Summary:

The Community Outreach Lead assists project staff in establishing the National Parole Transformation Project (NPTP), develops relationships with community organizations and existing coalitions working on parole-related issues, and conducts outreach to people directly impacted by the parole system. This is a two-year position funded by Arnold Ventures.

The Community Outreach Lead develops public education materials and media advocacy, in conjunction with NPTP’s legal work and supports the Senior Special Projects Attorney and other staff in identifying opportunities to support and partner with organizations and coalitions through litigation efforts and non-litigation advocacy.

Who We Are:

MJC is a national nonprofit civil rights law firm. We represent people who have been harmed by America’s criminal legal system, seeking to vindicate their rights, elevate their story, and hold people with power accountable. We do this primarily through cutting-edge litigation and advocacy across the country, on end-to-end issues in the criminal legal system, from policing, to prosecutorial discretion, to rights of indigent defendants, to mass incarceration, to prison conditions, to wrongful convictions and the death penalty. For more information on our work, visit www.macarthurjustice.org.

The criminal legal system disproportionately harms people of color, people from low-income communities, people who were formerly incarcerated, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ individuals. We strongly encourage people who identify within these and other communities underrepresented in the legal profession to apply. All applicants must have and be committed to the cultural competence required to work with clients, co-workers, and community partners who come from different backgrounds and experiences.

Essential Job Functions:

Organizing/Outreach

Establish relationships with community organizations and impacted people in states and localities where the NPTP is focused;
Participate in community meetings and actions to build and sustain relationships with community leaders, activists, local organizations in identified jurisdictions;
Convene or participate in coalitions of impacted individuals and/or community-based organizations regarding injustices in the parole system;
Identify opportunities for NPTP to support existing organizing and advocacy efforts regarding parole, and assist the Senior Special Projects Attorney and other NPTP staff to develop relationships with partners and potential clients for litigation that seeks to catalyze transformational change in parole systems.

Programming and Public Education

Plan and organize a national conference of attorneys and organizers focused on parole transformation litigation/legal advocacy, to be held in the second year of the grant period;
Develop educational materials, programming, and publications regarding problems in the parole system that NPTP is seeking to address;
Collaborate with communications staff at MJC to develop and pursue opportunities for media advocacy and public education regarding NPTP’s litigation and mission.

Research/Investigation

Conduct case management and record-keeping, including identification of potential clients and referral partners, collection of data, and maintaining information in systems;
Identify sources of data, individual stories, and other information relevant to NPTP’s class-action litigation.

Other Job Duties

Attend MJC organization-wide meetings and regular office planning and staff meetings;
Attend training on topics related to parole and movement litigation;
Assist in gathering information and data sufficient to meet funder’s periodic reporting requirements;
Participate in trainings relating to office technology and office-wide practices.

Qualifications:

Education

Bachelor’s Degree or education in related fields such as social work, sociology, communications, public affairs or journalism is preferred. Other training in organizing/outreach obtained through experience or education will be considered.

Skills and Experience

At least two years of community outreach, organizing, policy advocacy, or similar experience required, three or more preferred.
Experience participating in or supporting community-based coalitions required;
Experience creating educational/advocacy materials for the public required;
Experience planning events such as conferences, retreats and similar convenings required;
Prior experience leading an organizing or community outreach campaign strongly preferred;
Experience with or knowledge of the criminal legal system and/or parole strongly preferred;
Experience working directly with people impacted by the criminal legal system preferred;
Ability to work in detention centers and with people caught up in the criminal legal system required, prior experience preferred;
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to create compelling public education materials and to engage audiences in-person and via Zoom;
Ability to synthesize information from various sources to effectively communicate with a variety of audiences;
A desire to support community lawyering and a willingness to help grow efforts to use the law creatively and strategically to seek justice and transformational change;
Ability to collaborate and to foster a team environment, a commitment to creating a working environment that is inclusive, equitable and welcoming, and a willingness to honor the diverse experiences and perspectives of MJC staff and clients
Self-motivated, diligent, organized, and able to meet strict deadlines.

Location

MJC operates on a hybrid schedule and requires some days in the office each week. The Community Outreach Lead must reside within commuting distance to our Illinois office

To Apply:

Please submit a cover letter addressing your experience relevant to the considerations above and

a resume. Applications will be reviewed and interviews scheduled on a rolling basis. Applications will be accepted through February 14, 2025 or until the position is filled.

The starting salary range for this position is $66,000 – $79,000, commensurate with years of experience and includes an excellent benefits package that includes employer-sponsored health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, EAP, FSA plans, 401K, and a generous paid-time-off policy.

Learn more about our benefits at www.macarthurjustice.org/benefits/

MJC is a (PSLF) eligible employer. For more information visit:

studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service#qualifying-employment

Roderick and Solange MacArthur Justice Center (Chicago)

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