Hartford Organizer (Full Time, Exempt)
In Person in Hartford, Connecticut (with the ability to work in-person at our New Haven, Bridgeport, or Danbury offices as needed)

CT Students for a Dream (C4D) is a youth-led, statewide nonprofit organization that fights for the rights and dignity of undocumented immigrants and their families. We lead organizing campaigns, provide direct support, and build leadership among immigrant youth to create change in our communities and across Connecticut.

 

Position Overview: 

• C4D is seeking a dedicated and passionate Organizer committed to building power with and for young people of color while centering experiences of undocumented youth and their families. 

• The Organizer will be responsible for re-establishing C4D membership in Hartford and growing the organizing power of C4D in Hartford. C4D has not had a full-time organizer in Hartford for a few years. A key part of the role is establishing a presence in Hartford and cultivating a base that will take action and organize around C4D’s campaigns. The ideal candidate is committed to building the long-term power of young immigrants and supporting their growth as organizers and lifelong political workers. 

• Reporting to the Organizing Director, the Organizer will serve as a key strategist for C4D’s Hartford work. In collaboration with the Organizing Director, the organizer will help develop and implement a long-term strategy to grow membership, leadership, and power of Hartford. This position requires close collaboration with the Organizing Director and strong coordination across all C4D departments.

 

Responsibilities: 

• Develop and Lead the organizing strategy for Hartford

  • Work with the Organizing Director to create and implement organizing strategies in six-month cycles that include recruitment/outreach, leadership development, and campaign engagement.

  • Develop and apply political analysis of Hartford and its relationship to statewide politics and campaigns.

• Base Building & Membership Growth

  • Lead the growth and re-establishment of an active member base in Hartford.

  • Build a multiracial base of young people ages 14–25, centering undocumented youth and those impacted by the immigration system.

  • Support ongoing recruitment and monthly onboarding of new members.

  • Support the development of members through our member ladder 

    • From the base to members

    • From members to member leaders 

    • From member leaders to member organizers

  • Support the development of member organizers into long-term political workers within and beyond C4D

• Member Engagement & Campaign Participation

  • Managing organizing engagement in Hartford during and outside of legislative session, this includes building community supports, member support for campaigns, and local actions that advance campaign goals

  • Ensure strong member turnout for:

    • Regular statewide meetings and events

    • Actions and mobilizations

• Legislative Session Engagement 

  • Actively engage in the Connecticut legislative session, including campaigns such as HUSKY for Immigrants and other immigrant rights initiatives.

  • Engage members in campaign launches, public hearings, member-led advocacy, and other campaign activities as needed.

• School based/University based engagement

  • Engage students through relationships with established schools/universities and school districts 

    • Conduct school/university based outreach and recruitment

  • Work alongside our College Access Program (CAP) Coordinator to build list of potential members based on CAP engagement

• Summer Organizing 

  • Work with the organizing team to implement summer organizing project with the goal to build base, develop organizing skills, and move forward our campaigns

• MISC

  • Build and maintain coalitions and key relationships with community organizations, agencies, and schools.

  • Mobilize members to campaign events, actions, and other organizational activities.

  • Attend weekly staff meetings, programming meetings as needed, and regular check-ins with supervisor 

  • Maintain timely communication via email, Slack, and other platforms.

  • Ensure accurate data collection, database entry, and completion of written reports.

  • Work flexible hours, primarily during the regular workday, with some evening and weekend hours as needed (adjusted time off provided).

 

Ideal Candidate Skills, Experience, and Attributes

We recognize that qualified candidates will bring a mix of the skills and experiences listed below. Candidates who may not meet every qualification but are excited to grow and learn in this role are strongly encouraged to apply.

 

Required Qualifications

• Self­-starter with strong interpersonal, organizational, and record-keeping skills

• 2-3 years minimum experience in community or grassroots organizing required

• Strong commitment and understanding of social justice and to dismantling systems of oppression

  • Strong commitment to the immigrant community/immigrants’ rights

• Ability to work in a collaborative leadership approach and across departments

• Enthusiasm for open communication and building relationships with staff, members, partner organizations, and coalition partners

• Familiarity with CRM tools like action network, action builder, every action, mobilize or similar platforms is a plus

• ­Bilingual abilities are a plus

• Reliable transportation required; this role includes statewide travel 3–4 times per month and in-city travel at least twice per week.

 

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in member-based organizations.

• Full-time organizing experience.

• Experience working with young people ages 14–25.

• Experience planning and facilitating meetings or events with 20 or more participants.

• Experience with state legislative advocacy and/or coalition work.

 

LOCATION: This is an in-person role that requires regular, ongoing, face-to-face engagement with members, staff, and partner organizations. The majority of the work will take place in Hartford and will require the Organizer to build deep familiarity with the city, including local organizations, schools, and community groups.

 

When not engaged in in-person work, staff may work from home or from one of C4D’s offices located in Bridgeport, New Haven, or Danbury.

 

PERIOD: Position would start in Feb/March and would begin with a 90 day onboarding and evaluation period.

 

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

 

ANNUAL SALARY: The position is a full-time exempt salaried position with benefits. The base salary is $50,000-$60,000 in accordance with CT Students for a Dream’s payscale.  

 

BENEFITS: C4D/UCC offers a comprehensive benefits package including paid vacation, health insurance, retirement plans, and life insurance:

• Time-off benefits: 

  • Employees who have completed less than 3 years of service: 10 Vacation days per year

  • Employees who have completed at least 3 years of service: 15 Vacation days per year

  • Annual paid summer organizational closure for 1 week during late June

  • Annual paid Winter / Holiday closure for the last 2 weeks of December

  • 12 Paid holidays throughout the year

• Medical/Dental/Vision/ life coverage + dependents

• 401K

• Sick leave

• 12 weeks of paid family leave (after 1 year of service)

• $500 Reimbursement for office supplies working from home annually

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How to Apply

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To apply, please email your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your interest and relevant experience to hr@ct4adream.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

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C4D strongly encourages people who are directly impacted by the immigration system, people of color, and members of the communities we organize with to apply.

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C4D is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace. C4D does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, immigration or citizenship status, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. 

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Employment with C4D is at will, meaning that either the employee or C4D may terminate employment at any time, with or without cause or notice, in accordance with applicable law. 

 

Interested in working with C4D but don’t quite fit the box we’ve described? We are committed to the development of undocumented youth, womxn of color, Black immigrants, and individuals from diverse backgrounds and directly impacted communities. Contact us and we can work with you on your development