The West Chicago Congregational Organizer will build and strengthen relationships with faith leaders and congregations across West Chicago and the surrounding region to advance Live Free Illinois' mission of justice, public safety, and civic engagement. This role recruits, equips, and mobilizes churches to engage in organizing campaigns, leadership development, voter engagement, and advocacy that builds power and creates lasting change in their communities.
Position: Westside Chicago Congregational Organizer
Reports to: Deputy Director
Organizational Overview
The mission of LIVE FREE Illinois is to address violence against the black community and to create racial and economic justice in Illinois, by engaging people in public life to translate faith into action and to overcome barriers to opportunity in low-income communities, including mass incarceration, police violence and gun violence.
Position Overview
The Chicago Westside Organizer has the responsibility for cultivating relationships with members of diverse faith congregations and leaders throughout Chicagoland, teaching them community-organizing skills, and supporting them:
(1) to conduct successful issue campaigns on the local, state, and potentially national levels.
(2) engage leaders in local coalitions with the actions necessary to transform their communities (community development, entrepreneurship, community partnerships, etc.).
(3) Create, Establish, and Scale up Justice Ministries within congregations.
Specifically, the Chicago Organizer will be responsible for maximizing the involvement of members of congregations and local community leaders through ongoing relationship building, leadership training, coaching and mobilization for meetings, events, and actions.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
● Advance Campaigns at the Federal, State, and Local Levels:
○ Partner with the Live Free Illinois team to help mobilize efforts to shape policies and practices regarding gun violence prevention, incarceration, and police violence
○ Develop, strengthen, and nurture alliances and work in partnership with stakeholders including formerly incarcerated people, crime survivors, chapters, volunteers, legislators, business leaders, legal professionals, reform advocates, and religious and political leaders
○ Provide regular, comprehensive updates on campaign progress to various stakeholders ○ Plan and manage events to raise visibility and support for the campaigns
○ With support from Deputy Director, lead Clearance Rates campaign work to build base, conduct listening sessions, and build toward direct action efforts to improve and address racial disparities in clearance rates.
● Develop and activate Chicago base:
○ Support Live Free Illinois’s congregational teams in outreach, research, and strategic planning leading to large community action meetings that impact systemic change ○ Provide support and strategic guidance to Strategy Teams
○ Prepare written weekly reports on progress and outcomes of work
○ Implement organizing plans with tactics for involving volunteers and chapters that balance immediate campaign goals with building long-term volunteer capacity
○ Manage and help plan in-district visits with targeted legislators and other elected officials
○ Meet quantitative goals for event building, volunteer contact, and recruitment ○ Provide regular, comprehensive updates on campaign progress to various stakeholders ○ Mobilize volunteers to take action on legislative campaigns using a variety of tactics:
event attendance, 1:1’s, calls, letters, petition signature gathering, canvassing, phone banking, in-person meetings, house parties, etc.
● Identify, Develop and Nurture Leaders towards a Powerful Base:
○ Conduct 15- 2 one-on-one meetings each week with new or established Live Free Illinois’s leaders, clergy, and influential external leaders on a consistent and regular basis ○ Provide regular organizing training for Live Free Illinois leaders and community members in the principles and strategies of congregation-based community organizing
○ Identify, nurture, and elevate volunteer leadership within impacted communities and the broader public to help shape and inform campaign goals, tactics, and strategies ● Elevate the stories and experiences of impacted communities and individuals, ensuring that the interests and vision of impacted populations and the broader community are reflected in all work
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
While no one person will have all the qualities enumerated below, the successful candidate will bring many of the following qualifications and attributes:
● Experience in community/field organizing and base building, preferably at least one year ● Experience in political/advocacy/campaign organizing, with experience working directly with volunteers preferred
● Experience putting campaign strategy and tactics for volunteer engagement into practice ● A history of working collaboratively and successfully with people and organizations from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds and a broad range of ideological positions and religious views ● Demonstrated ability to work on a fast-paced campaign with many moving pieces and adapt to changing circumstances preferred
● Deep roots in the faith communities in Southern and Central Illinois
● Superb organizational skills; detail-oriented with strong follow-through and the ability to meet deadlines
● Creative, self-starting, willing to learn, and results-oriented with strong task and time management skills
● Passion for and commitment to ending mass incarceration and advancing racial justice ● Ability to work evening and weekend events as needed
● Ability to have a flexible schedule and travel
● Must have an Illinois Driver’s License and reliable access to a vehicle with current registration and insurance
● This role is based in Chicago; candidates from other regions may be eligible but will be expected to travel to be physically present for the role in the Chicago area
● Unwavering commitment to the mission and goals of Live Free Illinois, including a demonstrated commitment to equity and racial justice
Please note: Candidates should be respectful of people of faith but may be of any (or no) faith or religious background.
$55,000 - $60,000 per year