Democracy Organizer Program

ABOUT THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, grassroots nonprofit dedicated to empowering everyone to fully participate in our democracy. We believe the freedom to vote is a nonpartisan issue. With active Leagues in all 50 states and 30 local chapters in New Jersey, we engage in advocacy, education, litigation, and organizing to protect every American’s freedom to vote. The League envisions a more inclusive democracy where all Americans, regardless of gender, sex, race, ability, or party can see themselves represented in our government. To build this vision, we bring an anti-racist, social justice lens to our core democracy issues as well as promote social and economic justice through our work in several policy areas including reproductive rights, the environment, immigration reform, and more.

Democracy Organizer’s must be deeply committed to the League’s nonpartisan values and mission to empower voters and defend democracy.

ABOUT THE DEMOCRACY ORGANIZER PROGRAM

Engaging in relationship-building and active listening, Democracy Organizers will work alongside New Jersey communities to build grassroots power in the fight for a more inclusive and accessible democracy. New and emerging organizers will learn the essentials of grassroots organizing and gain hands-on experience organizing to defend democracy directly in their community. This is an ideal opportunity for individuals looking for meaningful and impactful volunteer experience while building skills, acquiring professional training, meeting new people and growing a powerful network. The program runs from July 2023 – December 2023.

Organizers will participate in a training program and receive ongoing coaching and support. Participants will be assigned to one of the League’s organizing focus areas:

Issue Advocacy Organizers will conduct community outreach activities to build local grassroots power and empower residents to advocate for state laws and policies that strengthen democracy.

Voter Services Organizers will engage in nonpartisan voter outreach to increase voter turnout and civic engagement in their region.

Specific duties include:

Support LWVNJ advocacy campaigns or support LWVNJ voter outreach programs
Develop authentic relationships and partnerships in their region.
Plan and lead events and actions in their region
Recruit and coordinate League members and volunteers to participate in organizing efforts
Coordinate with LWVNJ Staff and other organizers

Organizers will focus on efforts in their assigned region (ideally their home region). LWVNJ has identified five (5) organizing regions:

Northeast (Counties: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic, Union)
Northwest (Counties: Hunterdon, Morris, Sussex, Warren)
Central (Counties: Middlesex, Mercer, Monmouth, Somerset)
Southeast (Counties: Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Ocean)
Southwest (Counties: Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem)

PROGRAM STRUCTURE

LWVNJ’s Democracy Organizer Program structure is broken down into six (6) components:

Orientation Weekend: Organizers participate in an in-person 2-day training camp facilitated by LWVNJ. The training will take place in Trenton, NJ on July 15, 2023 and July 16, 2023.
Organizer Development Plan: In August, Organizers will meet with LWVNJ Staff to develop an individual development plan. Each Organizer’s development plan will outline their goals and priorities for the duration of the program.
Monthly Check-Ins: Organizers attend a monthly check-in with LWVNJ Staff and other organizers in the cohort. At these check-ins, Organizers will receive updates and support for their efforts.
Field Work: Over six months, Organizers will engage with local Leagues and community partners to organize issue advocacy or voter outreach efforts in their region.
Training & Coaching: Organizers will receive ongoing training and coaching from LWVNJ Staff.
Debrief Interview: In December, Organizers will participate in a debrief interview with LWVNJ Staff.

OUTCOMES FOR PARTICIPANTS

Over six months, program participants will explore the following topics and skills in training sessions and through hands-on organizing activities:

Foundational theories of community organizing
The role of an organizer
Development of strategy and campaigns
Core organizing strategies and tools
Analyzing and mapping power
Base building
Volunteer recruitment, training, and management
Coalition building

TIME COMMITMENT

The program runs July 2023 - December 2023.

On average, participants are expected to commit 10 – 15 hours per month towards their work. Below is a sample of activities and an estimate of the required time commitment:

Monthly Organizer Check-Ins (1-2 hours per month)
Event planning & coordination (2 hours per month)
Volunteer recruitment & coordination (3-5 hours per month)
Event planning & coordination (2 hours per month)
Ongoing training and coaching (1 hour per month)

COST

The program is fully funded by LWVNJ. There is no cost to apply or participate.

Participants will be reimbursed for any travel expenses related to their participation.

ELIGIBILITY AND REQUIREMENTS

The ideal applicant is:

Someone who is 0 – 2 years into organizing communities and wants to sharpen their skills
Passionate about increasing civic engagement and voter participation
Interested in LWVNJ’s advocacy program areas
Someone who wants to be an active and involved member of their community

Participant Requirements:

Participants must be able to participate in all program components fully from July 2023- December 2023
Participants must be able to dedicate 10 – 15 hours a month to the program
Must be a resident of New Jersey for the duration of the program (July 2023 – December 2023)
Must be at least 18 years old by the start of the program (July 15, 2023)
Participants must observe the following LWVNJ policies:

Nonpartisan Policy

The League of Women Voters does not support or oppose any political party or candidate at any level of government. To avoid the possible perception of partisanship, we ask our most visible leaders – including organizers – to refrain from political activity or active partisan support.

All participants must adhere to the following policies during their participation in the Democracy Organizer Program:

Elected Office. Participants shall not run for, nor hold, any partisan elective office at any level of government. Participants may run for or hold a local nonpartisan elective office, after consultation with and approval by LWVNJ staff.
Political Party Office. Participants shall not serve in any official position in a political party at any level of government.
Political Campaigns. Participants shall not chair a political campaign or administer fundraising for a political campaign, chair a campaign event, be a spokesperson, or work in any other significant way in the campaign of a candidate for a partisan office at any level of government.
Social and Other Media. Participants shall not indicate their political affiliations or candidate preferences at any level of government in the media, including on social networking sites or other public venues that also prominently identify them as an organizer for LWVNJ
Additional Clarification. Participants shall present questions about specific situations to LWVNJ staff where the foregoing policies do not resolve the question.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policy

The League of Women Voters is an organization fully committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in principle and in practice. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to the organization’s current and future success in engaging all individuals, households, communities, and policy makers in creating a more perfect democracy.

There shall be no barriers to full participation in this organization on the basis of gender, gender identity, ethnicity, race, native or indigenous origin, age, generation, sexual orientation, culture, religion, belief system, marital status, parental status, socioeconomic status, language, accent, ability status, mental health, educational level or background, geography, nationality, work style, work experience, job role function, thinking style, personality type, physical appearance, political perspective or affiliation and/or any other characteristic that can be identified as recognizing or illustrating diversity.

HOW TO APPLY

Completed applications are due by Monday, June 5, 2023. Late or incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Application

Please submit your application at bit.ly/democracyorganizerprogram.

Application Deadline

Monday, June 5, 2023, 11:59PM

Interviews

After applying, applicants will be contacted to participate in a brief 20-minute interview with LWVNJ.

Notification

Applicants will be notified of their acceptance status on June 21, 2023.

Applicant Confirmation

Applicants must confirm their participation in the program by June 28, 2023.

IMPORTANT: Space is limited.

Due to limited capacity, we are unable to accept all applications for the program. After carefully considering all submissions, we will notify each applicant to inform them of their application status. Thank you for your understanding and interest in participating.

APPLY

CONTACT

Please direct any questions to Assatta Mann (amann@lwvnj.org)