The Opportunity

Down Home North Carolina (DHNC) seeks multiple part-time, temporary canvassers to aid in our 2022 base building program in various rural counties across the state. This year Down Home North Carolina is planning the largest organizing program our organization has ever attempted. We plan to expand into multiple new counties from the mountains in the West to the coast out East in order to grow our movement of working class people. Down Home is working to engage voters in small towns and rural areas through base building, leadership development, and canvassing. We are committed to building a long term base of working-class power through both community organizing and participating in elections on all levels of government. 

The 2022 canvassers will be responsible for participating in a three month long Deep Listening Canvass in various counties. Canvassers will be tasked with knocking on doors, conducting deep listening conversations, and sharing their insights with the local Down Home Field Organizer. The ultimate goal of their work will be to learn what issues matter the most to working people in their areas, what solutions they think their communities need, and engage them in Down Home’s work of building long term power for working people. 

The ideal candidate is a people-person who is highly motivated to build a powerful multiracial base that wins changes for poor and working-class people in rural North Carolina. They have an organizer mindset, a willingness to learn, strong interpersonal skills, are a team player, are able to work independently, and are mission aligned. Previous experience as an organizer or a grassroots leader is preferred but not required.

Locations include the following counties: 

• Alamance County 
• Ashe County 
• Cabarrus County 
• Caswell County 
• Craven County 
• Granville County 
• Johnston County 
• Person County 
• Watauga County 

About Down Home North Carolina

Down Home North Carolina is a growing statewide organization of rural and small town communities that advocate for economic, gender, and racial justice. We move North Carolina toward the values of dignity, safety, and inclusion through leadership development, strategic campaigning, multiracial movement building, and civic engagement that advances positive, life-changing reforms for rural communities.

Founded in 2017, Down Home has built a strong organizational track record, including:

• Helping to elect the first Latinx state legislator in NC history
• Winning local campaigns to raise the minimum wage for city workers (Waynesville) and oppose the expansion of local jails
• Growing a statewide membership base that includes all 100 counties of North Carolina
• Anchoring the first southern, rural deep canvass and race-class narrative tests
• Driving statewide coalitions to fight for a just COVID-19 recovery and for Medicaid expansion

Responsibility: 

• Have conversation with community members  through door to door canvassing
• Ensuring accurate and complete data is submitted
• Managing canvass staging locations
• Represent Down Home at public and political events
• Participate in 4 to 5 canvasses per week 
• Ensure that data and information collection is consistent and accurate
• Attend meetings, daily pre-canvass launches, and regular trainings
• Troubleshooting issues within the program
• Must be willing to work in a team- centered environment. 

Required skills and experience: 

• Excellent communication and listening skills: Is able to engage deeply with people they have just met. Be able to listen to community members and understand their concerns. Can build rapport quickly and is comfortable having relational conversations. 
• Team player: Be able to contribute to a growing and fast paced team. Be able to take directions well and also be willing to contribute by offering feedback and suggestions to co-workers and management. Offer support to teammates and be able to ask for help when needed. 
• Independent worker: Be able to complete multiple canvass shifts a week. Meet deadlines and hit metric goals. Ensure that numbers are reported on time with data integrity at the top of mind. Attention to details and be able to provide thoughtful solutions to problems that arise. Be able to work in a fast paced environment where work areas are expected to change frequently. 
• Mission alignment: Committed to the vision of a powerful, inclusive, rural, multiracial, working-class movement-building as a path towards liberation for all people. Is aligned with the idea that building power takes both election programs and long-term base building and investment in communities. 

Personal or professional experience living in rural communities, living in the South, rural organizing, and/or organizing in the South are a plus but not required. 

Some irregular hours are required, including nights and weekends. Locations vary in North Carolina. Applicants must be able and willing to travel regularly for work.

Compensation

Compensation for this part-time, temporary position is $20 hourly. Locations will be in Alamance, Ashe, Cabarrus, Caswell, Craven, Granville, Johnston, Person, and Watauga Counties. Applicants must be able and willing to travel regularly for work. In person work will be required. 

How to Apply

Down Home NC is committed to creating a dynamic, multicultural, diverse working environment. Candidates of color and diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Down Home NC is an equal opportunity employer

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis as long as spots are available.  If this job description is posted on Down Home’s website (www.downhomenc.org), we are still accepting applications.

Please send a resume and/or short letter of interest to: [email protected]