PB Vallejo Canvasser Job Opening

Join a Growing Movement to Reinvent Democracy!

The Canvasser will work in Vallejo, California to help engage residents in the pilot year of the city’s participatory budgeting process.

About the Project

The Participatory Budgeting Project, Inc. (PBP) is a non-profit organization based in New York City. Our mission is to empower community members to make informed, democratic, and fair decisions about public spending and revenue. We work with elected officials, government agencies, and community groups in the US and Canada to set up participatory budgeting (PB) processes that enable local people to decide how to spend part of a public budget. Since fall 2012, PBP has partnered with the City of Vallejo to launch the first citywide PB process in the US, inviting community members to develop and vote on proposals for how to spend over $3 million from the city’s Measure B sales tax.

Purpose of the Position

The Canvasser will assist PBP staff and local partners to engage historically marginalized communities in the Vallejo PB process. The position requires an organized individual who can meaningfully engage diverse populations. This contract position will last for 7 weeks, from April 1, 2013 until May 19, 2013.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Important responsibilities and duties include, but are not limited to:

Delivering presentations and establish relationships with key institutions and organizations in the Native American, Filipino, Spanish speaking and African-American communities, in order to encourage the participation of these communities in PB.
Conduct community outreach, including door knocking, phone banking, and flyering.

Skills Desired:

The ideal candidate will have:

Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, with community organizations and community members.
Ability to engage low-income and marginalized communities.
Public speaking skills.
Skills working with spreadsheets, Google applications and Microsoft Office applications.
Proficiency in English and Spanish or Tagalog.
Knowledge of local community organizations.
Knowledge of pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes and regulations.

Preferred Education & Experience:

Equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. One to two years of increasingly responsible experience with community engagement. Vallejo residents strongly encouraged to apply.

Work Environment & Physical Demands:

Essential functions are performed in both office and community based settings. Position requires significant travel to attend meetings and conduct outreach. Willingness to work irregular hours required. Must have access to a vehicle for local transportation.

Compensation:

Pay will be commensurate with experience. Time commitment will range from 8-15 hours per week for a total of 80 hours of work over the 7 week employment period, including workday, weekend and evening hours. This position does not include benefits.