United States of America: Criminal Justice Program Associate

STATUS: Full-Time

LOCATION: Ypsilanti, Michigan

APPLICATION DEADLINE: June 21, 2019

For consideration, please attach your resume and cover letter to the online application at https://www.afsc.org/job-center .

Summary of Principal Responsibilities

The Program Associate will work with other program staff to directly advocate for people held in Michigan’s prisons; assist with supervision of volunteers and interns; organize with formerly incarcerated people, interested community members, and loved ones of people impacted by the punishment system; and educate the public on criminal legal and punishment systems issues in Michigan; testify on behalf of AFSC at legislative hearings and before other decision makers; speak to college classes, religious and political organizations; convene coalitions; work in coalition with other organizations dedicated challenging the punishment system and prison depopulation in the state.

Essential Functions/Responsibilities: The key responsibilities of the Criminal Justice Program Associate include the following:

Organizing & Outreach

1. Provide advocacy help, information, mutual aid, and resources to people in prison in MI and the people in the community connected to them.
2. Convene coalitions and mobilize people to challenge the use of punishment based systems in MI.
3. Through communications received from people in prison act as a public monitor of human rights and civil rights violations of people in prison in Michigan.
4. Develop relationships with people in prison by always providing responses and never being extractive.
5. Build relationships with policy stakeholders in various power positions throughout the state in order to influence policy and shift narratives on punishment in MI.
6. Provide workshops inside Michigan prisons.

Volunteers and Interns

1. Supervise, coordinate, and provide ongoing support, and mentorship to all volunteers and interns.
2. Occasionally work on volunteer committees as well as with other AFSC regional and national criminal justice colleagues.
3. Adhere to all AFSC policies and procedures.

Communications

1. Respond directly to people’s requests for assistance via telephone, email, in writing or other creative ways upon recommendation of the program director and team.
2. Upon request by supervisor speak on the viewpoints of AFSC at Quaker meetings and gatherings, colleges, religious and political organizations.
3. Represent AFSC in coalitions and collaborations.
4. Help raise the profile of AFSC’s Michigan Criminal Justice Program by engaging in social media strategies and collaborative messaging work with other program staff and volunteers.
5. Convene, when needed, diverse groups and coalitions to effectively organize campaigns and projects to dismantle overreliance on prisons and punishment.

Collaboration with Supervisor

1. Assist the program director with research and writing projects related to trends and patterns in the criminal legal and punishment system in MI, which have been identified through direct communications with people in prison, loved ones of people in prisons, and review of data and research.
2. Assist program director in articulating and disseminating an integrated anti-oppression and racial justice framework for all staff, volunteers, interns and prisoners.
3. Assist program director in creating, implementing and evaluating office culture policies and practices that promote effective teamwork and self-care.
4. Assist program director in representing AFSC at appropriate coalition, collaborative and other network meetings and events.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience:

1. At least 3 years experience in advocacy, organizing, and/or working for social and/or transformative justice and change work.
2. Demonstrated ability to be an effective and compassionate advocate on behalf of people in prison and their loved ones.
3. Direct program experience with those caught up in the criminal legal and punishment system highly desirable and/or direct personal experience with the criminal punishment system.
4. At least three years experience which demonstrates the capacity to identify, analyze and describe the current use of the punishment system and its root ties to institutional and systemic racism, marginalization of LGBTQ people, and marginalization of under-resourced people.
5. Experience working with community-based, social justice program work.
6. Ability to think critically.
7. Ability to work in a laid back working environment, while dealing with intense and difficult case work.

Other Required Skills and Abilities:

1. Commitment to Quaker values and testimonies. Understanding of and compatibility with the principles and philosophy of the American Friends Service Committee including non-violence and the belief in the intrinsic worth of every individual.
2. Understanding of and commitment to the principles, concerns, and considerations, of AFSC in regard to issues of race, class, nationality, religion, age, gender and sexual orientation, and disabilities. Demonstrated ability to work and communicate with diverse staff.
3. Commitment to the faith-based principles and guidelines that define the work of AFSC, including a commitment to nonviolence, equality and anti-oppression work and a belief in the intrinsic worth of every individual.
4. Demonstrated strong oral and written communication skills. Ability to gather information through observation, distill information, and vividly share program experience
5. Sensitivity to and respect for cultural diversity. Commitment to ending discrimination and exclusion based on race, class, legal status, gender, sexual orientation or disability.
6. Dependable, flexible, creative, and possess initiative with a sense of humor while working in a very small office. Ability to work well under pressure and adapt easily to changing situations and priorities.
7. Demonstrated experience with computer applications including: Microsoft Office, FileMaker Pro, and Creative Suite.
8. Ability to work cooperatively with staff, volunteers, and volunteer committees.
9. Ability to work using consensus as the preferred decision making process.
10. Ability to work independently, often in unstructured situations, and complete projects which may include from the initial planning stage, to following-up with volunteers/coalitions to completion of project.
11. Willingness and ability to work some evenings, weekends, travel locally throughout the state of Michigan, as well as nationally which may require staying overnight. Must possess a valid driver’s license.
12. Ability to meet deadlines while working under pressure.
13. Proven ability to reach out collaboratively to individuals, groups and organizations.

Compensation:** Salary Range starts at $51,417– Exempt – Comprehensive medical and hospitalization plan; term life, accident and salary continuation insurances, defined benefit pension plan, plus fringe benefits; participation in unemployment and worker’s compensation and social security.

The American Friends Service Committee is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified persons are encouraged to apply regardless of their religious affiliation, race, age, sex, gender identity**,** sexual orientation or disability.

AFSC’s Central Office and some of its offices in the U.S. are unionized workplaces. This position is not represented.

The American Friends Service Committee is a smoke-free workplace.

For consideration, please attach your resume and cover letter to the online application at https://www.afsc.org/job-center .