AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERSHIP COMMISSION

 

Position Filled

 

Job Description for the Director of AALC

 

The Gamaliel Foundation is seeking to hire a part-time Director of the African American Leadership Commission (AALC). 

 

The Gamaliel Foundation is an organizing network of 60 affiliates in 21 states, in South Africa and England.  We represent over a million multi-faith, multi-racial, church-going people who work on social justice campaigns.  Our mission is to create, maintain and expand independent organizations as vehicles for ordinary people to impact political, social, economic and environmental decisions that affect their lives.  To achieve this end, we work collaboratively with leaders in each community to build new and powerful faith-based organizations by providing an array of leadership training programs, consultations and research and analysis as we work collaboratively on regional and national issues of social justice.  

 

African American Leadership Commission

 

The mission of the African American Leadership Commission of the Gamaliel Foundation is to:

 

      1) Advance and monitor Gamaliel efforts to recruit, develop and retain African American congregations, clergy, lay leaders and organizers;

      2) Support leaders and organizers as they engage in organizing in multi-racial, multi-ethnic and interdenominational settings and;

      3) Insure that issues particular to the African American community are addressed at a local, state and national level within the Gamaliel Foundation.

      4) Insure that African American Leaders (clergy, lay people and organizers) have a voice in all decision-making structures of the Gamaliel Foundation;

 

 

Job Description for the Director

 

 

The Director of the AALC will be responsible for organizing an effective network of leaders and organizers to carry out the mission of the AALC.  In this capacity, the director will:

 

1)     Work to identify and develop strong African American leaders throughout the Gamaliel network.

2)     Work with those leaders and organizers to build an effective AALC.

3)     Assist in recruiting new African American congregations to affiliate organizations and assist in activating AA congregations currently members of Gamaliel affiliates but not active in AALC.

4)     Assist in identifying, recruiting and supporting African American organizers to be placed in Gamaliel organizations.

5)     Assist in identifying African American leaders to participate on Gamaliel tables and in Gamaliel activities.

 

The Director of the AALC will serve as staff to the AALC including the Executive Committee, Leadership Team and the African American Organizers AAO).  In that capacity s/he will convene and attend all meetings of the AALC and will:

 

     1)  Assist in all financial matters such as developing the budget, raising and

          managing money for the AALC.                  

      2) Assist in issue development and research.

      3) Develop and maintain communication within and without the organization.

      4) Assist in other developmental aspects of the organization. 

 

The Director will work with the Leadership Team and the AAO to plan and execute the annual June Conference and any other events developed by the AALC.

 

The Director of the AALC will be a member of the Central Staff of the Gamaliel Foundation.  As such, s/he will attend all Central Staff meetings to:

 

      1)  Participate in the work of building and leading the Gamaliel Foundation.

2)  Represent and be an advocate for the AALC in decisions made by the     

      Central Staff.

3)  Inform the Central Staff of the work and issues of the AALC and work                                  

            collaboratively to engage them in supporting that work.

 

The Director of the AALC will see that the work of the AALC is integrally connected to the rest of the work of the Gamaliel Foundation and represent or see that that AALC is represented at other Gamaliel meetings or trainings such as the ILA, the GNCC training, the Council of Presidents meetings and the Metro Equity Department.

 

The Director of the AALC in collaboration with the Leadership Team of the AALC will create an annual work plan. As an organizer the Director will report to the Executive Director of the Gamaliel Foundation and may assume related responsibilities as appropriate.  The work of the Director will be evaluated by the AALC Executive Committee in collaboration with the AAO and the Executive Director.

 

The Director, in the capacity of organizer for the AALC will adhere to the document entitled General Standards for Gamaliel Organizers.

 

 

Preferred Qualifications

 

A candidate for the position must have:

 

1)     A commitment to social justice and racial justice.

2)     Experience participating in faith-based, community or grassroots organizing campaigns in a leadership capacity.

3)     Demonstrated experience in faith-based, community or grassroots organizing skills including outreach and leadership development.

4)     Experience and skills fostering dialogue and connection both within and between racial and cultural groups.

5)     Commitment to foster an inclusive work environment and organize campaigns that challenge and undo racist, classist, sexist and other forms of prejudicial and oppressive behavior.

6)     Good personal organizational, administrative and fiscal management skills.

7)     Strong written and oral communication skills.

 

 

Salary: Competitive

 

Deadline for Applications: September 15, 2008

 

Applicants should submit by a resume and a brief letter to:

Rev. John Welch, AALC Chairmanjwelch@pts.edu with a copy to Ann Smith aesmith@gamaliel.org.

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