Opportunities

 

Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) is an innovative, widely replicated alternative to jail and prosecution for people who commit law violations or engage in problematic behavior due to behavioral health conditions and/or extreme poverty. LEAD was launched in Seattle in 2011 and now is established in nearly 20 jurisdictions nationally, with many more jurisdiction in various stages of LEAD design and implementation work.

The Public Defender Association (PDA), the project manager of LEAD in Seattle/King County, is a non-profit organization that advocates for justice system reform and develops alternatives that shift from a punishment paradigm to a system that supports individual and community health. We also provide technical assistance to community partners who are committed to these goals.

We advance justice system reform and alternative practices and policy through several core programs and policy initiatives, including: 

• Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD):   Under LEAD, police officers exercise discretionary authority at the point of contact to divert individuals to a community-based intervention program for low-level criminal offenses (such as drug possession, sales, and prostitution offenses). PDA is the project manager for the flagship LEAD program in Seattle-King County, and provides technical support for jurisdictions nationally and internationally that want to replicate LEAD through our LEAD National Support Bureau.

• Voices of Community Activists and Leaders - Washington (VOCAL-WA): VOCAL-WA builds power among low- and no- income people directly affected by the war on drugs, homelessness, mass incarceration, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic to create healthy and just communities for all.

• Transforming Policy:  The Public Defender Association’s Racial Disparity Project (RDP) worked to improve police accountability and reconsider the role of the police since its inception in 1998. PDA staff have chaired Seattle's innovative Community Police Commission since it was launched in 2013; work in partnership with law enforcement agencies as they innovate and transform; advocate for the reform of Washington's deadly force laws; and represent families of individuals killed in police custody or jail.

• System Reform:  In the spirit of our four decade history as a public defense office committed to system reform, the current incarnation of the Public Defender Association continues to do policy advocacy, litigation, public education and organizing on issues that systemically affect people who are or are likely to be engaged by the justice system. This work includes efforts such as the campaign for safe consumption spaces in Seattle/King County.

Project Manager positions are FLSA-exempt. Work outside of normal business hours is expected. Travel throughout King County and Seattle will be required, and some travel outside King County may be required. This Project Manager position will report directly to LEAD Seattle-King County Project Director, Tara Moss, and would work under the overall guidance of PDA Director, Lisa Daugaard.

• Demonstrated understanding of, and commitment to, LEAD's core principles
• Knowledge of the Burien and White Center communities
• Ability to clearly communicate core principles and support and advise others with less experience in harm reduction-based social work and in police-social work partnership
• Deep understanding of substance use disorder, motivational interviewing and harm reduction strategies
• Experience facilitating meetings
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• The ideal candidate will be a self-motivated individual who has strong interpersonal, public speaking and problem-solving skills; interest in working as a member of a team in a fast-paced, dynamic environment is essential
• Candidates must have demonstrated interest in criminal justice, homelessness, and/or drug policy reform and a willingness to approach these issues with a racial justice analysis
• Experience and knowledge of local homeless services and housing systems is preferred
• Experience or familiarity with community and human services dynamics and public safety/order issues in South King County communities is valuable in this position
• Commitment to the mission and approach of the Public Defender Association
• Basic computer skills, including ability to use the internet, email (Google platforms as used at PDA), word processing (e.g. Microsoft Word) and spreadsheets (e.g. Microsoft Excel) are required

 

 

 

 

 

 

Community Organizer - Civil Survival Project

 

The Public Defender Association (PDA) is a non-profit corporation which advocates for justice system reform and develops alternatives that shift from a punishment paradigm to a system that supports individual and community health. We also provide technical assistance to community partners who are committed to these goals. We advance justice system reform and alternative practices and policy through several core programs and policy initiatives, including: 

 

• Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD):   Under LEAD, police officers exercise discretionary authority at the point of contact to divert individuals to a community-based intervention program for low-level criminal offenses (such as drug possession, sales, and prostitution offenses).

 

• Voices of Community Activists and Leaders - Washington (VOCAL-WA): VOCAL-WA builds power among low- and no- income people directly affected by the war on drugs, homelessness, mass incarceration, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic to create healthy and just communities for all.

 

• Transforming Policy:  The Public Defender Association’s Racial Disparity Project (RDP) worked to improve police accountability and reconsider the role of the police since its inception in 1998.

 

• System Reform:  In the spirit of our four decade history as a public defense office committed to system reform, the current incarnation of the Public Defender Association continues to do policy advocacy, litigation, public education and organizing on issues that systemically affect people who are or are likely to be engaged by the justice system. This work includes efforts such as the campaign for safe consumption spaces in Seattle/King County.

 

• Civil Survival Project: Civil Survival Project organizes people who have been directly impacted by the criminal justice system to build connections, gain knowledge and increase political participation.  Civil Survival provides leadership development, legal education and services, and legislative advocacy on systemic issues that prevent former justice-involved individuals the opportunity to fully reintegrate.

 

• Community Justice Project: The Community Justice Project aims to reduce harm caused by violence and mass incarceration by building effective, trauma-informed healing responses that reflect restorative justice principles.  We strive to empower the most impacted and marginalized communites by investing in the leadership of both crime survivors and incarcerated individuals to drive this work.  Unlike the traditional victim advocacy model, we are investing in the leadership of survivors and people directly impacted.

 

 

PDA seeks a talented individual experienced in creating grassroots political power as part of a small, but dynamic, team. The community organizer’s job will be dedicated to the ongoing development and support of the Civil Survival Project.  Under the supervision of the program director, the organizer will develop community empowerment and civic engagement among Civil Survival members, implement a leadership development curriculum, supervise GameChanger leaders (peers who lead community education efforts and connect individuals who are formerly incarcerated to policy advocacy and ensure their unmet needs inform the work of Civil Survival), coordinate issue-based campaigns, and promote member participation in planning and policymaking that affects members’ lives.

 

Job activities are varied and may include: community outreach; mobilization; leadership development; base-building; event coordination; monitoring the implementation of legislation; data collection and analysis; communications and media outreach; and creating public education and advocacy materials. Some administrative tasks (e.g. phone calls, data entry) are assigned as needed.  Other duties as assigned.

The community organizer will work in close collaboration with other PDA staff and will report to the Civil Survival Project Director.

 

The position is funded by grant revenue the continuation of which is expected but not guaranteed.  Continuation in the position will depend both on strong performance and on whether revenue to support the position is sustained.

 

 

• Membership Recruitment: Conduct base building activities and achieve targeted membership recruitment goals, especially through outreach at re-entry programs, court houses, and other venues as directed.

• Leadership Development: Develop curriculum and use existing curriculum to conduct trainings that build the knowledge and skills of people who are impacted by mass incarceration to participate in planning and policymaking that affects their lives.

• Issue Identification and Campaign Development: Work with the program director to assist members in identifying advocacy issues, developing advocacy strategy, and implementation of new campaigns.

• Mobilization: Turn out large numbers of members to lobby days, legislative hearings, meetings and other events through mass phone banking and relationship building.

• Phone-banking: In addition to directly phone-banking, the position may coordinate phone-banking for members.

• Membership Meetings: Convene regular membership meetings and smaller campaign/committee meetings. 

• Database: Record and input data into our community organizing databases.

• Support: The position will also be expected to provide support for other community organizing and campaigns around criminal justice reform as needed.  We have a highly collaborative office environment where staff members provide regular support for each other’s campaigns, which is in part a function of our limited resources and ambitious scope of work.

• Supervise and support GameChanger leaders in other counties as needed.

 

 

People who have past involvement with the justice system, criminal conviction history,  a history of substance use, sex workers, people living with HIV/AIDS and/or hepatitis C, or people who have experienced housing insecurity or homelessness will have particularly relevant experience and are encouraged to apply.  People with disabilities, people of color, women, and members of the LGBTQIA+ communities are also strongly encouraged to apply.

 

This is a new position with the organization and we are seeking an energetic, creative, self-motivated individual who can manage multiple roles with extremely strong organization skills.

 

• Commitment to the mission of the Public Defender Association;

• Commitment to the mission of the Civil Survival Project;

• Superior organization skills with strong attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple projects at the same time; must be self-motivated and be able to work both independently and as part of multiple teams;

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;

• Experience executing social media campaigns and event promotion (including Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter);

• Background in event planning and support a plus;

• The ideal candidate will be an energetic, self-motivated individual who has strong interpersonal, public speaking and problem solving skills. Interest in working as a member of a team and in a fast-paced, dynamic environment is essential;

• Candidates must demonstrate interest in criminal justice, homelessness, and/or drug policy reform and a willingness to approach these issues through a racial justice analysis, and with a commitment to harm reduction principles. 

• Candidates must have at least two years of experience in community organizing and/or related fields – campaign experiences is a plus;

• Basic computer skills, including ability to use the internet, email, word processing (e.g. Microsoft Word) and spreadsheets (e.g. Microsoft Excel) programs are required

 

 

The salary will range from $49,937 to $55,056 depending on experience.  The Public Defender Association  offers a generous benefits package.

 

 

The Public Defender Association is an equal opportunity employer. People with disabilities, people of color, women, and members of the LGBTQIA+ communities are also strongly encouraged to apply.

 

 

Please send a cover letter and résumé to Turina James, turina.james@defender.org no later than June 7, 2019. In the subject line, please put “Organizer [Your Name]”. No phone calls please.