Community Organizer

Families In Schools (FIS) imagines a public education system where parents play a leadership role in their children’s learning and where students, particularly those farthest from opportunity, are set up to succeed in school and life.

Founded in 2000, FIS is a nonprofit statewide organization based in Los Angeles, California, whose mission is to ensure student success by building authentic partnerships between families, educators, and system leaders through capacity-building efforts for system leaders and parent-led advocacy. In 2024, FIS entered a new chapter, marked by new leadership and a clear, unflinching commitment to excellence and impact. In this new chapter, FIS brings greater innovation to family engagement by creating capacity for educators to authentically partner with families, more deeply centering the voices of families on critical system and policy decisions and activating coalitions to drive local and state-wide campaigns powered by parent leadership.

The community organizer will be vital in advancing campaigns led by Families In Schools, such as the Read LA!, a campaign ensuring all children in Los Angeles can read and thrive. This role focuses on mobilizing community members and families to advocate for policies and programs to close equity gaps in students’ academic success. The community organizer will engage parents and communities in collective action, drive grassroots efforts, and work to identify and cultivate local leaders. The ideal candidate will have a community-organizing background and a deep commitment to family engagement and educational equity.

This full-time, non-exempt position reports to the Senior Campaign Director.

Base Building & Relationship Development

• Cultivate and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with parents, caregivers, educators, community leaders, and local organizations to build a base of support for FIS-led campaigns.

Outreach and Recruitment

• Identify and recruit parents, volunteers, and community members to participate in the campaign’s programs, including but not limited to the Literacy Ambassadors Program and the Early Literacy App. Provide leadership and guidance to ensure that campaign programming meets impact goals.

Advocacy, Education, and Co-Design

• Educate families and community members on current policy issues impacting their children’s education, including early literacy instruction.
• Facilitate opportunities for families to co-design programs and inform advocacy agendas to ensure FIS campaigns are led by family voice. This includes facilitating focus groups, creating surveys, and conducting interviews.
• Lead and participate in small group meetings, community conversations, and learning sessions to deepen participants’ understanding of education systems and advocacy pathways.

Partnership and Coalition Engagement

• Collaborate and partner with community organizations, schools, government entities, and businesses to expand reach and impact.
• Attend monthly coalition meetings and other convenings (either in-person or virtually), contributing community perspectives and campaign updates.

Event Planning

• Plan, coordinate, and facilitate community workshops, events, and campaign meetings to drive engagement and build visibility.
• Oversee event logistics, including venue selection, volunteer coordination, outreach, and vendor management, ensuring events are well-attended and impactful.

Data Collection and Reporting

• Collect and track data on outreach activities, participant engagement, and campaign outcomes.
• Gather community feedback to support ongoing learning and improvement of organizing strategies to better support families.
• Collaborate with the campaign team to analyze findings and adjust tactics to strengthen family leadership and campaign impact.

You are a passionate advocate for educational equity, parent/family leadership, and social justice. With experience in community organizing, you understand the power of grassroots efforts and the importance of building strong, trusting relationships with diverse stakeholders. You’re skilled at engaging with parents/caregivers, community leaders, and local organizations and are able to convey the importance of literacy and educational equity in a way that activates people to join our movement. You’re organized, adaptable, and able to manage multiple tasks while maintaining a focus on every child’s right to read and achieve success.

Relevant Experience

• Minimum 2-3 years in community organizing, grassroots campaigns, or working with diverse communities is a must.
• Expertise in family and community engagement within education and/or early learning space.
• Proven track record of results in community organizing efforts.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Suite.
• Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
• Spanish Fluency (speaking, writing, and reading) is preferred.

Skills & Competencies

• Passion for Educational Equity and Family Engagement: Committed to advancing educational equity and ensuring that families are engaged as equal partners in their children’s education.
• Strong Interpersonal Skills: Ability to build relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including parents, educators, community leaders, and volunteers.
• Effective Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex ideas in a clear and accessible manner.
• Organizational Skills: Ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritize effectively, and meet deadlines.
• Flexibility and Adaptability: Willingness to work evenings and weekends as needed to accommodate community schedules and events.
• Bilingual: Proficient in Spanish or another language commonly spoken in Los Angeles.

Mindsets

• Commitment: to Families In Schools’ mission and strategic goals
• Collaborative: Committed to fostering a culture of collaboration, teamwork, and accountability to oneself and others. Committed to building positive relationships with all agency stakeholders across levels, roles, and functions.
• Learning Oriented: Demonstrate an openness to feedback and a commitment to learning and improving.
• Flexible & Adaptable: Embraces change and ambiguity with a positive attitude. Willing to adapt to new situations, challenges, and information. Resilient in handling complex situations and environments.
• Learner: Embraces the idea that families have much to teach us; able to step aside so that families can lead.
• Capacity Builder: Commitment to excellence in building the assets of underserved families and the capacity of leaders in sectors/systems serving families, children/and students.
• Action Oriented: Ability to work in a fast-paced, results-oriented environment while maintaining quality attention to detail.
• Trustworthy: Ongoing use of good judgment, tact, and diplomacy in all professional matters. High degree of integrity, strong work ethic, and commitment to the efficient and effective use of resources.

Additional Qualifications

• Willingness to work weekends and evenings and travel as necessary
• Access to a car, possession of a valid driver’s license, and proof of automobile insurance
• Can lift up to 25 lbs. (books, materials, supplies, etc.)