Feed Black Futures – Food Justice Organizer

Oakland, CA
February 5, 2025
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Deadline date:

Job Description

Feed Black Futures (FBF) is a Black, queer-led organization committed to food justice, sovereignty, and healing within our communities. We promote healing by strengthening Black food economies, creating ecosystems for resilience, and addressing the historical harms caused by carceral violence and land dispossession. Through principles of abolition and self-determination, we aim to build community power to advance collective liberation. We seek to activate our communities to reclaim their right to healthy, culturally relevant food, and to shape a future where everyone has access to food that sustains both body and spirit.

Our grand strategic objective is to build the power of BIPOC people to grow the land commons. To do this we are cultivating a member-base composed of community on the frontlines of food apartheid and ecological disruption including farmers, community members, and market representatives. Our offerings will include popular education and collective governance training, community events, and leadership training and opportunities. Our membership leaders, known as the Leadership Council, will steward our member-base, with support from the Food Justice Organizer, and inform FBF’s organizational strategy.

Job Description:

The Food Justice Organizer will play a pivotal role in building our member-base, advancing our efforts to grow the land commons, and ensuring that our members have a strong voice in shaping the direction of our organization. This position is responsible for managing our membership, uplifting the governing power of members, identifying and coordinating accessible learning opportunities, and providing strategic support to leadership. The ideal candidate will have a deep commitment to collective governance principles, organizing experience, experience in facilitation, an understanding of the food sovereignty ecosystem in the Bay Area and food policy at large, strong relationship-building skills, and strong organizational and strategic thinking skills to coordinate and design a variety of member-focused programs, skill-building opportunities, and leadership training.

Roles and Responsibilities Membership Culture:

  • Design and co-develop membership programming and a membership model that curates a culture of shared values, unity, joy, cooperation, and collective governing power
  • Support members in leadership training and host a voting session to nominate our Leadership Council members
  • Co-create bylaws and community agreements with Leadership Council members for the Leadership Council and membership at large

Membership Management:

  • Grow our base through outreach, relationship building, and community engagement
  • Oversee the enrollment of new members and maintain an updated membership database
  • Regularly communicate with members through emails, newsletters, and phone communications
  • Respond to member inquiries and provide necessary support
  • Work with key stakeholders, community leaders, and members to deepen understanding of local and relevant policy, build advocacy skills, and shape local advocacy around land issues

Uplifting our Members:

  • Uplift and amplify the voices of members in decision-making processes
  • Facilitate members collective governing power and influence within the organization, led by our Leadership Council

Capacity Building:

  • Design and implement accessible offerings and learning opportunities for members
  • Organize and manage convening, trainings, workshops, and webinars
  • Coordinate with instructors, speakers, and facilitators for member-focused events.

Strategic Planning and Support:

  • Manage a comprehensive membership calendar outlining the year’s offerings
  • Provide strategic support to the leadership council, including direct communication and participation in meetings
  • Support the creation and implementation of programs that align with our organization’s goals

Governance and Conflict Resolution:

  • Co-develop collective governance and conflict mediation practices
  • Ensure that collective governance principles are respected and upheld within the organization
  • Offer ongoing support where needed to foster a healthy organizational culture.

FBF Memberships:

  • Be an active contributor to our coalitions, including National Black Food and Justice Alliance and Climate Justice Alliance; represent FBF and relay important meeting details to the team

Evaluation and Engagement:

  • Conduct regular assessments and surveys to gauge member engagement and satisfaction; use evaluation results to inform strategy and improve offerings

Team Management

  • Manage and mentor junior staff , ensuring alignment with organizational goals and priorities
  • Set clear expectations, goals, provide constructive feedback, and conduct regular check-ins 
  • Collaborate with the Community Engagement Coordinator to design and implement outreach strategies, community events, and other engagement initiatives that deepen relationships with members and partners

You are someone who brings:

  • Experience in member or community engagement, capacity building, and program coordination.
  • Strong understanding of and commitment to collective governance principles.
  • Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously.
  • Experience in conflict resolution and mediation.
  • Proficiency in using digital tools for communication and event management.
  • Previous experience in a nonprofit, social justice, or community-based organization.
  • Experience working in food justice, food sovereignty, or related fields is highly desirable.
  • Background in strategic planning, program development, and facilitation

Role Overview

  • Role location: Hybrid, flexible; two days a week in person – Oakland, CA preferred
  • Reports to: Co-Executive Director of Partnerships and Development
  • Hours: 35-40 hours/week
  • Salary: $75k-$83k yearly
  • Status: Full-time, exempt

Applying:
Please submit your resume and cover letter to info@feedblackfutures.org or use the application form below with the title “Food Justice Organizer”. Applications will remain open until the position is filled.