[Relay-L] OPPORTUNITY

[Madeleine Stevens]

this is for those of you who are graduating or who may be thinking of going
into a field that works to better communities and improve the lives of those
around you. it sounds really interesting to me! i've been asked to forward
it to you all, so take a look-see below and do with this what you wish!

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*Careers in Community Organizing for Social Justice Available to OU students
and alums!*

*The Direct Action & Research Training (DART) Center* will be on the OU
campus on *Wednesday, May 5 at 7pm in Baker University Center Room 231* to
discuss careers in the field of community organizing, and to schedule
interviews with students interested in empowering their communities and
working for social change.

*Please RSVP if you are interested by contacting Hannah Wittmer at
hannah at thedartcenter.org or calling 785.841.2680 with your name, phone #,
email address and school.*

After years of research into best practices, experimentation, evaluation,
and refinement, the Organizers Institute has become THE elite field school
in the training of *grassroots community organizers* in the country.

DART is now accepting applications for the 2010 DART Organizers Institute,
the paid, four-month field school for people interested in launching a
career in community organizing. Participants will undergo a combined
classroom and field training covering such topics as:

* Entering a community
* Identifying and training local leaders
* Strategic planning and issue cutting
* Relationship and community building
* Direct Action on community issues
* Fundraising

The DART Center has built coalitions throughout the country that have won
important victories on a broad set of justice issues including:

* Education reform in low-performing public schools
* Job Training
* Drugs and Violence
* Criminal Recidivism
* Living Wage
* Neighborhood Revitalization
* Predatory Lending
* Affordable Housing, etc.

The DART Organizers Institute combines a 7-day classroom orientation with 15
weeks of infield training at a DART host organization. This is a paid
training program that includes: a $7,000 living stipend, transportation to
the classroom orientation and host city, and mileage reimbursement during
the infield training. Room, board, and tuition will also be paid by DART
during the 7-day classroom training. After successful completion of the
program, DART will work to place graduates into permanent full time salaried
positions ranging from ($32-35,000/year for Associate Organizers and
$35-40,000 for Lead Organizers starting salary + health & benefits). DART is
a 501(c)(3) organization, therefore, employees of the DART Network are
eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness under the recently enacted
College Cost Reduction and Access Act.  For more information on Public
Service Loan Forgiveness, visit www.ibrinfo.org.

Graduates from the four month DART Organizers Institute have gone onto
accept Executive Director and Associate Community Organizing positions
throughout the country.

The 7-day classroom orientation and 15-week infield training start in July
2010. Training locations will include placements in several states around
the country.

Although it may be helpful, no direct experience is necessary. Organizer
Trainees (OTs) hired to participate in the DART Organizers Institute must
demonstrate a desire to pursue community organizing as a long-term
professional career. A master's degree, JD, or similar life experience is
preferred though not necessary. Candidates must have a college degree or be
graduating prior to July 2010. Also, candidates must display a workmanlike
diligence, be driven to produce sustained results, have proven capacity to
build relationships of trust, create and execute a plan, act professionally,
feel comfortable working with religious institutions, be accountable and
willing to hold others accountable, demonstrate disciplined thought and
action, and work in a team setting.  OTs must also have access to a car
during their training and be flexible regarding relocation. Fluency in
Spanish/English is a plus and people of color are encouraged to apply.

Low and moderate income communities across the country are feeling the bite
of recession on issues like healthcare, education, employment, and housing.
At the same time, the field of community organizing has obtained more
legitimacy and interest than ever before given its recent profile in the
2008 presidential election.  Low and moderate income communities are in need
of passionate and talented individuals with the dedication and skills
necessary to transform communities.  Now is the time to stand up for social
and economic justice.

To find out more about DART or to apply, we encourage you to contact: Hannah
Wittmer, DART Network, 820 New York Street Lawrence, KS 66044 or by email:
hannah at thedartcenter.org. If you have any questions, please call: (785)
841-2680. Also, you can download applications or view profiles from previous
OTs at the DART website: www.thedartcenter.org.



-- 
Madeleine M. Stevens
Ohio University
E.W. Scripps School of Journalism
Public Relations

(330) 719 6980
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