Job Title: Deep Canvassing Lead (Internship)
Department: Missouri Chapter
Location: St. Louis, MO (725 Kingsland Ave. St. Louis, MO 63130)
Reports To: Chapter Director
Duration: 20-30 hours/ week, up to 6 months
Context: At the Sierra Club, we believe in the power of interdependence. Together, we remain committed to the fight for a healthy climate built on a foundation of environmental, racial, economic, and gender justice – a future where all people benefit from a healthy, thriving planet and a direct connection to nature. As the climate crisis and deeply entrenched systemic racism all fuel injustice, we will continue to fight for a bold, transformational agenda that recognizes the interconnectedness between our planet, our humanity, and our future. By recognizing that our destinies are tied, we continue to name that all things are fundamentally connected, and the overlap between ecology, race, gender, and representative government will move to either advance our collective humanity or to oppress it. Sierra Club has close to 800 staff across the country and a network of 64 local chapters that are led and fueled by thousands of volunteers. We are also proud to be a unionized employer, with three labor unions representing more than half of our employees.
Scope: The Deep Canvassing Lead position for individuals wanting to learn the building blocks of grassroots organizing and working in the environmental field. The Deep Canvassing Lead will support the work of Missouri Chapter staff to engage in door-to-door deep canvassing conversations with residents in St. Louis, Missouri. The Deep Canvassing Lead will support community engagement, turnout, and data collection for the Chapter’s Deep Canvassing Campaign. The Deep Canvassing Lead will receive training evidence-based practices for Grassroots Organizing and Deep Canvassing. The Deep Canvassing Lead will also learn the Jemez Principles for Democratic Organizing and best practices for equitable organizing.
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Job activities include but are not limited to:- Learn Evidence-Based Methods. Perform readings and assignments to learn about the Midwest Academy for Grassroots Organizing, Deep Canvassing, environmental Justice, and environmental issues.
- Engage in Deep Canvassing Conversations. Participate in deep canvassing in assigned neighborhoods to build leaders and connections in communities.
- Data Collection. Help volunteer canvassers appropriately collect data from Deep Canvassing conversations and submit the data to Chapter Staff.
- Build Leadership. Assist Chapter staff in turnout for Deep Canvassing Efforts, hosting community events, and training volunteer leaders in Deep Canvassing. Represent Sierra Club’s views and priorities to community members by giving testimony, participating in meetings, and speaking publicly. Assist in contacting Sierra Club members, supporters, and community partners via phonebanking, email, canvassing, and tabling.
- Support Volunteer Management. Lead volunteer canvass shifts throughout the week, on evenings and weekends. Drive canvassing volunteers to, within, and from the turf.
- Support De-escalation and Volunteer Safety. When necessary, exercise techniques to maintain volunteer safety in the field and support volunteer safety training.
The successful candidate must demonstrate the following skills, experience and competencies:- Strong oral communication skills. You are open and honest. You are a good listener. You can share stories about yourself and why you care about these issues.
- Ability to work with diverse staff, volunteers, and the public. You get along well with a lot of different types of people. You are curious. You want to speak to people about issues that are important to them.
- Proficient computer skills. You are familiar with basic word processing and spreadsheet systems.
- Ability to work evenings and weekends. You can work when community members are available.
- Commitment to equity, inclusion, and justice. You are committed to self-transformation and just relationships. You understand that privilege exists and the impact of inequity on communities.
- Access to reliable transportation. You have access to a vehicle to transport yourself and volunteer leaders to, from, and within the deep canvassing turf as necessary.
- Committed to evolution.You are committed to continuously deepening and evolving your own understanding of systems of oppression through study, openness, and humility. And you easily recognize your own relationship to privilege and power, examining and shifting your behaviors as appropriate.
- Uplifting and additive. You see mistakes as opportunities for growth; problems as catalysts for solutions, and inspire others along the journey. You carry a constructive approach, can-do attitude, a sense of humor, and authentic kindness wherever you go.
The strongest candidates will also demonstrate the following skills, experience and competencies:- Experience with Google Suite, MiniVAN.
- Knowledge of environmental justice issues, fossil fuels/ coal, or climate justice.
- Previous experience with canvassing or deep listening.
- Demonstrated commitment to environmental justice and deep community engagement.
- Previous community engagement in St. Louis, MO.
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$18 - $18 an hour
Compensation and Benefits
The salary range for this position is $18/hour.
This is a category 99, non-exempt, non-represented, temporary, position.
Sierra Club values the expertise and talents of foreign nationals. Sierra Club sponsors both nonimmigrant and immigrant visas when certain criteria are met, based on immigration laws and organizational needs. Such sponsorship is at the discretion of the Department Head and Sierra Club People Department in consultation with the employee’s manager. The Sierra Club cannot guarantee the approval of a visa petition. The Sierra Club is an equal opportunity employer committed to workforce belonging.
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To Apply
The Sierra Club provides equal employment and advancement opportunities to all staff members. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, lived experience and skills. The Sierra Club does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, immigration status, socioeconomic status, ancestry, age, size, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, familial status, veteran status, disability, AIDS/HIV status, medical condition, prior conviction, arrest history, traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles, or any other characteristic protected by law.
The Sierra Club values applicants who are people that identify as Black, Indigenous, and other minoritized groups; women; queer, transgender, gender non-conforming, and gender fluid people.
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