Want to change the world? Organize!

Community organizing means developing leaders and bringing people together to form powerful organizations that allow people to act on their own behalf to make systemic changes in their lives. Community organizers are people who want to stir things up to motivate people to act for change, who embrace challenge, and who think strategically about power.

The Jewish Organizing Initiative (JOI) builds a vibrant, pluralistic community of Jewish young adults who learn grassroots community organizing, explore their Jewish identity together, and become leaders in the pursuit of social justice.   

Our year-long paid community organizing fellowship is a year of field experience and professional development for young Jewish adults (21-30) looking for the opportunity to turn good intention and raw talent into concrete skills and action. 

Training: Our JOI training program consists of regular, intensive workshops on organizing modules such as Storytelling and Relationship Building, Power, and Leadership.  We help fellows make connections between social justice and their Judaism by interweaving organizing training with the study of Jewish social justice history and text, and with shared, pluralistic Jewish experiences such as monthly Shabbats. JOI trainers include veteran organizers, seasoned activists, politicians, rabbis and Jewish professionals.

Placement:  Fellows work full-time as grassroots organizers with Boston-area organizations that are working for social change. Past placements include the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization, UNITE HERE Local 26, the Chelsea Collaborative, Jewish Community Relations Council, North Shore Labor Council, Keshet, Somerville Community Corporation, and Youth Force of the Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation.

Criteria for Applicants

* Passion, commitment, and a drive to work for social justice. 

* Critical and strategic thinking

* A track record of leadership and/or working to address social problems  

* Interest in co-creating a pluralistic Jewish community and learning more about their roots and what Judaism teaches about social justice.

* Strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills.

Please visit www.jewishorganizing.org for more information and for application instructions. Please direct questions to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Applications are due Friday, March 12th, 2010.