Executive Director

370 S. 5th Street, Suite G3

Columbus, OH 43215

Position Announcement

Ohio Education Organizer

Ohio Communities United is a new and growing progressive grassroots community organization committed to building power for low and moderate income people, predominantly in Cleveland and Columbus. OCU is organizing to preserve the gains won with the historic healthcare legislation; bringing together parents to ensure quality public schools; and fighting for quality living wage jobs.

At OCU, we work to ensure that everyone has access to the American Dream by amplifying the voices of low- and moderate-income communities, communities of color, and immigrant Americans though collective action. We develop the capacities essential to hold government and corporations accountable, improve the health of our families, economy and environment, and reform our public schools,

OCU’s Education Program’s focus is to organize parents and low-and moderate-income communities around education reform, particularly in Cleveland.  OCU is committed to supporting the leadership development of disenfranchised groups as advocates and champions of education reform. The Education Organizer will help develop campaigns around important state/local education issues such as: academic improvement, school closings, and inequality in resources and educational development.

OCU is a new organization with tremendous potential. It is a partner of the Leadership Center for the Common Good, a national training and support center for community organizations based in Washington, DC.

• Develop and oversee education organizing campaigns;
• Conduct extensive outreach to parents, grandparents and guardians to encourage their involvement in the Cleveland Public Schools and grow the individual membership of OCU;
• Mobilize our constituency groups into action around education reform;
• Identify campaign issues and develop an organizing plan of action;
• Build and maintain strong relationships with education allies, including advocacy groups, unions, and policy organizations in Ohio;
• Work with other staff to build a membership base, with a particular focus on strategic outreach to parents and guardians;
• Fundraising;

• Minimum of two years experience community, labor or progressive grassroots organizing and advocacy;
• Knowledge and familiarity with the Cleveland Public Schools;
• Strong leadership skills;
• Strong commitment to community organizing, social, racial and economic justice;
• Strong interpersonal and facilitation skill, with an ability to motivate others;
• Strong organizational skills and self-sufficiency with the ability to work independently;
• Strong interest in education;
• Some experience working in education;
• Preference for excellent writing and communication skills, with the ability to relay complicated information in a user-friendly way;
• Success at working with a large and diverse cross-section of individuals, groups and allies
• Spanish speaking is a plus