LEAD COMMUNITY ORGANIZER

Are you angry about the injustices your community faces? Do you want to learn how to build the people power necessary to fight those injustices and make real, local change? As a community organizer with Justice Matters, you’ll learn how to bring together our area’s diverse faith community to address the root causes of serious community problems.
Justice Matters is a constituent-led, grassroots organization that brings together faith communities to address the root causes of serious community problems across Douglas County, KS.

Justice Matters is part of the Direct Action and Research Training Center (DART), one of the largest faith-based community organizing networks in the country. We believe that fighting for racial and economic justice is fundamental to our identity as people of faith, and we know that successfully fighting for justice requires having power in the public arena. A few of Justice Matters’ victories since its start in 2014 include:

• An affordable housing trust fund which has created 700+ affordable homes.
• The implementation of a strategic plan to end chronic homelessness by 2028, which has led to at least 121 people moving from being unhoused to supportive housing.
• Stopping a jail expansion and creating recommendations for reducing the number of individuals who are jailed.
• The Treatment and Recovery Center, a mental health crisis center which has served over 1,500 unique individuals since opening in 2023.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Core passion to win on local justice campaigns
• Excellent relationship-building skills
• Enthusiasm for working with diverse faith communities
• At least three years of professional experience in community organizing, advocacy, congregational or non-profit leadership
• Experience leading teams of people
• Possession of a valid driver’s license and access to a car
• Ability to travel for training events throughout the year
• This role is based in Lawrence, Kansas. We are currently considering candidates that are based in the area or are willing to relocate for this position.

The Lead Community Organizer will direct the organization, including hiring and supervising all staff at Justice Matters. The Lead Community Organizer reports directly to the organization’s board of directors. Main duties include:

• Building engagement in the community
• Train grassroots faith leaders how to engage others in the fight for justice & recruit new leaders and congregations into the organization.
• Drive forward campaigns on community problems
• Train grassroots leaders to identify community problems, conduct research, and develop action plans for issue campaigns.
• Organize public actions of over 1,000 people.
• Fundraising from local sources
• Coordinate an annual 6-8 week fundraising drive with grassroots leaders who fundraise from individuals, small businesses, and major corporations in the community.
• Ensure that dues from member congregations are collected.
• Organizational development & management
• Work with the organization’s Board of Directors to map out the strategic direction and development of the organization.
• Train, supervise, and evaluate staff.
• Ensure that the organization’s finances are in order. This includes maintaining accurate financial records, ensuring that all foundation proposals and reports are submitted in a timely fashion.