Local Progress and the** Local Progress Impact Lab (together, LP and the Impact Lab)** work collectively to advance a racial and economic justice agenda through all levels of government. Local Progress (LP) is a movement of more than 1,500 local elected officials advancing a racial and economic justice agenda through all levels of local government. The Local Progress Impact Lab (the Impact Lab) brings together local leaders, partners, and experts to build the knowledge, skills, and leadership needed to advance racial and economic justice at the local level.
About the Position:
Local Progress and the Local Progress Impact Lab are looking for a ** Michigan Coordinator** with a track record of organizing and building coalitions to expand and anchor our work throughout Michigan. This is an exciting opportunity for an organizer with deep interest and experience in municipal-level policy and/or policy campaigns. The ideal candidate for this job is someone with a track record of relational organizing, developing leaders, deepening coordination between elected officials and local and statewide community-based and labor organizations, and developing and implementing a plan to build power for progressive issues across the state.
The Michigan Coordinator will report to the Midwest Regional Director.
Location: This position is based in Michigan; candidates must live in the state. This is a remote position with no in-office requirement.
Travel Requirement: This position is required to travel to in-person events up to six days a month.
Primary Responsibilities:
Lead Local Progress’ work to create the Michigan State Chapter:
Membership recruitment and organizing. Expand and strengthen the Local Progress Michigan-based membership, including creating and implementing a strategy to continue to both recruit new members and increase engagement of existing members.
Membership engagement and leadership development.**** Lead the formation of a State Organizing Committee by identifying existing Local Progress members who reflect Michigan’s racial, gender and geographic diversity, and build the committee’s capacity as a leadership body. Plan and execute local meetings, trainings and networking opportunities for Local Progress Michigan-based members.
State Chapter Formation.**** Lead the development of Michigan as a state chapter with member leaders and partners.
Alliance building and movement collaboration.**** Develop and maintain strong relationships and shared agendas with Local Progress community, policy and labor partners. Organize Local Progress members and community, policy and labor partners around a shared strategic plan, informed by issue priorities, and execute work collaboratively on translocal and statewide campaigns.
Member support.**** Provide and facilitate policy, communications (including blog posts and newsletters) and campaigns support to Local Progress members.
Support Local Progress’ national work:
Support work on large national Local Progress events such as the annual national convening and national issue campaigns.
The Michigan Coordinator may additionally support national projects (policy, organizing and/or campaign related), identified based on skills of the selected candidate and organizational need.
Provide written and other updates to support fundraising for Local Progress’s work across the state.
Required Qualifications:
At least 3-5 years of organizing or campaign experience in Michigan
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to build strong relationships with a wide array of partners and members
Strong verbal and written communication skills
A track record of building successful coalitions
A love for Michigan local and/or state policy and politics, and the desire to build a progressive social movement
Attention to detail and good organizational skills
Ambition, drive, energy and the ability to work flexible, long hours when necessary and travel (at least twice per month in-state as well as occasional national travel)
A commitment to inside/outside strategy and movement governance that features deep partnership between “outside” organizing and “inside” elected officials.
A demonstrated commitment to social, racial, and economic justice and a deep interest in local policy, politics, and government
The Ideal Candidate Will Have:
Experience in issue campaigns, advocacy, and/or base building organizing
Experience working with local or state elected officials
Experience with training and/or meeting facilitation
Familiarity with digital organizing tools and strategies