Community Organizer — South Los Angeles (Watts will be the Initial Focus Area) 

**Local Residents Strongly Preferred**

South Los Angeles, CA

BACKGROUND

TreePeople is a well-known and respected  environmental nonprofit organization that is mobilizing people, business, philanthropists, and public agencies to work together to create green, resilient communities by planting trees, capturing the rainwater, greening schools and providing fun environmental educational activities..

TreePeople is seeking to hire a South Los Angeles resident, preferably who resides in and/or grew up in the community of Watts, for the position of Community Organizer. **Local Residents Strongly Preferred** 

Initially, the Community Organizer will lead TreePeople’s community engagement efforts in Watts to plant and distribute more than 1,000 trees.

The Community Organizer is responsible for making lasting connections with and between community members, community-based organizations, public agencies, churches, schools, parent centers, businesses and other key stakeholders in support of TreePeople’s mission to inspire, engage and support the community to increase the urban tree canopy and address climate threats and environmental justice in South Los Angeles and across the region. 

The Community Organizer will lead efforts to identify, train and grow a network of people who want to become Community Foresters in South Los Angeles to help increase community connections with their neighbors and involvement in tree plantings and other initiatives in the community.

Community Organizer — South Los Angeles (Watts will be the Initial Focus Area) 

**Local Residents Strongly Preferred**

South Los Angeles, CA

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead community outreach efforts, recruiting a diverse group of stakeholders that includes but is not limited to residents, community-based organizations, faith-based groups, youth groups, parent centers, neighborhood associations, schools, advocacy groups, businesses, and public officials. 

Serve as a community liaison by participating and representing TreePeople at meetings, fundraising, marketing, membership, volunteer events, etc. 

Carry out TreePeople’s model for tree planting, tree care and community engagement.

Recruit and train community champions to be Community Foresters.

Lead community engagement events in which volunteers and organizers physically plant and care for trees.

Support volunteer event preparation, helping to load trucks with supplies and tools.

Network and cultivate relationships with current and new community stakeholders. 

Identify key community stakeholders in the project area(s) to leverage TreePeople’s work and establish and maintain relationships in the community. 

Maintain and upgrade Spanish bilingual outreach materials for tablings and presentations.

Conduct tree care activities, such as watering, light pruning and re-mulching. 

Integrate into or build coalitions, coordinate activities with coalition partners and recruit coalition members; coordinate the content and logistics for public events and large-scale mobilizations; and connect organizing work with research, public policy, and communications designated campaigns. 

Support TreePeople’s teams by participating at volunteer events, including on weekends and some evenings. 

Participate in TreePeople team activities.. 

PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Community-oriented individual who is great at mobilizing and understands the needs of Watts and South Los Angeles residents, especially in the Latino and black communities. 

Possess focus on equity, inclusion and cultural competency. 

Strong leadership, team-building and problem-solving skills. 

Experienced project management skills and organizing strategy..

Inspiring public speaking and interpersonal skills. 

Highly-organized, friendly, smart, proactive and a quick-learner. 

Excellent verbal and written communication skills: listening, negotiating, public speaking, and writing. 

Literate and passionate about local climate resilience and environmental issues impacting communities of color. 

Spanish bilingual. 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Driver’s license and proof of insurance required. 

Able to push, pull, lift, and carry up to 40 pounds.

Able to stand and walk for long periods of time.

Able to work outside for hours at a time at tree planting and care events, which includes physically digging holes, lifting equipment and planting trees, among other activities. 

TreePeople is an equal opportunity employer.