Minnesota Youth Collective is a 501(c)(4) organization powered by young people to build a more representative and progressive state for all Minnesotans. We empower the next generation of leaders to take our rightful seat at the decision-making table, elect people who reflect our values, and shape legislation to better the lives of Minnesotans.
We do this by:
- Supporting and investing in the leadership of young people from underrepresented communities—communities of color, native communities, LGBTQIA2S+ folks, women, and working-class people.
- Centering young voices and stories around issues that matter to us, and driving real change around these issues.
- Giving young people opportunities to exercise their political power at every level of government, from working to make local schools more equitable all the way up to holding our representatives in Congress accountable.
- Making voting more accessible for young people—from registering them to vote to giving them the tools to get their friends out to vote.
- Weaving art, music, and culture into democracy to make it more approachable and more awesome!
Available Positions
- Community Engagement Organizer
- Board Member, 501(c)3 and 501(c)4
Community Engagement Organizer
Position Overview
As a Community Organizer, you will work with the Advocacy Director to execute program and advocacy plans to expand the impact of young voices in our democracy. You will be working to increase the impact of MNYC through our base building efforts. You will lead our member meetings (called Collective meetings), engage with them 1:1 and facilitate their growth in the organization. You will foster the leadership of other young people, giving them opportunities to lead on the work. Additionally, you will participate in civic engagement efforts within the organization, such as text banks, door knocks, etc as well as expanding access to the ballot to increase voter turnout, and to help young people connect the issues they care about to voting. You will engage with high schoolers around pre-registration through auditorium presentations and engaging with them through already existing student groups. .
The ideal candidate for this position is committed to their community, and about changing power dynamics in our democracy to empower young people to take on leadership. They are also passionate about connecting with young people about the issues that they care about. Candidates should also have a commitment to social justice, anti-oppression, and undoing institutional racism and seek to use the Community Engagement Organizer role to further internal organizational goals around these efforts. Staff leadership development is a key piece of the organization’s vision, and you will have access to significant training and learning resources.
Responsibilities
Base Building (50%)
- Run Collective (member) meetings
- Facilitate 1:1s with community members to establish relationships between individuals and the org
- Bring folks up MNYC’s ladder of engagement, with a lens of leadership development
- Work with the Digital Organizer to sign folks up for the Megaphone app
- Regularly update MNYC’s database
Civic Engagement (40%)
- Meet with external partners to discuss collaboration around policy priorities Facilitate and deliver presentations and trainings to organizational partners and students
- Assist with text banks and phone banks
- Assist with field work (GOTV efforts, knocking doors, tabling, collecting voter registrations and pledges)
Assist with Special Projects As Needed (10%)
Qualifications
Required Skills:
- A commitment to social justice, anti-oppression, and undoing institutional racism
- A self-starter, comfortable with taking initiative and ownership over projects
- Experience engaging volunteers
- Ability to multitask, and know when to ask for help
- Creative and flexible, able to think outside the box and react to situations quickly
- Willing to work irregular hours when necessary
- Comfortable engaging with those you don’t know
- Strong time management skills, or the willingness to learn those skills
- Passion for democracy and ballot access
Nice to Haves:
- Experience facilitating trainings and/or meetings
- Experience with VAN and EveryAction
- Basic understanding of voter registration process
Details
Send a resume and three references in a PDF, attached to an email explaining your interest in the position to Natalie Somerson (jobs@mnyouthcollective.org); please include “Community Engagement Organizer” in your subject line. The deadline for applications is April 21st, 2024 with an ideal start date of May 20th. Compensation is $53,000 annually, as well as unlimited PTO, retirement and benefits. This is a full-time contract, union eligible position based in the Twin Cities, with varied evening and weekend requirements. This position may also require some occasional travel throughout Minnesota, and reports directly to the Advocacy Director.
Minnesota Youth Collective is deeply committed to social, racial, gender, and economic justice. We strongly encourage persons of color, women, LGBTQ individuals, and those who are unemployed or underemployed to apply.
Board Member, 501(c)3 and 501(c)
Position Overview
The Board of Directors is the policy making body of the organization. To effectively meet the organization’s challenges, the Board and the Executive Director must function together as a leadership team. We are looking for board members who care about their communities, and want to ensure young people have access to political power in all its forms.
Responsibilities
- Actively support and promote our mission
- Commit to an initial two-year term
- Attend at least 75% of all regularly scheduled monthly Board meetings annually.
- Read and review Board materials and actively participate in discussions.
- Understand, accept, and promise to discharge Board member fiduciary responsibilities; study financial reports, and be knowledgeable about the organization’s financial status and Board policies surrounding financial matters.
- In partnership with fellow Board members and management, help advance the organization’s Development Plan.
- Recruit at least 1-2 new monthly donors per quarter, with a minimum monthly donation per donor of $10.
- Make annual financial contribution(s) to the organization commensurate with personal ability to contribute.
- Participate in 75% of large-scale organizational events per year– examples include fundraisers, forums, and significant programmatic events.
- Abstain from any action that might lead to or be perceived as a conflict of interest, and annually sign a No Conflict of Interest Statement.
- Support and mentor organizational staff.Logistics
Qualifications
- A commitment to social justice, anti-oppression, and undoing institutional racism, as well as prioritizing the leadership of young people at all times
- Previous board experience is not required, but a familiarity with community or political organizing is helpful
- Knowledge of and influence in the community, whatever that means to you
- Creative and flexible
- Willing and able to engage in discussion while prioritizing the mission and vision of the organization
- Comfortable engaging with people from diverse backgrounds and those you don’t know
Details
Send a one page (or less) letter of Interest via PDF to Rahhel Haile, Executive Director, at jobs@mnyouthcollective.org. Please include “MNYC Board” in your subject line. This position is open when filled, but qualified applicants should expect a brief 30-minute phone call with our ED to discuss the position.
MINNESOTA YOUTH COLLECTIVE IS DEEPLY COMMITTED TO SOCIAL, RACIAL, GENDER, AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE.
WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE PERSONS OF COLOR, INDIGENOUS FOLKS, WOMEN, LGBTQIA2S+ INDIVIDUALS, AND THOSE WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED OR UNDEREMPLOYED TO APPLY.