Bangla-Speaking Public Housing Organizer

JOB DESCRIPTION

Founded in 1986, CAAAV: Organizing Asian Communities builds the intergenerational leadership of Asian immigrant communities in New York City to fight for racial, gender and economic justice. CAAAV is looking for a Bangla-speaking Public Housing Organizer with a background in outreach, base-building, leadership development and grassroots organizing in working-class Asian communities. The Public Housing Organizer will focus on building and growing CAAAV’s base of Bangladeshi residents in the Queensbridge Houses and other public housing complexes in western Queens.

About the Position:

The Public Housing Organizer is responsible for building power through membership and leadership development and coordinating campaigns organizing Bangladeshi tenants in New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) public housing developments in Queens for the future of our neighborhoods, to stop gentrification, and more. The Public Housing Organizer will work closely with the Lead Organizer and colleagues to build a  CAAAV  Asian Tenants Union that organizes working class Asian and South Asian tenants. The Public Housing Organizer will develop tenant leaders to work with the broader housing and public housing movement, and fight to move policy and movement demands for systemic changes to public housing including, but not limited to, tenant governance, public funding, and social housing.  

Currently, the Public Housing Organizer will be focusing on:

• Building and mobilizing our Bangladeshi base in the Queensbridge Houses;
• Growing a base in the Ravenswood, Woodside and/or Astoria Houses;
• Conducting and coordinating regular outreach  to support organizing work in NYCHA public housing in language
• Holding weekly member leader meetings and member meetings
• Working with fellow organizers, interpreters, and volunteers to coordinate and facilitate multi-base, multi-language events, trainings, or actions, across five languages (Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Bangla, and English);
• Developing the leadership of members in Queensbridge around campaigns such as stopping the privatization of public housing through RAD and the NYCHA Trust, full funding for NYCHA, and other emerging needs;
• In collaboration with colleagues, training tenant leaders to represent CAAAV Asian Tenants Union in coalition, strategize with other leaders, and conduct outreach
• Participating in organization-wide meetings, events and strategy sessions as needed. 

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will have:

• Bilingual language skills in Bangla – enough to engage members in organizing and political conversations – written ability a plus;
• Strong commitment to CAAAV’s mission and movement building;
• Strong working knowledge of issues affecting working class, immigrant, communities of color and relevant experience working in Asian immigrant communities;
• At least one year experience with outreach, base-building, member leadership development, and organizing campaigns;
• Demonstrated ability to develop leadership and build a base of committed members ;
• Ability to design, lead, run workshops, and trainings for members;
• Excellent interpersonal, written and communication skills; strong public speaking skills.

To Apply:

This is a full-time position at 40+ hours/week. Please send a cover letter and resume to ashen@caaav.org with subject heading: PUBLIC HOUSING ORGANIZER by April 11. Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. 

CAAAV is an equal opportunity employer. Women, immigrants, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, and people of color from low-income communities are strongly encouraged to apply. Due to high volume of calls, please do not call. Applicants will be notified for an interview by e-mail.