy poverty, tenant rights, and energy efficiency in rental housing.
The job of an ACORN organizer is to build formal groups of low- to moderate-income people so they can disrupt and change the systems that negatively impact their communities.
Training
Paid training will be provided out of province for a minimum of two months (travel and accommodations covered). This intensive training teaches the fundamentals of community organizing, including doorknocking, strategic research, campaign planning, communications, organizing events and actions, media outreach, and internal fundraising.
About ACORN
ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) Canada is a multi-issue, membership-based community union of low- and moderate-income people. We believe that social and economic justice can best be achieved by building community power for change. Each member has a vote, and only members speak for the organization and have the authority to set policy and determine the tactics of each group.
Our local and national boards are elected directly from our membership.
We have a long history of organizing in low- and moderate-income neighbourhoods and winning change through various means, including doorknocking; petitioning; local, regional, and national meetings; public forums; and peaceful direct actions — all aimed at building power.
We have over 177,000 members organized into 32 neighbourhood chapters in six provinces across Canada. We have three levels of membership: full members pay $15/month; associate members contribute what they can; provisional members support the organization’s vision. Community members are always welcome at our meetings, actions, and events.
Since 2004, we have won major victories, including payday lending legislation, minimum wage increases, rent control in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, renoviction and landlord-use eviction bans in BC, a $10 cap on NSF bank fees, lower federal criminal interest rates, landlord registration in Halifax Regional Municipality, and more.
The current priorities laid out by ACORN’s leadership in Nova Scotia are:
- Fighting Energy Poverty and Energy Inefficient rental housing
- Province-wide Anti-Tenant Displacement campaign
- Strengthening Landlord Registration in the HRM
Responsibilities and Duties
- Train to become an ACORN lead organizer out of province.
- Building/expanding neighbourhood groups by working directly in the communities we’re organizing.
- Expand ACORN’s membership base in Halifax Regional Municipality.
- Work with existing ACORN members and cultivating new leaders to expand both our neighbourhood and municipal campaigns.
- Work with ACORN training staff 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 an organizer’s job. We are structured like a union: ACORN members pay membership dues. While this is not the entire job, it’s fundamental that organizers sign up members and can ask for dues and donations.
- Willing and able to travel to training, and staff meetings (some outside of Canada). Usually 3 times a year.
- Dealing with multiple tasks in the same day – flexibility and resilience are keys to success.
- Representing the organization in the neighbourhoods, as well as with our leadership at external meetings or events (allies or targets).
Qualifications and Skills
- No paid field or community organizing experience is required; professional organizer training is not only provided but learning how to be an ACORN organizer is essential.
- Ability to manage and be managed.
- Have strong social and people skills.
- Another language is not required but considered an asset.
- Be self driven and the ability to work both independently but also follow direction.
- Ability to listen in order to identify issues that are affecting our people
Job Type: Full-time
Hours of work: 42 hours per week – hours are 12-9PM Monday to Friday, 1-8PM on Friday. Work every second Saturday for 3 hours doing events.
Salary and benefits: $42,500 per year, Plus transportation allowance (approx $60 per mo) + phone allowance ($20 per mo).
After the probation period of 6 months, health benefits, five paid sick days, and RRSP retirement program.
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company events
- Flexible schedule
Schedule:
- Afternoon and Evening – Monday to Friday
- Weekends as needed
Application question(s): Please note that only applications with a cover letter replying to these questions will be considered.
- Why do you want to be a community organizer at ACORN?
Work Location: In-person