Straight Ahead, a 501c4 dedicated to criminal justice reform in Pennsylvania that has emerged from the Abolitionist Law Center, Human Rights Coalition and Coalition to Abolish Death By Incarceration, is seeking a Survivor Network Organizer to work with people who identify as survivors of crime. Since the 1970s, politicians have used victims’ stories and voices to build a mass incarceration system built on punishment rather than healing, and fracturing communities rather than strengthening them. This position is about reclaiming what victims and communities impacted most by policing and incarceration need. The organizer will contact and build connections with those who have had harm done to them and develop and advocate for policy changes that will provide healing, especially those in poor, black, brown communities, and that experience the most crime and the highest policing and incarceration rates, and develop messaging around these experiences.
This Survivor Network Organizer position will be located in Philadelphia.
Job Responsibilities:
Build an active network of survivors rights/services groups in Pennsylvania to advocate for alternatives to incarceration
Contact and build connections with survivors of harm around the state––especially those in poor, black, brown communities–and work with them to advocate for policy changes that will provide healing rather than maximal incarceration
Work with survivors to organize and participate in legislative visits that Straight Ahead and its partners are doing
Work with our established core of volunteers who identify as survivors of harm, while developing new volunteer leaders and advocates
Develop trauma-informed trainings so that people feel supported throughout their development
Develop messaging with other parts of Straight Ahead team to help counter current narratives of incarceration and public safety
Participate in regular planning meetings with the rest of the Straight Ahead team to develop strategy for achieving lasting policy changes
Requirements:
Empathetic and trauma-informed organizing style; ability to develop strong relationships of mutual respect and trust
Experience in working within victim advocate services or victim advocate organizations
Strong commitment to racial and social justice, and familiarity with abolition and decarceration principles
Understanding of structural issues that create and reinforce poverty, crime, and multiple levels of victimhood
Ability to travel within Pennsylvania
Ability to work in person at office minimum of 3 days per week
Ability to problem-solve and find creative solutions for challenges or obstacles that arise
Ability to work independently but also within larger strategy, and to keep multiple projects and staggered deadlines
Strongly preferred that the organizer has direct experience with harm and comes from communities most impacted by violence and incarceration.
Reports to: Executive Director and Campaign Director
Salary and Benefits:
This position will be based in Philadelphia. This is a full-time, salaried position. The salary for this position is 50k annually, with a health insurance benefit of up to $400.00 a month and 35 days (280hrs) of paid time off annually.
Travel necessary to work such as lodging, food, transportation tickets will be reimbursed or covered.
Application Process:
Please email your resume, two professional references, and a detailed cover letter explaining your interest in the position as a single PDF to roxanne@straight-ahead.org. Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. Position open until filled.
To visit Straight Ahead's website, click here.