Environmental Justice Advocate

Who We Are

COPAL, Communities Organizing Latine Power and Action, is a member-based organization established in 2018 to improve the quality of life of Latine families. Grounded in the Principles of Jemez, COPAL is committed to continue building meaningful relationships that transcend both identity and geographical boundaries. COPAL envisions a Minnesota where everyone lives with dignity and respect.

Why You'll Love Working Here

Our greatest asset is the dedication and commitment of our board, staff, members, and interns, as well as our valued volunteers, partners, coalition members, and leaders of the Latine community. With a clear mission and vision of a better future for all, we can mobilize people to bring about transformation and lead social, political, and economic change.

Wages & Benefits

$25.00 per hour; 8 paid holidays; stipend for cell phone use; generous paid time off policy; affordable health, dental and vision insurance; employer paid term life and disability coverage; health savings account; competitive retirement plan with matching contribution, immediate eligibility, and vesting; 12 week fully paid parental leave.

Schedule

This position is in an office building with a number of duties and responsibilities able to be performed virtually while some require travel to and from community settings, as well as shelters and the homes of program participants and their families. This position works during normal business hours and may include evening and/or weekend hours.

A Typical Day in the Life...

A typical day as COPAL's Environmental Justice Advocate provides an opportunity to play a pivotal role in advancing our organization's mission to address environmental inequalities, promote sustainable practices, and ensure equitable access to environmental resources and protections. Responsibilities will include the following:

• Building and maintaining relationships with communities disproportionately affected by environmental issues by assisting community events.
• Advocating for policies that promote environmental justice and sustainability.
• Collaborating with policymakers, government agencies, and coalitions to influence policy changes.
• Developing educational materials and campaigns to inform the public about environmental justice issues.
• Implementing outreach programs to empower individuals and communities to take action.
• Leading workshops and training sessions on environmental justice topics.
• Supporting communication of advocacy positions through various mediums, including press releases, op-eds, and social media.
• Cultivating relationships with regulatory officials, legislators, and industry stakeholders to foster cooperation and dialogue.
• Working on initiatives that promote sustainable resource management and conservation practices.
• Researching and analyzing environmental policies and their impact on marginalized communities.
• Analyzing data related to environmental disparities, pollution, and health outcomes.
• Utilizing research findings to support advocacy efforts and shape policy recommendations.
• Collaborating with other nonprofits, community organizations, and environmental groups to amplify advocacy efforts.
• Attending conferences, meetings, and events to network and stay informed about environmental justice developments.
• Acting as a liaison between the organization, regulatory agencies, and the communities to facilitate meaningful dialogue and collaboration.
• Monitoring and staying updated on local, state, and federal environmental regulations, policies, and initiatives.
• Advocating for policies that address environmental justice issues and support equitable access to environmental benefits.
• Using data to track progress, identify trends, and measure the impact of environmental justice initiatives.
• Supporting in the preparation of data-driven reports to communicate the impact of initiatives.
• Maintaining accurate records of research, compliance efforts, and community interactions.
• Assisting in writing grant proposals and securing funding to support environmental justice programs.
• Participating in fundraising as appropriate to the role, including site visits with funders and phone banking to increase membership/donor support.
• Learning and articulating the foundational concepts of COPAL and those of their specific units. This includes the mission, vision, and principles of Jemez, COPAL's political platform; mastering the purpose (mission & vision) of each employee's unit; and how their work contributes to advancing the COPAL mission.
• Learning and becoming proficient in COPAL's Customer Relationship Manager (CRM) systems and tech tools as needed, depending on the position's needs and expectations.

Who You Are

• You hold a degree in environmental studies, public policy, sociology, or a related field (or have equivalent experience).
• You have experience in community engagement, organizing, or grassroots advocacy.
• You demonstrate a commitment to environmental justice and social equity.
• You demonstrate knowledge and understanding of environmental justice principles, concepts, and issues.
• You possess a willingness to learn a variety of tasks, a thorough understanding of nonprofit practices, a serious work ethic, and a desire to work in a team-oriented environment.
• You have the ability to work independently, establish priorities, and meet deadlines.
• You exhibit strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret complex data and research.
• You demonstrate skills in conflict management.
• You are competent in MS Office: Word, Access, Publisher, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• You have strong organizational and communication skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• You can maintain a good working relationship with all co-workers and the public, using good judgment in recognizing the scope of authority.
• You have the ability to travel to sites within a 15-mile radius of the office.
• You are open to considering traveling outside of the United States.
• You have a valid driver's license, access to reliable transportation, and the ability to meet COPAL's driving record requirements. Please note that if the license was not issued in the state of Minnesota, you have 60 days after becoming a Minnesota resident in which to apply for your Minnesota driver's license or permit (not applicable for new hires living out of state).

Diversity and open expression are fundamental to the work of COPAL. We are passionate about building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable working environment where everyone can belong. Every member of our team enriches our work by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and to discover, design, and deliver solutions. We welcome everyone to apply, especially those individuals who are underrepresented in our sector: individuals who identify as BIPOC, Indigenous or people of culture, LGBTQI+ and gender fluid or gender nonconforming, individuals with disabilities (both seen and unseen), veterans, people of any age or family status. We encourage you to apply even if you feel like you don't fit 100% of the technical requirements. Equal Opportunity Employer: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, disability, marital status, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, familial status, genetic information or a protected veteran's status.

Our organization has a partnership with Metropolitan Alliance of Connected Communities (MACC) to provide administrative services including management of the recruiting process. If you apply for this position, you may see references to MACC in some online materials.

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