Careers

Community Organizer

Job Title: Community Organizer
Type: Non-Exempt
Hours: 32 hours per week (flexible with some remote work available)
Reports To: Executive Director
Salary: $20 – $24/hour
Benefits:
-PTO accrual
-8 Paid Holidays
-3% Employer Simple IRA match
-Employee sponsored dental and vision

Organization Summary:

Lyndale Neighborhood Association (LNA) is a place-based nonprofit that strives to empower neighbors to assume leadership roles in their own community while also striving to diversify that leadership to allow for a better mixing and sharing of ideas and cultures. We are a community-led organization, established in 1992. Our main programs include community garden sites, business façade revitalization grants, the LNA Education Program, which provides high-quality in-person adult English language and computer basics instruction, as well as several community engagement events and committees. Learn more at lyndale.org.

Position Summary:

The Community Organizer will work with LNA’s Executive Director (ED) and Communications Coordinator (CC) to implement the organization’s outreach and engagement initiatives, including work with cultural communities, renters, and grassroots leadership.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Project Volunteers and Community Gardeners

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

Outreach and Operations Management

  • Conduct specific outreach to engage businesses, new residents, and under-represented groups
  • Create, manage and maintain annual Outreach Tracker database
  • Develop relationships with community members to increase diversity of membership and input
  • Establish new and enhance existing relationships with key local partners, including sending monthly partner emails with relevant news and events
  • Conduct door-to-door canvassing
  • Creating a welcoming environment for all members
  • Recruit and build a foundation of volunteers and leaders

Ongoing Project Support

  • Community Garden support and oversight
  • Crime and Safety, Environment, Events, and Housing Committee project support
  • Lyndale Education Program classroom support, as needed
  • Lyndale Education Program student engagement activities, outreach, and recruitment support
  • Lyndale Block Connector program oversight and support
  • MN Driver’s License Permit Course support and teaching in English as needed

Project/Event Coordination, on and off-site

  • Recruit and support volunteers for ongoing projects, committees, and events
  • Assist with neighborhood programs, meetings, cleanups, and event promotion/coordination
  • Secure supplies and permits, set-up, and tear-down events and meetings

Communications

  • Bring together groups of underserved people, community members and institutions to work together to achieve the common goals of meeting immediate needs, building community and addressing pertinent issues and their consequences
  • Connect with constituency using external communications in partnership with CC (weekly E-newsletter, mailed newsletter, social media, website) in English and Spanish
  • Translate documents in English and Spanish in partnership with CC, as needed
  • Create graphic designs and promotional materials in partnership with CC, as needed, in English and Spanish
  • Interpret between English and Spanish, for meetings or for conversation, as needed
  • Promote education and awareness about relevant community and justice issues
  • Engage and listen to affected people/populations when they share their concerns and voice their fears to identify the issues that the affected people face
  • Develop opportunities for members to advocate for equitable systems, policies, and processes
  • Evaluate and report needs of general public and community groups to Executive Director

LNA Staff Duties

  • Attend monthly check-in meetings with ED and LNA staff meetings
  • Provide role update to LNA Board of Directors at least once annually
  • Assist with occasional LNA events and organizational work as needed
  • Data entry as needed
  • Holding office hours for community members
  • Other duties as assigned

Position Qualifications:

  • High school diploma or equivalent
  • Comfortable with both spoken and written Spanish and English; able to translate and interpret highly desired
  • Experience organizing either directly or through lived experience by living or working in a diverse community
  • Proficient computer skills. Tools used include:
    • WhatsApp
    • Google Workspace
    • Canva
    • MS Office
  • Strong written and verbal communication, comfortable giving presentations and leading meetings with people with various backgrounds and roles
  • Ability to think strategically, creatively, and proactively around how to address opportunities and challenges
  • Proficient and self-directed at managing work plans, priorities, time, and resources to advance accountabilities
  • Experience working with volunteers preferred

Physical Requirements:

  • Ability to lift 25 pounds
  • Ability to continuously sit, stand, or walk.
  • Ability to bend, squat, push, pull, and lift often.

Work Environment:

The majority of work completed at LNA will be at LNA’s office or partner sites and include regular interactions with individuals receiving services, volunteers, donors, and other community members. It is expected that each of these interactions is done with the highest levels of professionalism and confidentiality as required in the parameters of those relationships. These interactions may occur in person, on the phone, via e-mail, or through the use of social media.

  • Will work outside of the office within the community in places such as the YMCA, apartment buildings, faith communities, schools, community gardens, and community centers.
  • Will be required to interact with community members and may require small amounts of public speaking, being photographed for media use, as well as appropriate use of social media as a marketing tool.
  • Will include activities outside.
  • May occasionally walk on slippery or uneven surfaces.
  • May climb ladders.

How to Apply:

  • Please send a cover letter and resume to Sami Smetana (she/her), Executive Director, at hiring@lyndale.org.
  • Applications for this opportunity will be accepted through June 11, 2025.

Equal Opportunity Statement:

LNA’s policy is to provide equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, creed, religion, sexual orientation, public assistance status, marital status, age, disability, political beliefs, or sex (including sex stereotypes and gender identity in health care programs) or other applicable protected characteristics. LNA is an equal opportunity employer and conforms to all applicable federal, state, and local laws.