Summary of Position
The organizing position is housed in the Community Impact department. PJI organizers collaborate with PJI's legal department and community stakeholders to co-develop and implement strategies to build collective power and pathways for freedom across Louisiana.
The organizing position co-develops and implements campaign strategy, identifies leaders in directly affected communities, and develops and supports those leaders in base building.
Who We Are Looking For
This work is hard on every level. PJI optimistically and strategically fights for a better future and requires staff who are committed to one another and to people who are incarcerated or otherwise harmed by the criminal legal system.
PJI is committed to hiring smart, talented, skilled people who have directly experienced the issues that we fight against. People who are formerly incarcerated, survivors of violence, working class, LGBTQ+, and people of color, particularly Black, are all strongly encouraged to apply.
Individuals who are Louisiana natives, or who are otherwise from rural communities in the South, are encouraged to apply.
You will be a great fit if you possess a deep commitment to building the collective power and leadership of directly affected communities, have direct organizing experience, and have a proven track record of building strong leadership structures.
PJI focuses on a handful of key issue areas. Among them, you should be committed to ending the death penalty and supporting and accompanying survivors of violence in building collective power against criminalization and toward true community safety, especially for poor and working-class Black Louisianans.
Responsibilities of the Position
Grassroots Organizing and Leadership Development
• Identify, recruit, develop, and accompany leaders in impacted communities across Louisiana.
• Work with community leaders to build power, organize collective action, and advance local and statewide campaigns.
• Coordinate grassroots campaign activities to end capital punishment, including strategic planning, petition drives, rallies, advocacy actions, and other opportunities for leadership and skill development.
• Recruit, train, and mentor volunteers and community leaders to strengthen organizing capacity and sustain campaign efforts.
• Lead community discussions, workshops, and public presentations that dispel misconceptions about the death penalty and advance restorative justice, racial justice, and community centered narratives.
• Collaborate with survivors of violence, community members, and partner organizations to develop and implement PJI's community violence intervention and 'Not In My Name' initiatives, advancing survivor-centered alternatives to state-sanctioned violence and capital punishment.
Allies and Alliances
• Build, maintain, and deepen strategic partnerships, including coalitions, to advance death penalty abolition and PJI's organizing campaigns.
Support Organizing Campaigns
• Organize advocacy actions, vigils, press events, and community responses related to executions, court rulings, emerging death penalty cases, clemency campaigns, and legislative efforts.
• Work with community members, leaders, allies, lawmakers, and PJI staff to develop and implement coordinated advocacy, organizing, and public pressure strategies that influence key decision-makers and advance campaign goals.
• Collaborate closely with PJI's legal, policy, and communications teams to develop messaging, shift public narratives about capital punishment, prepare testimony, mobilize constituents, and support cross-organizational campaigns.
Organizational Support and Development
• Support the Associate Director of Community Impact/Campaign Manager in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of organizing campaigns, community engagement strategies, and coalition-building efforts.
• Support the overall work of PJI outside of the Community Impact department.
• Create detailed work plans, progress reports, rigorous documentation, and tracking of organizing efforts.
• Contribute to PJI's fundraising efforts as needed.
Key Qualifications
* Commitment to PJI's organizational mission, vision, values, and political strategy
* Direct or personal experience with issues affecting the lives of Black, working-class, incarcerated, and formerly incarcerated people and communities, and survivors of violence.
* Direct community or labor organizing experience, including: * Successful membership recruitment/base building * Identifying and developing leaders* Developing and supporting the success of strong leadership structures that can move large collective actions (like organizing committees)* Experience organizing with an understanding of race, class, and gender and how they impact work and communities.
* Self-motivated - able to set goals and execute plans while working well in collective settings.
* Ability and willingness to drive and have a valid driver's license Must be able to work evenings and weekends.
Exceptional candidates will be:
* Excellent facilitators, with experience in popular education
* Experienced supporting winning organizing campaigns
* Trauma-informed with an intellectual and personal understanding of trauma
For complete job description and to apply, visit:
https://promiseofjustice.org/jobs/organizer
HOW TO APPLY:
Submit an application package containing the following:
* Cover letter. The cover letter should be no more than 3 pages, and should detail:* How your personal or professional experience intersects with people impacted by the carceral system, violence, and racism (all 3)* Your skills, experience, and expertise that you are most excited to bring to this position.* Discussion of campaign or major organizing effort that you played a meaningful role in
* Resume
* Email address for 3 References:* 1 person who can speak to your work developing leadership.* 1 person who can speak to your performance in the workplace.* 1 person who can speak to how you think about or engage in racial justice issues. (this can be family, friend, colleague, mentor etc.)
Deadline: Applications considered on a rolling basis. Priority deadline is EOD July 3, 2026.
apply now (https://airtable.com/appBJSL6Uja6y1l9y/shrJCPd6uvS3WEMAF)