Community Outreach / Tour Producer

In 2024, independent artist Nina Sarnelle worked with social justice organization Long Beach Forward to create an experimental opera with community members called "Breath Work." Part documentary, part performative ritual, Breath Work is a 56-min film that uses collective vocalization to explore air as a medium for resistance. Home to massive oil infrastructure and one of the largest ports in the world (where 25% of all imported goods enter the USA), Long Beach shipping infrastructure, railyards, freeways and oil refineries provide visual backdrop for scenes of solidarity and grief staged by a cast and crew of impacted community members. Breath Work weaves together their creative voices with personal stories of respiratory disease and environmental racism.

We are now entering phase 2 of the project focused on sharing the film. How might Breath Work serve as a resource for environmental justice orgs, building energy and support for their clean air campaigns? Phase 2 aims to leverage the film as an organizing tool to reach communities struggling with similar air pollution. A recent study has shown that 8 of the 10 cities with the worst air quality in the country are within 3 hours drive from Los Angeles (Huntington Park, Fontana, Ontario, Glendora, Bloomington & San Bernardino, Visalia & Hanford). We plan to organize a grassroots screening & workshop tour that will assemble local organizers, stakeholders and researchers to discuss air quality as environmental racism, and devise collective ways to fight for clean air.

TIME COMMITMENT & COMPENSATION:

• Short term, part-time contract, compatible with other forms of employment*
• $32/hour – billed hourly, no benefits.
• Approx 8 hr/week doing outreach (this is remote, self-directed work with no set hours, but you must respond promptly and professionally to communications)
• Approx 8 Tour dates on weekends (including travel time, one event might require an 8-12 hour day)
• The tour will be planned around the schedules of the producer, Nina Sarnelle and local partners, but will likely take place in Spring 2026.

To prepare for the Breath Work tour, the Outreach/Tour Producer will identify environmental justice organizations and organizers to partner with in areas that are afflicted by poor air quality. They will reach out by email, phone and/or dm’s on social media to secure partners & locations for our tour dates. They will work closely with lead artist Nina Sarnelle to finalize the tour schedule, and to curate presentations & calls to action from local partners.

They will also manage local promotion for each event, thinking creatively about how to reach community members most afflicted by environmental injustice, as well as those most interested in joining the struggle. They will travel with Nina to help produce each event, which may include coordinating refreshments, ASL/Spanish interpretation, and setting up for the screenings and vocal workshops.

REQUIRED:

• Background in environmental justice, social justice, racial justice, disability justice, Indigenous history, ecological stewardship and resistance, abolition.
• Empathy, professionalism, and cultural sensitivity.
• Experience with event production and/or community organizing.
• Knowledge and understanding of the health impacts of chronic exposure to poor air quality, as well as the systemic injustices that disproportionately impact Black, Indigenous, Latinx and low wealth people.
• Excellent communication skills, ability to pitch the project by email, over the phone and in-person.
• Administrative skills, balancing complex scheduling, communications and budgets.
• Self-direction and ability work independently while communicating & collaborating with the lead artist.
• Flexible, adaptable attitude: this is a two-person team, unexpected tasks will likely emerge!
• Ability to travel on occasional weekends.
• Driver’s license and ability to share driving to tour locations.

PREFERRED:

• Interest or background in public art, socially-engaged practices, vocal improvisation.
• Spanish language skills.
• Personal/family relation to environmental justice struggle, especially air pollution.
• Knowledge of audio-visual technology for film screenings (basic troubleshooting projection & sound system)
• BIPOC candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.