Childcare Organizing Fellow with Kids Count On Us - Southern Minnesota

Childcare Organizing Fellow with Kids Count On Us

ISAIAH

Exempt (from overtime), full-time, 6-month temporary position

Pay is based on a $55,000 annual salary
Work will be based in Southern MN (Rochester / Mankato / Surrounding areas). Travel in Southern MN is expected for this position.

POSITION AT A GLANCE

• The Childcare Organizing Fellow will canvass, relate to, and organize childcare providers and teachers who work in childcare centers in the suburbs of the Twin Cities. 
• All of our organizers and organizing fellows work in pursuit of a just economy and a democracy that honors the dignity and worth of people across race, faith, and class.
• Our ideal candidate can explain why they are interested in building power across the childcare space and has demonstrated “grit” when faced with challenging work or a lack of initial success.
• This position reports to a Community Organizer on our team. The ideal starting date for this position is early to mid-August.

WHY THIS POSITION IS IMPORTANT:

The Childcare Organizing Fellow will build relationships and lead people in the childcare space to develop their leadership and their power through engaging in strategy and planning for actions that elevate the interests and needs of childcare providers, childcare teachers, and parents. Empowering people working in and connected to childcare is how we will build power to transform our childcare system in Minnesota so that it is affordable and accessible for families, high quality for kids, and one that pays thriving wages to providers and teachers. 

The Childcare Organizing Fellow will:

• Engage childcare providers and teachers to build powerful relationships based on trust and a well-defined understanding of each other’s desires and interests.
• Canvass community-based childcare centers at least 30 hours per week to build relationships, identify their interests, and encourage them to vote. 
• Lead childcare roundtables with candidates and elected leaders to build relationships and to advance the needs of childcare providers and teachers.
• Develop and lead a team of at least 20 community leaders who will meet monthly as part of a new state chapter of Kids Count on Us, and from that group, 5-10 people who will lead the chapter and become part of the Kids Count on Us statewide Core Team group that meets biweekly. 
• Recruit and train volunteer leaders to canvass and engage their own communities. 

The Childcare Organizing Fellow will primarily be focused on canvassing to engage childcare providers and teachers from community-based childcare centers, and the Organizing Fellow will develop emergent leaders to engage other childcare providers and teachers, community members, candidates, and elected leaders through one-on-one conversations, community meetings, and more. 

Benefits and Compensation:
Organizing Fellows receive paid holidays, sick time, a floating paid holiday, and a cell phone reimbursement. Pay is based on a $55,000 annual salary.

About ISAIAH and Faith in Minnesota

ISAIAH, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, is a vehicle for multi-racial, multi-faith coalitions across Minnesota to act collectively and powerfully towards racial and economic equity in MN by addressing both local and regional community issues. Faith in Minnesota is our 501(c)4 organization that gives us a platform to organize and advocate directly in our state’s elections and political process.

Together, we have more than 100 member and partner churches and mosques, more than 25 barbershops, and more than 200 childcare centers who work to promote a caring economy and a multi-racial democracy that honors every person’s dignity. We do this work through intentional, intensive leadership development, collective action, and deep partnerships with grassroots organizations and public servants.

HOW WILL YOU KNOW IF YOU’RE A GOOD CANDIDATE?

You can be great for this role if you are someone who is:

• A person who has a self-interest deeply rooted in the goal of making childcare affordable and accessible for families, high-quality for kids, and one that pays childcare providers and teachers as the professionals they are.
• Able to act with integrity, has a strong work ethic, “grit”, and a willingness to persevere until you succeed.
• Able to make cold calls, doorknocks, and outreach efforts while confidently delivering an elevator pitch even when success does not come initially.
• A self-starter who can independently set goals and use them to guide daily actions.
• A good listener and capable of establishing rapport with people from different backgrounds.
• A quick learner eager to develop their leadership and help others do the same.
• Open to evaluation and direction from their supervisor and peers.
• Unafraid of being pushed and challenged by their peers and supervisor in order to more deeply reflect on and address personal barriers to leadership development.
• Can navigate different cultural settings to relate to people across race, class, age, and religion.

HOW WE KNOW IF YOU’RE A GOOD CANDIDATE?

We are looking for candidates who:

• Can articulate how working for social justice and grassroots organizing is connected to their personal motivation or self-interest rather than a desire to “serve” or “save” others.
• Has demonstrated independent decision-making, management of multiple priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, and sound judgment on when to seek advice and support from team members.
• Can share examples of achieving success when straightforward solutions aren’t available through problem-solving and applying flexible thinking.
• Can speak to their ability to effectively work with diverse communities, racial groups, and diverse stakeholders.
• Has a self-interest in the interests and needs of people who work in childcare.
• Has a driver’s license and reliable transportation. 
• Is willing to work a flexible schedule depending on when childcare providers and teachers are available, including hosting roundtables and events on evenings and weekends.
• Is comfortable using a range of technology, such as Google spreadsheets or Microsoft Office, WhatsApp, and other common software and apps.

• Have work experience in labor organizing, child care, early education, or similar sectors. (This is not required, but it would be a plus!)

HOW TO APPLY

• Please submit your resume and cover letter to our online application.
• This position will remain open until filled. Applications are reviewed as they’re received. Our ideal hire date is early to mid-August.

Our Statement Regarding Being an Equal Opportunity Employer

ISAIAH believes that a team with diverse experiences and backgrounds, working in an inclusive and safe work environment, generates richer discussions and more nuanced thinking. We are an equal-opportunity employer and actively encourage people whose identities and backgrounds reflect the rich diversity of our community and who are traditionally underrepresented in nonprofits to apply to our positions.

(Note: We have posted this position for the Twin Cities metro area and Southern Minnesota. We will be interviewing candidates from both regions, but will only hire for one position.)