2022 Soulardarity Community Organizing Collaborative

One Program, Two Tracks toward Energy Democracy

APPLY HERE

DEADLINE AUGUST 1

ABOUT SOULARDARITY - BACKGROUND

Soulardarity started out of necessity, when Highland Park residents were left in the dark by DTE Energy’s repossession of over 1000 streetlights in 2011. When we came together, it was with the simple goal of restoring light to the darkness. 10 years later, we have become a locally and nationally recognized leader in energy democracy.

Since 2012, Soulardarity has achieved tremendous impact with minimal resources. Some of those impacts include having:

- Restored 17 streetlights to Highland Park, and created a citywide solar street lighting plan

- Deployed $30,000 of solar lighting and emergency generation in Highland Park and Detroit.

- Grown numerous community initiatives in Highland Park, such as Avalon Village and Parker Village, through public lighting and solar projects and via formation of the Highland Park Community Crisis Coalition in response to COVID-19 which has continue to expand to community crisis resiliency.

- Conducted education projects for hundreds of youths, students, and community members of all ages on energy democracy and DIY energy saving skills.

- Created and organized around the Blueprint for Energy Democracy as a guide to achieve sustainability and self-determination in Highland Park.

- Became a leading advocate with the Michigan Public Service Commission on behalf of low-income communities and communities of color, seeking affordability, health, and community ownership of clean and renewable energy.

- Co-launched the Work for Me, DTE! Campaign to advance those goals through organizing, media, and movement building.

- Partnered in a study with the Union of Concerned Scientists to explore a viable pathway to a renewable energy future for Highland Park and released the report “Let Communities Choose: Clean Energy Sovereignty in Highland Park, Michigan”.

SCOC PROGRAM PURPOSE

We are building organizational structures that bring power into the collective capacity for self-governance and self-determination. A large portion of our work is collaborative with other environmental justice organizations and promotes just policy through direct advocacy and pressure campaigns aimed at local or state leadership. At every stage of organizing, ideas and proposals are reviewed and approved by Soulardarity's members and partners. 

2022 SCOC PROGRAM TIMELINE (AUGUST 13 - NOVEMBER 11)

The program is scheduled to run from August 6th to November 11th, 2022.The position come with a total stipend of $2000. Stipends will be paid half upfront, quarter midway, quarter at the close of the collaborative. Details for schedule requirements are listed below with the position description.

We are hiring 8 Organizers TOTAL, which includes 2 Senior Organizers this year. The Senior Organizer role is new and in its first year of existence. With the growth of Soulardarity, we want to foster that growth in the SCOC program as well. This position will be offered to returning organizers first and then to new applicants who fit the qualifications if the need is still there. 

ORGANIZER POSITION SUMMARY

SCOPE OF WORK

• - Assist in developing, promoting, and executing projects and events; 
• - Assist in supporting community awareness;
• - Represent Soulardarity at in person/virtual public events (MPSC, City Council, etc);
• - Promote voter education/engagement;
• - Participate in member recruitment efforts.

Organizers will provide support to our Local and State Energy Democracy Campaign, its Leadership Team and coalition partners. Its purpose is to engage grassroots community and leaders to build power, self-determination, and climate justice in Michigan as a response to the oppressive practices and policies of DTE Energy and the investor-owned utility structure. Organizers will be expected to serve as a support to Soulardarity, reporting to the SCOC Coordinators and Core Leadership Team. This program focuses on advancing community-owned clean energy goals through organizing, media, and movement building. The weekly minimum time commitment that we are asking of Organizers is five (5) hours. 

Position comes with a $2000 stipend paid in 3 installments + one year of free membership with Soulardarity.

THE ORGANIZER TRACKS

HIGHLAND PARK ORGANIZER TRACK

Organizers will focus on neighborhood engagement in Highland Park. We will do this by working with the Highland Park Campaign Team to conduct outreach to neighbors, friends, and family in Highland Park on campaign issues such as energy, water, and transparency of city government. Organizers may also conduct grassroots power building strategies to recruit Highland Park households, non-profits, and businesses to participate in our Grow Solar bulk purchase program (learn more here). Organizers will also participate in Get Out The Vote efforts for the November 2022 general election. 

ENERGY DEMOCRACY ORGANIZER TRACK

Energy Democracy is the practice of building a just energy system that engages the people of the community in the decision-making process of how energy is developed, maintained, and used in their lives. The Soulardarity Energy Democracy organizers are focused on three demands: Health, Affordability, and Community Power in decision making as it relates to energy.  

Organizers will learn about and organize around the energy system, wealth building alternatives for energy rate payers, and advance advocacy with legislatures for all who are affected by the bureaucracy that surrounds it. Organizers will also participate in Get Out The Vote efforts for the November 2022 general election.

TRAININGS & MEETINGS EXPECTATIONS

TRAINING DATES

Please expect to commit at least 3-4 hours per training day. 

+ Training 1: Saturday, August 13th

+ Training 2: Saturday, August 20th

+ Training 3: Saturday, August 27th

MEETINGS
Organizers will be asked to participate in community events, Highland Park Campaign Team meetings held once per month & SCOC meetings every 2 weeks (Details will be provided during interviews/on-boarding).

HIRING TIMELINE AND REQUIREMENTS

INTERVIEWING/HIRING/ ON-BOARDING TIMELINE: 

• - Begin accepting applications April 1
• - Begin scheduling interviews in May
• - Applications due June 3 
• - Organizer interviews June 20-July 5
• - Determination emails sent out July 11

APPLICANTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO:

• - Complete and submit the application
• - Upload your resume and cover letter to the application or email to [email protected]
• - Commit to On-boarding and Training Dates:
• - Saturday August 13th, 20th, & 27th
• - Commit time and efforts during August-November 2022 to your chosen track (Energy Democracy or Highland Park)
• - Complete and return cohort paperwork
• - Sign and submit a stipend agreement

Soulardarity is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information or characteristics (or those of a family member) or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT WORK WILL I  BE ASKED TO DO AFTER TRAINING?

Organizers will also be responsible for targeted engagement, facilitation and decision-making roughly 5-15hrs. per week depending on workload. Organizers will govern the use of the SCOC organizing budget and tracking spending to conduct Community education sessions, Neighborhood Outreach, Event Planning and Implementation. Organizers in the past have helped to reshape local political conversations. SCOC program participants seeking, in the run-up to the November election, to impact the national discourse on race relations, a just-transition and clean energy are encouraged to apply.

HOW LONG IS SCOC 2022?

August 13th - November 11th 2022

HOW MUCH WILL I BE COMPENSATED?

$2,000 will be paid by Soulardarity in exchange for organizers working with and reporting to SCOC Coordinators throughout the program. Stipends will be paid half upfront, quarter midway, quarter at the close of the collaborative. In addition, organizers gain training and capacity building on energy democracy and environmental justice and have access to a budget to support those efforts.

WHAT ABOUT COVID?

Trainings/on-boarding and meetings will take place virtually. Door-to-door, canvassing and any other in person activities will follow state gathering and face mask rules.

SO YOU WANT THE JOB? 

Click this link to complete the application and include your resume & cover letter.

Any questions about this application or program, please contact Program Director, Rafael Mojica at [email protected] or Energy Democracy Coordinator, Michelle Jones at [email protected].

Deadline to apply is August 1, 2022 no later than 5pm.

We value a strong, diverse team of folks whose lived experience informs their relationship to social and environmental justice work and our collective liberation. Women, trans-and gender-nonconforming folks, queer people, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), individuals with disabilities, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. We acknowledge this list is incomplete and encourage you to apply if your lived experience informs your desire to be a part of social and environmental justice work.