Community Engagement Coordinator, Special Litigation

The Legal Aid Society’s Criminal Defense Practice has an immediate opening for a passionate and dedicated Community Engagement Coordinator who will contribute to the Policy Unit of the Law Reform Team. The Policy Unit spearheads the Legal Aid Society’s policy and legislative initiatives on criminal legal issues at the state and city levels. It delivers expert testimony and analysis on proposed policies in conjunction with community-based organizations and peer-defender groups and advocates for legislative change.

 

We seek an individual with personal experience of the criminal legal system who will bring essential perspectives to our work that are often overlooked in traditional policy-making circles. The Coordinator will contribute to our work on multiple campaigns by participating in coalition spaces, helping to organize advocacy days, scheduling meetings with elected officials, attending Community Board meetings, organizing and assembling advocacy day packets, providing input on legislative language, testifying before City Council, and working with Law Reform’s Community Justice Unit (CJU) to educate and connect with the community we serve. The Coordinator will be provided professional development opportunities, such as media training, public speaking, and legislative advocacy, to help champion our policy reform efforts.

 

This position is funded by a temporary grant and the continuation of the position is dependent on funding availability. If funding for the position is not continued, the Community Engagement Coordinator will be eligible to apply for other internal positions or be transferred into a comparable position.

 

 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

 

Program Management: (25%)

• The Community Engagement Coordinator will work with the Policy team to organize and expand both internal and external contact lists, schedule meetings and maintain contact with elected officials and community partners
• The Coordinator will work with the team to organize advocacy days and rallies and hearing testimony

Community Engagement  (70%)

• The Community Engagement Coordinator will work with the Policy team to build out and deliver educational platforms on the legislative campaigns for the communities we serve. In doing so they will work closely with our Community Justice Unit as well as internal subject-matter experts
• The Coordinator will participate in coalition spaces and work to build support for smaller legislative reform packages and attend community board meetings to build out local support for criminal legal system reforms
• The Coordinator will work with the Policy team to develop a sustained and effective method of communicating with New Yorkers who have been represented by our criminal practice in order to garner feedback and direction for current proposed reforms and those that should be proposed

Professional Development and Other Duties as Assigned (5%)

• Participate in continuous professional development
• Continuously learn about forms of bias in the workplace and demonstrate affirmative behaviors that support an inclusive work environment
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

 

Required qualifications:

• A combination of 2+ years of post-secondary education, work experience, or an equivalent of relevant lived experience, such as a period of incarceration
• Demonstrated interest and experience in racial and social justice advocacy or criminal legal system reform.
• Strong project management and organizational skills
• Ability to work collaboratively and develop and maintain relationships with internal and external partners.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills

 Preferred qualifications:  

• Some experience working on legislative and policy issues relating to criminal justice, or other issue-based coalition work including experience with public comments or testimony
• Familiarity with the criminal legal system and the work of public defense organizations
• Familiarity with current legislative campaigns and current failings of the criminal legal system
• Experience