Racial Justice Coordinator

Tennesseans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (TADP)

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Job Summary

Tennesseans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (TADP) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring life by abolishing the death penalty in Tennessee through a combination of public education, grassroots organizing, and advocacy.

We seek to educate Tennesseans about the human and financial costs of our state’s death penalty system through policy, legislative, and cultural change. We work with faith communities, community groups, organizations, legislators, people directly affected by the death penalty, grassroots supporters, and local and national partners.

Through participation in racial justice and criminal justice coalitions in Tennessee, this position will bring attention to the ways the American death penalty is intertwined with the nation’s original sin of slavery, its legacy of lynching, and the constructs of fear, oppression, vengeance, and racism that shaped and continue to burden the criminal legal system. This position will coordinate programming to educate the public about these connections and concerns.

This position provides an excellent opportunity for someone with a background in organizing, public policy, campaign work, or issue-based advocacy to gain leadership experience with a statewide, nonprofit organization.

Job Responsibilities

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Build relationships and coalitions with Tennessee organizations and institutions whose mission includes lifting up racial justice and engaging communities of color
• Educate Tennesseans about the connections between the legacy of slavery, lynching, and the death penalty, as well as the critical role that prosecutors play in creating criminal legal policy
• Coordinate and convene events, meetings, and outreach efforts across Tennessee, particularly focused on engaging communities of color
• Participate in legislative advocacy that furthers TADPs’ efforts towards the abolition of the death penalty
• Participate in national organizations and caucuses for leaders of color
• Build relationships with all key grassroots and grasstops constituencies, including murder victims’ families, community, and religious leaders
• Assist in carrying out TADP’s media plan, including creating and maintaining relationships with local and national media; speaking on behalf of TADP; and developing media content
• Assist with social media and web accounts, using strategic messaging to diversify outreach efforts and messaging
• Research, draft, and edit reports, correspondence, talking points, infographics, and other communications as needed
• Support the local TADP chapter, attending meetings and assisting with events and outreach as needed
• Assist in fundraising efforts, including donor cultivation and grant prospecting, writing, and reporting as needed
• Successful candidate would have considerable nexus of relationships in Shelby County where half of Tennessee’s current death row population originates.

Qualifications

• Personal commitment to TADP’s mission to abolish the death penalty
• Familiarity with the criminal legal system, racial justice issues, and sociopolitical dynamics of the state of Tennessee
• Exceptional organizational skills to successfully manage a number of tasks and projects simultaneously
• Prior organizing and other experience that shows a track record of results is preferred
• Ability to exercise sound judgment related to controversial and/or culturally sensitive subjects
• Excellent work ethic and flexibility; creative problem-solving skills
• Computer and office software experience, social media, and graphic design experience preferred
• Bachelor’s Degree preferred


This position involves travel around Tennessee to attend community events, connect with community members, and various other tasks, as needed. This position requires that the candidate is comfortable spending extended periods of time outside to conduct community outreach and events. This role will require willingness to occasionally work on weeknights.

Additional Information

Benefits

How to Apply

Please submit a cover letter, resume, and three references to: stacy@tennesseedeathpenalty.org.

Details

• Date Posted: August 23, 2021
• Type: Full-Time
• Job Function: Communications / Marketing / PR
• Service Area: Other
• Start Date: 12/01/2021
• Salary Range: $60,000
• Working Hours: 40 hrs