MAAPL is Hiring an Organizer, Could It Be You?

MAAPL, the Massachusetts Alliance Against Predatory Lending, is seeking an energetic Statewide Organizer with a strong background in community organizing and legislative lobbying (organizing on anti-foreclosure or housing eviction issues a significant plus) for a temporary position averaging 3⁄4 time; there is the likelihood of a full-time, ongoing position (depending on funding.)

Read on for more information, or download our job posting ( PDF ). Please share this post and position information widely!

MAAPL is a coalition of more than 70 organizations, including community groups, state- wide advocacy, labor, communities of color organizations, legal services lawyers, private lawyers, and others who address the ongoing foreclosure crisis in Massachusetts. We also directly organize homeowners in areas of the state without a local group effort.

The successful candidate will work immediately on MAAPL’s:

  1. Statewide strategies to force a continuation of the foreclosure moratorium through grassroots action;
  2. Historic, pending anti-structural racism legislation, about which our base needs to be informed and activated to ensure the legislation is enacted; and
  3. Organizing for collective impact litigation to reverse the immediate and first ever (to our knowledge) rollback of Constitutional rights—especially for people of color—by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, our highest state court.

Job Description:

  • Work with MAAPL’s Coordinator on state legislative lobbying;
  • Work with the core MAAPL group leaders
  • Follow and implement the decisions of the Alliance.
  • Support MAAPL activities, help coordinate membership & sub-committee meetings and intra-coalition communications;
  • Ensure that administrative needs—such as keeping membership lists current, tracking legislative responses, etc,—are taken care of;
  • Expand the Alliance’s statewide network, including leading outreach to grassroots and other member groups across the state;
  • Help build the infrastructure, and inform and activate members and others so MAAPL’s anti-racist and anti-sexist statewide legislation succeeds;
  • Coordinate volunteers and establish direct outreach and door-knocking/porch drop efforts, primarily on weekends (so work will include some weekends);
  • Support volunteers’ efforts and leadership development of core participants;
  • Participate in meetings;
  • Ensure that meeting announcements and notes for new local efforts go out;
  • Assist in ensuring the upkeep of website and listserv;
  • Help to organize and support the leadership of others to organize educational events and protests as necessary;
  • Be willing to learn successful organizing, policy, and legal strategies;
  • Support the maintenance of relationships with MAAPL members, media, elected officials, other community efforts, nonprofits, and religious organizations;
  • Coordinate MAAPL efforts to extend our legal support (both court and administrative strategies) support for homeowners facing foreclosure;
  • Ensure implementation of key policy initiatives, garner assistance from our Congressional leaders, and other creative initiatives to broaden our effectiveness.

Job requirements:

  • Attendance at MAAPL meetings
  • Ability to travel statewide
  • Solid communication skills
  • Background in statewide networking
  • Understanding of the legislative process and community organizing
  • Access to a car
  • Cell phone
  • Computer skills

Hours flexible; will require some weekend and evening time. Absolutely critical is the willingness to engage in and enjoy direct outreach to strangers; be supportive of the leadership of others, and possess skills in cooperative work and facilitation.

Preferred but not required experience: 2 – 3 years of community organizing; 2 years coalition staffing; 3 years grassroots legislative advocacy; 2 years volunteer coordination. Demonstrated commitment to supporting and working with diverse leadership. Bilingual/Bicultural a plus.

Hours average 30 hours per week – fluctuating as work demands (could expand to full- time pending availability of funds).

People of color, women, those of other nationalities, gay/lesbian/bisexual/trans encouraged to apply.

To apply for the MAAPL Statewide Organizer position, please send a resume, cover letter, and list of references to maaplinfo@yahoo.com. If you have questions about this position, please contact MAAPL at 508-630-1686, and we will return the call.

About MAAPL

The Mass. Alliance Against Predatory Lending (MAAPL) is a coalition of over 60 housing counseling agencies, legal services groups, social service agencies, and community-based social action groups that have joined together to address the foreclosure crisis in Massachusetts. MAAPL collects and distributes timely information on the foreclosure crisis and its effects to the public and to its member groups, drafts and supports legislation that provides important protections to homeowners and tenants facing foreclosure and eviction, documents the impact of the foreclosure crisis on local communities, networks with related organizations throughout the Commonwealth, and provides tools and information to help people navigate the legal system and advocate on their own behalf more effectively when challenging a foreclosure or eviction in court
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