About Cabrini Green Legal Aid

Cabrini Green Legal Aid, founded in 1973, has deep roots in the Cabrini-Green area and community. CGLA is known for legal expertise and community presence, remaining one of the most respected organizations working on removing barriers to equity for people who have been impacted by the criminal legal system. As our advocacy work continues to grow and evolve, our philosophy is rooted in principles of racial justice, movement lawyering, and centering the leadership and expertise of directly impacted people within the community. We seek to build power together through organizing, creating and maintaining relationships, and education. We are inspired by Marshall Ganz definition of organizing, which says that “Organizing is leadership that enables people to turn the resources they have into the power they need to make the change they want.” Our community organizing work directly informs our advocacy agenda.

About YOU

The right person for this role is a highly effective community organizer with a passion for social movements. They strive to build deep connections rooted in trust, integrity, and intention. They understand that relationships are a vehicle for change, and community organizing is the pathway to building power and large-scale social movements. They are equally comfortable navigating one-on-one conversations and speaking to large groups. They are a thoughtful campaign strategist, considering how to build movements that last beyond moments. They are an exceptional planner and sequential thinker, attentive to how step A connects to steps B through Z. They have experience working on successful policy campaigns, at a municipal or statewide level. The ideal candidate will demonstrate flexibility and adaptability, possessing a creative and collaborative problem-solving mentality.

Position Overview

The Campaigns Organizer will participate in the development and execution of campaigns that work to mitigate the harms of the criminal legal system. They will work closely with our Community Navigator to develop our Leadership Council’s leadership and advocacy skills, helping Leaders become powerful change-makers and effective advocates. They will also work closely with our Policy Manager to design effective advocacy campaigns, participate in coalitions and other campaign organizing spaces, and engage Leaders in ongoing and upcoming campaigns. Finally, they will ensure that our community legal education programming builds informed, empowered communities. As a representative of CGLA, they will promote systemic change to remove barriers to equity in the criminal legal system.

Essential Duties

Campaign Development

Support the development of coalitions of local, state, and national partners who can partner to advance CGLA’s advocacy objectives.

Represent CGLA in specified coalitions as assigned.

Partner with Leaders and Advocacy Team staff to identify priority issues, campaign opportunities, and develop campaign strategy.

Support the development and implementation of a participatory advocacy agenda creation process by engaging impacted community members and soliciting feedback about advocacy initiatives.

Stay informed about ongoing criminal legal reform advocacy initiatives at the municipal, county, and state level, identifying strategic opportunities for partnership, support, or opposition.

Conduct research and analysis to inform advocacy campaigns as needed, using legislative research tools, Freedom of Information Act requests, etc.

Develop campaign materials (talking points, action alerts, presentations, one-pagers, etc.) to advance advocacy campaigns.

Participate in advocacy activities with legislators, stakeholders, and peer organizations in Chicago, Springfield, and around Cook County as required.

Leadership Development

Co-facilitate Leadership Council, the Restoring Rights and Opportunities Coalition of Illinois (RROCI), and other meetings as assigned.

Note: Leadership Council and RROCI are groups of impacted community leaders who are engaged in setting and advocating for CGLA’s advocacy objectives.

Work with our Community Navigator to conduct regular one-on-ones with Leaders to identify their growth areas, determine Leadership development goals, and assess progress towards Leadership growth areas, all in service of developing formerly incarcerated people to become leaders in the movement to shrink the carceral state

Plan and deliver monthly skill-building trainings for Leaders

Work with our Community Outreach Coordinator and Outreach Attorney to ensure that our community legal education programming is building informed, empowered communities.

Mobilize Leaders to attend advocacy initiatives such as protests, rallies, press conferences, lobby days in Springfield, etc.

Experience and Education

A bachelor’s or advanced degree in a related field is not required for this position but equivalent experience and skills are desired

Substantial experience (minimum 3-5 years) working with state-level coalitions that advance social justice campaigns

Experience developing leaders of social change movements. Demonstrated belief in a collaborative approach of building power “with,” not “for” communities

Experience organizing across race, age, gender, faith, and political viewpoints. Proven track record of adapting communications and organizing techniques to different audiences

Demonstrated success in advocacy work, including coalition development; policy or legislative victories; demonstrated narrative shift; and/or movement expansion

Familiarity with the legislative advocacy process required; direct experience with the Illinois General Assembly preferred

Strong written and oral communications skills; proficient in typing and digital communications through emails, texts, Signal/Slack/etc. chats

Success using digital organizing and communications tools such as Microsoft Office and Google Suite, MailChimp, EveryAction, and text messaging services like Hustle

Personal lived experience with the criminal legal system, or experience working with communities impacted by the criminal legal system. Ideal candidates will see their stake in fights for decarceration and racial equity.

Ability to take initiative by setting and being accountable to their own work plan

Ability to work both independently and collaboratively

Embody an “all hands on deck” attitude, believing that no task is too small for any team member

Demonstrated adaptable and problem-solving mentality: anticipates and adjusts to obstacles, leading with solutions instead of critiques

Preference for candidates who have completed training for community organizers such as the Midwest Academy’s “Organizing for Justice” training, or those who have completed a leadership development program for people impacted by the criminal legal system, such as those offered by Just Leaders USA, the Illinois Prison Project, Live Free Illinois, and similar.

Supervisory Responsibility

Supervise directly impacted Leaders and interns as required. Will not be a manager at this time but may do some project management with colleagues as required.

Required Hours

40 hours/week. Daily work is to be conducted between 9:00am to 5:00pm M-F, with frequent community events on weekends and evenings (attending between one and three “after hours” events per week is typical). Flexing hours to maintain an overall 40-hour workweek is expected.

Physical Requirements

Sit for long periods of time.

Speak clearly so listeners can understand.

Understand the speech of another person.

Must be able to work in a stressful work environment.

The employee is regularly required to sit, walk, talk, read, see, and hear. The employee is frequently required to use hands and fingers to type, handle, or feel and reach. The employee is regularly required to stand and walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Travel Requirements

A valid driver’s license and consistent access to personal transportation is required for this position.

Occasional travel to events across Illinois, legislative advocacy opportunities in Springfield, and out-of-state conferences will be required.

Benefits:

We offer a generous benefits plan that includes Blue Cross Blue Shield - Health insurance, Vision Service Plan – Vision insurance, Principal Dental insurance and 100% employer paid life insurance, (EAP) Employee Assistance Program, Dependent Care and Medical Flexible spending accounts, Pet insurance, Pre-Tax Programs for parking, local transit for Ventra and Metra and Uber Pool, and Vanguard 403(b) retirement matching. Additionally, CGLA offers generous Paid Time-off, Floating Holidays and 15 paid holidays per year. During the summer months we celebrate Summer Fridays by closing the office early.

CGLA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages qualified candidates of all backgrounds to apply for this position.

Applications accepted on a rolling basis, priority given to those submitted before 8/25.