WHO WE ARE: CRLA was founded in 1966 with a mission to fight for justice and individual rights alongside the most exploited communities of our society. Through a network of regional offices and cross-cutting programs, CRLA provides legal services to tens of thousands of low-income people annually. Our work impacts farmworkers, indigenous populations, individuals with disabilities, immigrant populations, LGBTQ+ communities, women, children, and low-income families in rural areas.
- Position: CEI Community Worker
- Experience: 6+ months
- Application Deadline: Open until filled
- Location: Tulare Office
- Other: LSA Non-Exempt, Union Position
The Community Equity Initiative (CEI) utilizes a community lawyering model that pairs an attorney and a community worker to address environmental justice issues in disadvantaged communities. The model calls for creative, innovative advocacy that uses a multi-pronged approach to address the issues and their systemic roots. Approaches such as community leadership development and advocacy around policies are as important to the work as traditional legal advocacy. The CEI Community Worker should be creative and skilled at partnering with community residents to address the issues and their underlying causes. Many of the communities with whom CRLA works near the Modesto office are represented by seasoned and organized community groups with ongoing projects and defined priorities.
The CEI program covers a wide array of environmental justice areas ranging from access to services such as water and broadband to the inequitable distribution of resources and siting of hazardous land uses. CEI’s client communities are Disadvantaged Unincorporated Communities (DUCs) that suffer the consequences of historic underinvestment and discriminatory policies.
The CEI Community Worker will be partnered with the local CEI Staff Attorney to implement and evolve creative advocacy strategies to address community-identified environmental justice issues in the unincorporated communities in Stanislaus and Merced Counties. Primary responsibilities includeconducting community outreach and education, community leadership development, and developing and implementing advocacy strategies to improve infrastructure, services, and investment in disadvantaged unincorporated communities.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Community Outreach and Education
- Work with the Staff Attorney and Program Director to coordinate community outreach projects that are underway in 5-6 communities.
- Provide legal information and skills training to individuals and groups to help clients understand and assert their legal rights, including rights outlined in settlements following past successful litigation.
- Follow through assisting in the coordination of existing projects and collaborations with agencies.
- Collaborate with other staff to develop capacity and leadership among residents of unincorporated communities, and collaborate with seasoned community leaders.
Research and Advocacy
- Work with Staff Attorney and Program Director to implement and evolve a comprehensive advocacy strategy for each target community.
- Analyze local and state policies as they relate to infrastructure investment and local governance of unincorporated communities and advocate for changes as permissible.
- Monitor and attend local, county and state meetings related to the development, planning, investment, and health of unincorporated communities.
- Undertake factual research of unincorporated communities, including surveying community members, researching investment and historic analysis of unincorporated communities, and other research to raise awareness of unincorporated communities and support advocacy.
Coalition Building
- Act as liaison between CRLA and other organizations, agencies and coalitions.
- Collaborate with public and private stakeholders as appropriate to increase investment in and representation of disadvantaged unincorporated communities.
- Collaborate with partners to undertake permissible policy advocacy as appropriate.
- Elevate awareness of challenges facing unincorporated communities through in-person presentations and the use of various media outlets.
- Participate in issue- and community-based coalitions as requested by the Program Director.
General
- Work collaboratively and respectfully with staff, clients, and partners.
- Support litigation by assisting with investigation, discovery, and communication with clients.
- Work with CEI staff to plan regional and statewide meetings.
- Collaborate with funding partners and local foundations as requested.
- Report on grant deliverables in a timely manner.
- Maintain positive working relationships with colleagues, clients, and partners.
REQUIRED EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:
- Bilingual and bi-literate Spanish/English.
- Experience working with low-income communities.
- Experience working in cross-cultural settings.
- Experience creating and conducting trainings.
- Ability to use the internet, database, and computer office programs.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed.
- Availability to travel regionally and statewide.
This job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
COMPENSATION:
We offer a diverse, family-friendly environment and compensation based on competitive public interest salaries; generous benefits package which includes 100% employer-covered medical, dental, vision, life, and short & long-term disability insurance for employees and up to 50% for dependents coverage; and 401K retirement plan with CRLA contribution effective immediately. Generous paid leave policy which includes: 15 days of sick leave, 15 holidays each year, and vacation (accrue 15 days for the first year of service and 20 days after one year of service at CRLA). This is a union position (Legal Service Workers for Rural California "LSWRC"), and the estimated starting hourly range for this position is $24.21 - $32.10 (placement in the range is primarily determined by years of related experience).
APPLICATION:
CRLA invites you to submit your resume and cover letter; at your discretion, you may include a statement about how your unique background and/or experiences might contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and perspective of our staff and legal services practice.
CRLA requires that all employees are Fully Vaccinated, defined as a CDC-approved COVID vaccination and one booster shot. This offer is contingent on meeting this requirement. The complete vaccination policy, including the process for reasonable allowable accommodations, is available for your review upon request.
California Rural Legal Assistance thrives on our diversity, and we are proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We are committed to building a culturally diverse workplace and strongly encourage women, persons of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans, persons with disabilities, and persons from other underrepresented groups to apply.
