Community Advocacy & Engagement Coordinator

Voices of Tomorrow is seeking a talented and ambitious individual to serve as a Community Engagement & Advocacy Coordinator, who will help the VOT Policy and Advocacy department transform inequitable systems through community power and base building and community engagement and advocacy efforts. The Community Engagement & Advocacy Coordinator will help build lasting capacity for VOT to work with community on advocacy efforts leading to systems change. They will contribute to the development and implementation of multiple projects ensuring the delivery of each component according to grant guidelines and funding requirements.

• RESPONSIBILITIES: Specific responsibilities of the Community Advocacy Coordinator include, but are not limited to:

Program Administrative

• Performing administrative functions such as calendaring meetings, monitoring department deliverable timelines, organizing and/or participating in stakeholder meetings, creating meeting agendas, ensure deadlines are met.
• Perform general project management functions such as monitoring project plans, timelines, tracking deliverables, composing project reports under the direction of a supervisor, preparing memos, creating and decimating surveys. tracking and reporting project data, and data entry.
• Documenting and following up on important actions and decisions from meetings.
• Work proactively and take the initiative to support the team's varying and changing needs.
• Perform other tasks as assigned by the management team.
• Conduct research

Communication/Marketing

• Help develop and coordinate advocacy and communications strategies, collect and share community stories, create surveys, organize focus groups, and conduct interviews to highlight community experiences.
• Respond to requests for information from community members, partner organizations, nonprofits, policymakers, and stakeholders
• Develop community engagement strategies to effectively solicit participation
• Assist with/lead development of advocacy communications plans, including creation of tools to inform staff, community members, policymakers, and other stakeholders
• Support production and maintenance of newsletter
• Draft, proofread, and edit external documents
• Manage external communications, including social media

Organizing

• Manage and facilitate advisory meetings including VOT’s Family Childcare Advisory Council (FCCAC), Policy and Advocacy committee (PAC), and Parrent Policy Council (PPC).
• Keep up relationships with partners/funders and attend Partners/Funders Meetings assigned
• Build and maintain relationships with partner organizations, coalition members, foundations, and associations throughout the state to advance policy priorities
• Help build and maintain relationships with elected officials, their representatives, and staff, as well as Governor’s Office and state agency staff, and all partners.
• Represent the organization at events, conferences and stakeholder meetings, which may include some travel throughout Washington State
• Serve as a community liaison for organizational advocacy efforts
• Assist the PAD department Plan and/or implement advocacy activities

Coordination/Facilitation

• Coordinate and facilitate community listening sessions for members of the early learning field and family childcare community.
• Assist with the design and implementation of Advocacy 101 training program for community members, to include topics such as systems and institutions; the policy process; crafting a message; and connecting with stakeholders.
• Help plan and topical Civic Engagement boot camps to engage community members in issue-specific conversations and initiate relationships between community members and stakeholders.
• Coordinates create and organize special events, for example: Voter Registration, Lobby Day, etc.
• Leading focus group discussions, designing surveys, building outreach material, and helping conduct project evaluations.
• Preparing presentation materials for internal and external trainings and program operations

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.

• Bachelor in public policy and/or administration, or equivalent experience of 3-5 years’ experience working in the Advocacy and Policy and AA degree.
• Understanding of and commitment to social change through building the capacity and power of low-income people and people of color to change their communities and to participate directly in changing public policies.
• Understanding of Washington State Early Learning systems and childcare policy landscape and Washington state's legislative process
• Excellent advocacy, consensus-building, coalition-building, and leadership skills; demonstrated ability to work collegially and collaboratively with other staff and other organizations; demonstrated ability to work with groups and individuals across the political spectrum.
• Bilingual applicants with knowledge of English and Somali, Amharic, or Oromo oral and written communication skills highly desired, but not required.
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and oral; experience as a public spokesperson and advocate; ability to analyze and articulate public policies, nuanced ideas and other complex issues as well as communicate them to a variety of audiences; a “quick study” on a dynamic array of issues.
• Ability to build relationships with relevant policy partners (government, advocacy groups, academic institutions, etc.).
• A broad understanding of federal, state, and local policies that pertain to low-income families and communities of color is required; expertise in immigration issues and early education is especially helpful.
• The ability to produce consistent, quality work in a fast-paced and sometimes unstructured environment is essential.

Additional expectations include:

• Established interest in early childhood development and a desire to improve quality access to education for immigrant and refugee communities.
• Strong computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Proven planning and analytical skills to evaluate complex situations and recommend next steps/solutions
• Public speaking and presentation skills, as well as strong written communication skills
• Must pass Department of Early Learning’s Portable Background Check (PBC).

Hiring Process: To apply, please email your resume and cover letter to nabdirahman@tomorrowvoices.org. Voices of Tomorrow is an equal opportunity employer. Please let us know if you require any accommodation. 

More about Voices of Tomorrow’s (“VOT”).

VOT’s mission is to preserve immigrant & refugee children’s identity through culturally responsive child-focused programs. Our agency works closely with community partners to eliminate racial inequities in the Early Learning System which deeply affect Immigrant and Refugee children’s growth, development, and academic performances. Early childhood is the most critical phase of human development. The focus of VOT is to create early learning programs that preserves the child’s culture and language, while advancing African indigenous parenting practices and community-driven narratives. Substantial research shows that early adversity, including loss of a language, is associated with diminished health across the life course and across generations.

Our work is guided by the following foundational principles:

RACIAL EQUITY. Community representation is paramount in all of Voices of Tomorrow’s programs, policies, and activities. Program components are grounded in community needs and programs are designed with the input of the communities we serve.

CULTURAL RESPONSIVENESS. We strive to create opportunities to preserve culture through the celebration of diversity. We welcome all who apply their resources, cultural knowledge, and experience to address solutions for removing barriers facing our community.

HEALTH AND SAFETY. Embedded in our work is an understanding that good prenatal and early childhood mental health is foundational to reducing long term stressors and negative impacts into adulthood.

STRENGTHS-BASED. Our programs are designed to empower families and communities to use the existing knowledge of their families and communities enabling resiliency in a manner in which they can share their knowledge through the education of core life skills.

CHILD FOCUS. We encourage parents and caregivers to foster positive relationships with children and caregivers, as strong family bonds give children their best start in early childhood development.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $24.00 - $27.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Ability to Relocate:

• Burien, WA 98166: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person