Community Organizer – South Los Angeles (Watts)

~ TreePeople is an environmental nonprofit whose mission is to engage, inspire and support people to take personal responsibility for the urban environment, making it safe, healthy, fun and sustainable, and to share the process as a model for the world. TreePeople is among the largest independent environmental organizations in California. ~

Sustained by a staff of educators, foresters and administrators as well as thousands of trained “Community Foresters”, TreePeople has played, and will continue to play, a leading role in mobilizing Angelenos, private businesses and government agencies to work together to create resilient urban communities capable of withstanding the mounting challenges of climate change.

Position Overview

The Community Organizer – South Los Angeles (Watts) will assist and support TreePeople by making lasting connections with and between community members, CBO’s, agencies, businesses and key stakeholders in support of a multi-year Tree Planting Project in one of our bright spot communities.

The Community Organizer will play an important role in supporting this effort by continuing TreePeople’s work in engaging and growing a network of “Community Foresters” in these areas and by building community-awareness and involvement the planting of trees and other initiatives in the area.

Note: **Local Candidates Strongly Preferred**

Responsibilities

Essential Duties:

• Responsible for leading efforts at community outreach, recruitment of a diverse group of stakeholders that includes but not limited to community-based organizations, faith-based groups, neighborhood associations, advocacy groups, businesses, and public officials.
• Serve as a community liaison by participating and representing TreePeople at meetings, fundraising, marketing, membership, volunteer events, etc.
• Network and cultivate relationships with current and new contacts.
• Identify key community stakeholders in project area to leverage TreePeople’s work and establish and maintain relationships with them.
• Maintain and upgrade outreach materials for tablings and presentations.
• Strong administrative skills: planning and organizing.
• Strong public speaking and interpersonal skills.
• The organizer will integrate into or build coalitions, coordinate activities with coalition partners and recruit coalition members; coordinate the content and logistics for public events and large-scale mobilizations; and connect organizing work with the research, public policy, and communications staff on designated campaigns.
• Support TreePeople’s teams by participating at weekend volunteer events.
• Participate in TreePeople staff activities.

Qualifications

Minimum: 

• Community-oriented individual who is adept at mobilizing and prioritizing the needs of a community.
• Should have an understanding of equity, inclusion and cultural competency.
• Strong leadership, team-building and problem-solving skills.
• Highly-organized, friendly, smart, proactive and a quick-learner.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills: listening, negotiating, public speaking, and writing.
• Experience with project management and community organizing.
• Literate and interested in local climate resilience and environmental issues impacting communities throughout Southern California.
• Spanish fluency.
• Driver’s License and Proof of insurance required.

Physical Requirements:

• Able to push, pull, lift, and carry up to 40 pounds.
• Able to stand and walk for long periods of time.