Job Title: Organizer with Minnesota Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee

The Minnesota Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee is looking for motivated formerly incarcerated people to build our organization and in doing so, raise sustainable money to increase your hours, pay, and leadership in the movement to end prison slavery and mass incarceration.

Answer the following questions by August 5th, 2024.

Job Description: 

Formerly incarcerated organizer will join an existing half time staff person to form a staff organizing collective tasked with working with: 

1. Loved ones and incarcerated people by facility to support facility level change, assembling support for all facilities in Minnesota 

2. Various stakeholders and organizations statewide, especially directly impacted, to pass transformative language to end prison slavery in Minnesota and to change the conversation around the state from a slavery system to a real safety system  

3. Community outreach: phone calls, petitions, 1 on 1 meetings, to grow a crew of 100+ volunteers to take on the work of the organization, including outreach, legislative work, communications, and supporting individual facilities and the individual grievances of incarcerated people 

4. Meetings: facilitate meetings, take notes, follow up with and support volunteers in completing tasks, including becoming an expert on the group and running new member orientations and organizing trainings after being trained in them   

5. Public speaking: at community events or actions, legislature, or to the media 

6. Fundraising: with participants encouraging them to become members and make an automatic monthly donation, with wealthier community members, and to participate in grant writing, when possible -- with a goal of collectively raising $1 million over three years, including to fund staff salaries 

7. Other duties as assigned by the membership or that fit one's specific skills like graphic design, performance, etc 

Pay and Hours: 

1. Organizers will be hired for between full, half, or quarter time, depending on their desired position and fit with the organization. 

2. Initially organizers will be paid $40,000 a year full time, $20,000 half time or $10000 quarter time, with salaries increasing with the organization’s ability to increase their pay, based on the the quality of their work and the overall fundraising success of the organizing collective and organization as a whole, with hourly or stipends also possible.

3. Finalists will be able to make alternative proposals to the membership as described, below.  

Application Process and Payment: 

1. Applications will be open July 1 - August 5th, approved applicants will be invited to participate in the August training process 

2. Stipended training August 2024: those seeking to apply for an organizer position will participate in a stipended training process where people will receive 15 hours of free training, with between training exercises. Upon completion, a certificate and $100 stipend. This training will also be open on a non-stipdend basis to IWOC volunteers who are not applying for organizer positions at this time, but want to complete said trainings. 

3. Selection of finalists, and proposal of working conditions to the organization: the top tier of potential organizers will be selected by IWOC trainers and volunteers who participate in the training process. Finalists will come together to name their income, hour, and work requirements based on the organization's current and potential finances, and how they will work together to accomplish the organization’s goals over the coming year. 

4. Vote on new staff: members will vote to accept, amend, or pass an alternative staffing proposals on the September 2nd, 2024, All IWOC member meeting.

5. Probation period: all staff will have a 90 day probation period with decision-making reviews every 30 days. After review, organizing staff cannot be fired without progressive discipline and vote from the membership. 

As you can see this is NOT a typical organization or hiring process. We are a movement organization trying to create the infrastructure to get our people free, end prison slavery and get our people minimum wage and workers rights.

This is your opportunity to step into leadership, take the organization to the next level, and change the world, and in doing so, increase the amount of resources to the group and that go to you. 

You WILL be trained to do every aspect of this job and motivation cannot be taught. 

Please consider if this is a good fit for you before, during, and if selected, prior to accepting this position. But realize this is your opportunity to take on a leadership role in our organization and movement and if we do well together that will mean more hours, more money, and more good work accomplished.