Gay-Straight Alliance Network – New Orleans, LA
Job Title: Southeastern Regional Organizer – New Orleans, LA
Reports To: Senior Manager, Racial and Economic Justice Programs Status: Full time exempt Salary: Commensurate with experience, benefits including: health, dental, vision and retirementSoutheastern Regional Organizer
Organization
Gay-Straight Alliance Network is guided by our vision of full equality and social justice for all LGBTQ people. We have developed a model of grassroots organizing that trains youth activists to understand and challenge multiple systems of oppressions, in order to develop LGBTQ and allied leaders with a vision for broad social justice. Grounded in this model, GSA Network is building the GSA movement by providing resources, training, and grassroots organizing support to GSA clubs working to educate schools about LGBT issues and change public policy as well as to emerging GSA Networks in states around the U.S. As leader of the National Association of GSA Networks we bring together youth and adult leaders from state and regional GSA Networks to share best practices for GSA organizing. As a national leader in the LGBT, safe schools, and education justice movements, this is an exciting time for GSA Network as we expand our impact in southeast and nationally, and grow our team. You can learn more about our work at www.gsanetwork.org.
Position
GSA Network is seeking an organizer experienced in LGBTQ youth organizing to serve as a Southeastern Regional Organizer. This new position will support GSA Network’s regional work in the Southeastern United States; and join GSA Networks national team that supports an association of 39 state based GSA networks across the country. Working as part of GSA Networks national Racial and Economic Justice program this position will carry out the existing regional organizing efforts as well as new opportunities to support the needs of LGBTQ youth and queer youth of color in and out of schools doing education justice and LGBTQ youth advocacy across the region.
Based in New Orleans, the Southeastern Regional Organizer will be responsible for providing training, technical assistance and support southeastern state based GSA networks, and carrying out regional programming to strengthen the organizing efforts of southern queer youth, such as a southern GSA network convening, the Southeastern Regional Activist Camp and Southern GSA Pride Day.
A key priority for the Southeastern Regional Organizer in the first year will be sustaining the operations of the Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition, and working in conjunction with the New Orleans GSA Organizer to develop and support the formation of the New Orleans and Louisiana GSA organizing efforts. A deep familiarity with the southeastern United States and the LGBTQ communities there, a demonstrated passion for LGBTQ youth leadership and empowerment, extensive knowledge or personal experience with the intersectional issues facing low-income LGBTQ youth of color, and a commitment to social justice are required for this position.
Principal Responsibilities- Support regional GSA organizing capacity
- Conduct workshops for LGBTQ youth and GSA leaders on educational justice and other issues at the intersections of racial, economic and queer justice across the region
- Provide staff leadership and support to a cohort of southeastern state based GSA networks, thorough site visits, phone calls and technical assistance.
- Represent GSA Network at national and regional meetings
- Host a regional convening of southeastern GSA networks and partner organizations
- Coordinate and produce Southeastern Regional GSA Activist Camp – QYLTS Action Camp
- Coordinate and support Southern GSA Pride Day
- Develop the New Orleans Metro GSA Network [Year 1]
- Provide ongoing technical assistance and support the New Orleans GSA Organizer
- Provide training and support to the New Orleans Metro GSA Network
- Support the development of the LA Safe Schools Coalition
- Begin to lay the ground work for a state wide LA GSA Network
- Convene 1 city wide GSA Summit
- Support the development of a citywide youth council
- Support policy advocacy efforts in LA
- Support Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition [Year 1]
- Provide programmatic and staff support to MSSC program operations
- Provide staff support for MSSC youth board and organizational events as needed
- Provide regional leadership and support national operations
- Assist in the creation of blog posts, videos and other media about the intersectional issues facing queer youth of color in the southeast
- Participate in the Annual National Gathering of GSA Networks
- Support other regional and national conferences, campaigns and actions
- Provide trainings to other partner organizations
- With the national team develop new curriculum and campaigns specific to the region
- With the national team support regional policy change efforts
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications
- Ability to relate to LGBTQ youth and straight allies, particularly youth of color in the Southeastern U.S.
- 3-4 years direct experience with non-profits, grassroots community organizing, and coalition-building, in a schools based, or LGBTQ youth, or GSA context highly preferred.
- Experience working in a state based GSA network or similar organization preferred
- Community or youth organizing experience
- 1-2 years involvement in program planning and implementation
- Ability to travel to other states in the southeastern region: valid drivers license and access to car with insurance
- Strong analytical, planning, and organizational skills
- Solid time management skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple projects
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Experience doing public speaking, conducting trainings or providing technical assistance
- Proven leadership skills, including the ability to mentor youth
- Strong understanding of intersectionality for LGBTQ youth of color identities and the education policy issues impacting those identities
- Demonstrated commitment to social justice, anti-oppression work, and LGBTQ rights through a racial justice lens
- Demonstrated ability to work both independently (with a supervisor in another city) and as part of a team, with people from a variety of different racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, educational, religious, sexual, gender, and generational backgrounds
Send cover letter, resume, and salary history to SEOrganizer@gsanetwork.org or mail to: Southeastern Regional Organizer Search, GSA Network, 1550 Bryant Street #600, San Francisco, CA 94103. Please indicate job title in the subject line of your e-mail. No phone calls or faxes please. Only those applicants selected for an interview will receive a response.
The position will be filled as soon as a terrific candidate is found. It is therefore recommended that you submit your materials at your earliest convenience. The ideal start date is September 30, 2014.
Equal Opportunity Employer
GSA Network is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from youth, people of color, people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, and people with disabilities.
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