Student Activist Coordinator

STUDENT ACTIVIST COORDINATORS (SACs) are experienced organizers responsible for implementing and leading Amnesty International USA’s student and youth activism in their assigned states and across the country. The SAC program is a multi-year leadership development program with progressive skill development, responsibilities, and opportunities related to movement building and human rights campaigning.

SACs develop the leadership of Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) Student Group Coordinators through one-on-one meetings and coaching, engage and support groups in campaign initiatives, and facilitating connection in their state to other groups, member leaders, and AIUSA staff. In their assigned areas, SACs recruit new school groups, educate and mobilize people around campaign opportunities, support Amnesty members to be aware of policy-related issues, and act as a spokesperson for AI where appropriate. SACs are supervised and supported by AIUSA staff and are part of a statewide leadership team responsible for developing and implementing an organizing strategy to advance human rights campaigns in their state.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Organizational Leadership

• Stay up to date and educated on Amnesty International and general human rights issues, campaigns, policies and current events.
• Take part in organizational consultations and planning, representing youth activists in their state.
• As part of the national SAC team, actively participate online and in person by sharing successes and challenges, brainstorm organizing strategies and campaign tactics, and identify resources or other needs to enhance youth activism.

Engage Grassroots Activists in Human Rights Work

• Develop and implement mobilization and growth plans for area and state in consultation with organizing staff, Field Organizer, and state leadership team.
• Coordinate and provide leadership on local, state and national activism to advance AIUSA’s priority issue areas. This may include lobby visits, rallies, protest, educational events, tabling / petitioning on and off campus.
• As part of a state leadership team, actively participate in planning and implementing local, state, regional and national meetings, trainings, conferences and other organizing initiatives.

Develop and Support AIUSA Student Groups

• Organize assigned student groups around AIUSA’s mission, including mobilization on key campaigns, issue education, membership recruitment, leadership development and fundraising.
• Train and coach group coordinators through regular (at least monthly) one-on-one meetings, statewide calls and/or meetings, and online and in-person training.
• Onboard new school group coordinators and support the establishment of new chapters.

YEAR 2 RESPONSIBILITIES

SACs are provided with ongoing training and coaching by AIUSA staff and will have opportunities to take on increasing levels of responsibility at the state, regional, and national level. In the second year, SACs are supporting to develop their leadership and skills further, particularly around training and facilitation, campaign implementation, and public speaking, in addition to other roles as opportunities and needs arise. While maintaining the above duties for first year SACs, second year SACs assume the following responsibilities:

• Mentorship and guidance for incoming SACs.
• Facilitate workshops at state, regional and national trainings and meetings.
• As opportunities arise, take part in regional and/or national projects related to development and growth of the Youth & Student Program, including campaign-initiatives.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with activism, organizing and/or campaigning around human rights or other issues.
• Demonstrated success working with volunteers and in groups.
• Ability to take initiative, develop creative solutions to challenges, and excel in the face of uncertainty.
• Comfort with public speaking and representing AI publicly.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage large amounts of information coming from multiple sources (email, text, web, etc).
• Awareness of social identities, power and privilege, and how these things impact everyday interactions as well as social change work and activism.
• Ability to travel as needed in coverage area, which will be established with organizing staff based on need and capacity (approved travel expenses are covered within budget).

REQUIREMENTS

• Average commitment of 15 hours per month.
• 1 year commitment with opportunity to renew for additional terms of service.
• Attend AIUSA’s summer leadership training (travel expenses are covered by AIUSA).
• Maintain ongoing communication with AIUSA staff and member leaders, including at least monthly one-on-one meetings with organizing staff and annual one-on-one meeting with Member Leadership & Training staff to assess progress, challenges and opportunities, and develop plans to address.
• Become an official dues-paying member of AIUSA ($15/year) or complete a dues-waiver form.
• Participate in monthly reporting of activities and the development of an annual SAC work plan.

For more information, contact our Member Leadership and Training.