2021 Job Opportunities

Chinatown Tenants Union (CTU) Membership
Organizer Full‐Time

JOB DESCRIPTION

Founded in 1986, CAAAV: Organizing Asian Communities builds the intergenerational leadership of Asian immigrant communities in New York City to fight for racial, gender and economic justice. CAAAV is seeking a dynamic organizer for our Chinatown Tenants Union (CTU) with a background in outreach, base-building, leadership development and grassroots organizing in working-class Asian communities. 

About the Position

The Chinatown Tenants Union Membership Organizer is responsible for building a base of working-class Asian immigrants in rent-stabilized apartments in Chinatown to fight against gentrification. The CTU Membership Organizer will work closely with and be supervised by the CTU Lead Organizer. The ideal candidate will have a proven ability to build relationships with working class Asian immigrants and be confident in basebuilding, leadership development, and campaign planning and development to fight displacement and gentrification in Chinatown, and connect tenant organizing to a larger more radical housing agenda. CTU’s current campaigns are: building an eviction defense network, a community-led rezoning of the Two Bridges neighborhood and keeping rent-stabilized apartments in NYC affordable. In COVID-19 conditions, we are doing a mix of digital organizing primarily through WeChat, Zoom, and phone calls as well as in-person meetings.

Responsibilities

The primary responsibilities of the CTU Organizer are:

  • Conducting weekly outreach in rent­ stabilized buildings in Chinatown and the Lower East Side to grow CTU’s base and organize new members into CTU’s campaigns;
  • Working weekly with the Organizing Committee (OC) in developing CTU’s campaign vision and strategy;
  • Holding monthly membership meetings engaging members’ ideas on CTU’s campaigns;
  • Working with the new Intergenerational Leadership Development Manager to plan consistent political education and leadership development for CTU members;
  • Conducting weekly office hours answering residents’ housing questions and needs;
  • Diligent data entry about leaders, tenants, meetings, outreach landlords, and volunteers;
  • Recruiting, managing, and training bilingual volunteers and interns to conduct outreach;
  • Representing CAAAV and participating in citywide, statewide and national housing justice coalitions;
  • Participate in planned individual, staff, and organizational evaluation activities;
  • Participate in regular staff development and political development activities;
  • Assist in office management duties and other work as laid out by supervisor.

Qualifications

We’re seeking candidates who excel in relationship­‐building, have strong verbal and written communications skills, and have strong project management skills with a strong commitment to CAAAV’s mission and movement building.

The ideal candidate will have:  

  • Bilingual language skills in Mandarin, Cantonese and/or Fujianese required – enough to engage members in organizing and political conversations – written ability in Simplified or Traditional Chinese a plus;
  • Cultural/language competency in working with limited English proficient Asian immigrant communities;
  • Strong commitment to CAAAV’s mission and movement building;
  • Strong working knowledge of issues affecting working class, immigrant, communities of color and relevant experience working in Asian immigrant communities;
  • At least one year experience with outreach, base-building, member leadership development, organizing campaigns and project management;
  • Demonstrated ability to develop and supervise interns;
  • Demonstrated ability to develop the leadership of members;
  • Demonstrated ability to develop a campaign;
  • Ability to design, lead, run workshops, and trainings for members;
  • Excellent interpersonal, written and communication skills; strong public speaking skills.

To Apply

This is a full-time position with paid overtime at 40+ hours/week. Please send a cover letter and resume to jobs@caaav.org with subject heading: [NAME] CTU MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZER by July 4th. Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. The annual salary for this position is $45-48k.

CAAAV is an equal opportunity employer. Women, immigrants, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, and people of color from low-income communities are strongly encouraged to apply. Due to high volume of calls, please do not call. Applicants will be notified for an interview by e-mail.