We're HIRING! Environmental Justice and Health Equity Organizer

 Organizational Overview

GreenRoots, Inc., is a grassroots community-based organization with a      track record exceeding 25 years of achieving significant environmental justice accomplishments and public health victories in Chelsea and East Boston, Massachusetts and the Greater Boston region. GreenRoots’ mission is to achieve environmental justice and greater quality of life through collective action, unity, education and youth leadership across neighborhoods and communities. We do so through deep community engagement and empowerment, youth leadership and implementation of innovative projects and campaigns.   

 

Job Overview

The Environmental Justice and Health Equity (EJHE) Organizer will work closely with the GreenRoots Organizing team and Director of Health Equity and Policy to expand our grassroots, base-building work focusing on environmental justice, social determinants of health and health disparities. The EJHE Organizer will lead campaigns focusing on air quality and health; food insecurity and sovereignty; environmental health broadly; and the health and environmental concerns stemming from cumulative industrial impacts. The EJHE will work to build      broad-based resident engagement, particularly among the most impacted residents in Chelsea and East Boston.  The EJHE will also be tasked with engaging stakeholders including health care professionals, academic partners, city leaders and other community-based organizations. The EJHE      will do this by engaging residents in regular community meetings, deep and meaningful relationship building, door knocking, event implementation and membership recruitment and development.  The goals are to foster relationships with community members, build trust among the community, expand leadership development to address and dismantle the structural racism and discrimination in environmental, land use, health care, and policy decisions facing Chelsea and East Boston residents. Together with the members, she/he/they will represent the communities of Chelsea & East Boston locally, regionally and in statewide efforts.

 

Additionally, the EJHE Organizer will work to engage residents who live in neighborhoods adjacent to the Chelsea Creek, particularly the lowest income, most vulnerable and hardest to reach populations. She/he/they will work in partnership with the rest of the GreenRoots’ team to build on strategies of engagement, base building and political education around environmental justice, transit justice, climate justice, anti-displacement, urban development and more as defined in GreenRoots’ programmatic focus areas.

 

Responsibilities include, but not limited to:

  • Lead and implement relentless grassroots community organizing efforts to engage low-income residents, immigrants, people of color and youth in community meetings.

  • Work closely with community organizing staff, program coordinators and leadership team to build a diverse base of residents engaged in GreenRoots’ work. Possible project / campaign work could include:

    • Leading Air Quality (“AQ”) projects in Chelsea; and collaborating on AQ projects in East Boston

    • Supporting waterfront initiative organizing in East Boston

    • Supporting growth and diversity of transit rider engagement

    • Supporting anti-displacement efforts in Chelsea and East Boston, through zoning campaigns, supporting the development of the Community Land Trust (CLT), engaging with the PUEBLO coalition and organizing other initiatives as needed.

    • Supporting monthly membership meetings and events

    • Conducting community organizing on parcel specific projects including, but not limited to, Green Parcel along Mill Creek, 212 Congress Ave., 295 Eastern Ave. and more.

    • Working with the Food Justice Team to expand food justice and sovereignty programming and initiatives

    • Implementing other community organizing campaigns and strategies that arise

  • Empower residents and develop strategies to address environmental and health inequities, disparities and injustices.

  • Develop and implement curriculum through popular education techniques and strategies on environmental justice and health equity across neighborhoods in Chelsea and East Boston

  • Attend and mobilize community / city meetings in Chelsea, Boston and surrounding communities.

  • Engage residents, in particular the most marginalized, vulnerable to displacement and dependent on public transit, in citywide planning processes.

  • Conduct outreach on local buses, at bus stops and train stations.

  • Ensure that residents feel engaged in and connected to GreenRoots’      mission and vision.

  • Work with youth and adult members to further develop leadership skills.

  • Coordinate projects with city agencies and other community based agencies, as appropriate.

  • Plan, coordinate and/or provide assistance for special programs and events.

  • Represent GreenRoots at community meetings, partner events and meetings, various learning communities and conferences, speaking engagements, and in regional gatherings.

  • Provide social media support and implement opportunities to further GreenRoots work and messaging.

  • Other support as requested by the Executive Director and Leadership Team.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Job Type:

In-person Full-time (35 hrs. per week)

Compensation:

$50,000

Benefits:

●        401(k); 4% Match

●        Short-Term Disability insurance

●        Health & Dental Insurance

●        Wellness Bonus

●        Paid time off (up to 32 days)

●        Federal & State Holidays

Schedule:

●        Monday to Thursday

●        9AM to 6:15PM

●        Some evenings and weekend commitments

 

To Apply: Bilingual,  Chelsea and East Boston residents, people of color, indigenous people, immigrants, LGBTQ, gender non-conforming and women are strongly encouraged to apply.

 

Please send cover letter, resume and writing sample to: career@greenrootschelsea.org

 

Position open until filled

We're Hiring! Director of Organizing

Organizational Overview

GreenRoots, Inc., is a grassroots community-based organization with a 25-year track record of achieving significant environmental justice accomplishments and public health victories in Chelsea, Massachusetts and the Greater Boston region. The mission of GreenRoots is to achieve environmental justice and greater quality of life through collective action, unity, education and youth leadership across neighborhoods and communities. We do so through deep community engagement and empowerment, youth leadership and implementation of innovative projects and campaigns.   

 

Job Overview

The Director of Organizing will work with a team of Community Organizers, Program Coordinators and interns to build comprehensive and integrated community organizing campaigns. The Director of Organizing will establish systems and strategies to support each organizer and to further develop GreenRoots coordinated organizing efforts. The Director of Organizing will create leadership development opportunities for the organizers, help develop strategies and trouble shoot concerns. She/he/they will develop appropriate political responses as needed. As a member of the staff, the Director will be part of an integrated organizing team that works across the different programmatic areas of work to achieve environmental justice. She/he/they will supervise the various campaigns and will provide the Organizers with staff support. 

 

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Develop and coordinate work plans for each programmatic staff organizer, program coordinators and interns

  • Identify professional and personal growth goals and trainings, fellowships, staff coaching, etc. for staff organizers

  • Provide regular supervision, support and guidance to the staff organizers, program coordinators and interns to succeed in their work, avoid burnout, and better engage our target population

  • Provide organizing direction for the Organizers

  • Support the different organizing campaigns

  • Responsible for campaign / issue assessment, research, policy development, advocacy, planning, monitoring and evaluation

  • Train and support staff, members and volunteers to develop leadership skills

  • Create systems and opportunities to support the organizers

  • Expand GreenRoots Membership base with the Organizers

  • Develop strategies to successfully engage Chelsea residents to become future community Leaders

  • Represent GreenRoots in community and other meetings

  • Maintain accurate records; produce timely written and verbal reports

  • Provide general guidance, training and assistance, as needed, for the various organizing campaigns, events, actions and other general activities

  • Other support as requested by the Leadership Team (Executive Director, Associate Executive Director, Director of Development and Director of Operations)

 

Qualifications:

  • Bilingual (Spanish and English) required

  • Excellent Spanish and English communication skills required

  • Minimum of 5 years of experience in community organizing

  • Minimum of 3 years of supervisory experience

  • Experience using computers required

  • Experience in social work preferred

  • Knowledge of or experience in working for a membership organization preferred

  • Strong understanding and commitment to the values of the Jemez Principles

  • Strong communication skills

  • Strong organizational and interpersonal skills

  • Ability to work in a team, as well as to take initiative and work independently

  • Ability to work and relate with a diverse range of people and organizations

  • Ability to motivate and inspire

  • Ability to represent GreenRoots in a professional manner to a wide range of partners, institutions and community-based organizations

  • Ability to work some evenings and weekends

  • Excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize multiple tasks and duties.

  • Ability to organize and delegate work, problem solve and be persistent.

  • Demonstrated ability to work in a team setting as well as independently

  • Genuine enthusiasm to support the organizers; and for motivating and involving our members in the different community organizing activities.

  • Experience in policy development and campaign implementation.

  • Sense of humor, responsible, mature and demonstrates strong initiative.

GreenRoots is looking for someone who is willing to take on new initiatives, work meaningfully with the community, can communicate technical energy jargon in accessible ways, is an accountable, innovative, articulate and thoughtful quick learner. The ideal candidate will be enthusiastic, flexible, self-motivated, dependable, responsible and creative. 

COMPENSATION

Job Type: In-person Full-time (35 hrs. per week)

Compensation: $84,500

Benefits:

  • 401(k); 5% Match

  • Dental insurance

  • Health insurance

  • Wellness Bonus

  • Paid time off (up to 32 days)

  • Federal & State Holidays

Schedule:

  • Monday to Thursday

  • 9AM to 6:15PM

  • Some evenings and weekend commitments

To Apply:Bilingual Chelsea and East Boston residents, people of color, indigenous people, immigrants, LGBTQ, gender non-conforming and women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Please send cover letter, resume and writing sample to: Career@GreenRootsChelsea.org

Position open until filled.

We're Hiring! Food Justice Coordinator

Organizational Overview

GreenRoots, Inc., is a resident-led, grassroots, community-based organization with over 25 years of experience in achieving significant environmental justice accomplishments and public health victories in Chelsea and East Boston, MA and the Greater Boston region. GreenRoots’ mission is to achieve environmental justice and greater quality of life through collective action, unity, education and youth leadership across neighborhoods and communities. We do so through deep community engagement and empowerment, youth leadership and implementation of innovative projects and campaigns.

 

Job Overview

GreenRoots has worked to achieve greater land sovereignty and food security by establishing and supporting five community gardens and an urban farm. GreenRoots is in the process of constructing a Teaching Kitchen to complement these growing spaces and to address chronic disease associated with Chelsea’s food desert. These growing spaces are spaces of community connection, social resilience and food justice. COVID19 worsened Chelsea’s food insecurity challenges. Our urban growing spaces work to address food insecurity, grow culturally relevant crops, and be a source of community connectivity and urban oasis. Our work with partner institutions and organizations is critically important to the success of our food justice programming.

 

Job Specifications

GreenRoots seeks a full-time Food Justice Coordinator to manage and support food justice, nutrition, and community programming as well as manage and supervise staff for our five community gardens, urban farm and teaching kitchen. The Food Justice Coordinator will manage and oversee all of GreenRoots’ growing spaces and will seek opportunities for expansion of urban agricultural spaces and programming to address food insecurity in Chelsea. The Food Justice Coordinator will work with and support the Food Justice Organizer and the Urban Farm Crew, and neighborhood leaders to share information and resources to ensure knowledge and skills are shared broadly. She/he/they will directly supervise the Food Justice Organizer.

 

The Food Justice Coordinator will be responsible for designing, creating, and managing robust programming for our upcoming Community Teaching Kitchen.  The Food Justice Coordinator, alongside the Food justice Organizer and other GreenRoots staff will organize and implement campaigns and projects to address food policy and program needs as identified by community members.

 

The Food Justice Coordinator will maintain strong connections with local organizations and partners such as the Chelsea Hunger Network, an allied partner of the Massachusetts General Hospital’s (MGH) Healthy Chelsea Coalition, food pantries at the Salvation Army, and Revival International Food Pantry as well as micro food pantries, the Chelsea Senior Center, the local Department of Public Health, and healthcare partners such as MGH Chelsea Health Care Center, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, among others.

 

The Food Justice Coordinator will work at the intersection of food justice and environmental justice. She/he/they will bring an intersectional lens of food access and security as a social determinant of health, and understand how it connects to and impacts community health outcomes. Through organizing, building relationships, and community programming, the Food Justice Coordinator will increase community participation and involvement at GreenRoots’ urban growing spaces, and increase social connectivity amongst residents.

 

The Food Justice Coordinator should be skilled in community engagement, partnership building, and project management.

 

Specific Duties Include:

  • Design and manage food justice programming at the Urban Farm, community gardens, and Teaching Kitchen.

  • Supervise and support Food Justice Organizer, Urban Farm Crew and additional staff and volunteers for the Teaching Kitchen

  • Serve as primary contact for all food justice and nutrition programming

  • Increase direct involvement of multilingual diverse and low income residents’ in food system processes, food production, and nutrition

  • Plan and prepare for the upcoming growing seasons

  • Engage residents in selecting culturally relevant crops to be grown at the Urban Farm and used in classes at Teaching Kitchen

  • Manage data collection to monitor success and evaluate programming

  • Bridge connections between programming from Teaching Kitchen to growing spaces, ensuring all programming is cohesive and interconnected.

  • Increase the level of active participation in all growing spaces

  • Provide support for existing gardens and expand future growing opportunities at gardens, farms and with side yard growing programs.

  • Collaborate with regional and local partner organizations

  • Serve as an educational resource for community members in one-on-one and group settings by providing expertise and support.

  • Manage workdays and volunteer opportunities in the growing spaces.

  • Engage with local coalitions and organizations with similar goals

  • Assist with grant writing, fundraising and reporting requirements

 

Qualifications

GreenRoots seeks an individual with the following qualifications, knowledge and skills:

  • Bilingual in Spanish/English

  • Valid Driver’s License

  • Strong multilingual, interpersonal skills to communicate, engage and empower community members

  • Experience (either lived or professional) with environmental justice and working with communities of color

  • Cultural awareness and ability to bring together different cultures, ethnicities and generations

  • Passionate about food justice

  • Ability to handle the logistical challenges of managing multiple community gardens/growing spaces

  • Experienced in maintaining and building positive relationships with community members, stakeholders and local and regional urban agricultural organizations

  • Ability and experience working with volunteers

  • Food Safety Certificate, preferred

  • Ability to develop and stick to a detailed budget

  • Experienced meeting facilitator

  • Keen attention to detail, strong organizational skills, innovative and self-starting

  • Responsible and reliable .

GreenRoots is looking for someone who is willing to take on new initiatives, work meaningfully with the community, can communicate technical energy jargon in accessible ways, is an accountable, innovative, articulate and thoughtful quick learner. The ideal candidate will be enthusiastic, flexible, self-motivated, dependable, responsible and creative. 

COMPENSATION

Job Type: In-person Full-time (35 hrs. per week)

Compensation: $65,000

Benefits:

  • 401(k); 5% Match

  • Dental insurance

  • Health insurance

  • Wellness Bonus

  • Paid time off (up to 32 days)

  • Federal & State Holidays

Schedule:

  • Monday to Thursday

  • 9AM to 6:15PM

  • Some evenings and weekend commitments

To Apply: Bilingual,  Chelsea and East Boston residents, people of color, indigenous people, immigrants, LGBTQ, gender non-conforming and women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Please send cover letter, resume and writing sample to: Career@GreenRootsChelsea.org

Position open until filled.

WE'RE HIRING! Food Justice Organizer

Organizational Overview 

GreenRoots is a grassroots community-based organization with a track record spanning over 25 years of achieving significant environmental justice accomplishments and public health victories in Chelsea and East Boston and the Greater Boston region. GreenRoots’ mission is to achieve environmental justice and greater quality of life through collective action, unity, education and youth leadership across neighborhoods and communities. We do so through deep community engagement and empowerment, youth leadership and implementation of innovative projects and campaigns.   

Job Overview 

GreenRoots has worked to achieve greater land sovereignty and food security by establishing and supporting five community gardens and an urban farm. GreenRoots is in the process of constructing a Teaching Kitchen to complement these growing spaces and to address chronic disease associated with Chelsea’s food desert. These growing spaces are spaces of community connection, social resilience and food justice. COVID19 worsened Chelsea’s food insecurity challenges. Our urban growing spaces work to address food insecurity, grow culturally relevant crops, and be a source of community connectivity and urban oasis. Our work with partner institutions and organizations is critically important to the success of our food justice programming.

Job Specification:

GreenRoots seeks a full-time Food Justice Organizer to manage and support our five community gardens, urban farm and teaching kitchen. The Food Justice Organizer will manage and oversee all of GreenRoots’ growing spaces and will seek opportunities for expansion of urban agricultural spaces and programming to address food insecurity in Chelsea. The Food Justice Organizer will engage residents, including youth, in all urban agricultural programming in Chelsea including supporting school gardens, expanded growing spaces, implementing educational programming and providing hands on activities in the gardens and farm. The Organizer will provide information, education and opportunities for engagement of the community; serve as a liaison between community growing spaces and city stakeholders, and develop systems to deliver harvested crops to the most impacted and vulnerable residents. The Food Justice Organizer will work with and train an Urban Farm Crew, the ECO Youth Crew and neighborhood leaders to share information, growing techniques and resources to ensure knowledge and skills are shared broadly. The Food Justice Organizer should be skilled in urban farming, community engagement and partnership building. The Food Justice Organizer will work with residents, members, partners and allied organizations, municipal agencies, faith based institutions, local schools and other stakeholders.

Responsibilities include, but not limited to:

  • Serve as primary contact for all food justice / urban agricultural related matters   Oversee and implement all farm activities including planting, harvesting, seed saving, engaging  community members in all aspects of this work, developing education and hands-on  programming and training and supporting an Urban Farm Crew. 

  • Develop and implement distribution strategy to ensure harvests get to most food insecure  families.  

  • Increase the level of active participation in all growing spaces  

  • Providing support for existing gardens and expands future growing opportunities at gardens,  farms and with side yard growing programs.  

  • Collaborate with regional and local partner organizations  

  • Manage all garden-related logistics including facilitating infrastructure improvements, soil  deliveries, water access issues, vendor relationships, gardens/farm budgeting and purchasing.   Serve as an educational resource for community members in one-on-one and group settings  by providing expertise and support.  

  • Manage workdays and volunteer opportunities in the growing spaces.  

  • Engage with local coalitions and organizations with similar goals  

  • Assist with grant writing, fundraising and reporting requirements

Qualifications:

  • Fluency in Spanish and English, oral and written

  • Valid Driver’s License Compensation 

  • Strong multilingual, interpersonal skills to communicate, engage and empower community  members  

  • Experienced urban farmer  

  • Cultural awareness and ability to bring together different cultures, ethnicities and generations 

  • Passionate about environmental and food justice  

  • Ability to handle the logistical challenges of managing multiple community gardens/growing  spaces  

  • Experienced in maintaining and building positive relationships with community members,  stakeholders and local and regional urban agricultural organizations  

  • Experience working with youth  

  • Ability and experience working with volunteers  

  • Basic carpentry skills preferred  

  • Ability to develop and stick to a detailed budget  

  • Experienced meeting facilitator  

  • Keen attention to detail and strong organizational skills  

  • Responsible and reliable

  • Ability to work some evenings and weekends.

GreenRoots is looking for someone who is willing to take on new initiatives, work meaningfully with the community, can communicate technical energy jargon in accessible ways, is an accountable, innovative, articulate and thoughtful quick learner. The ideal candidate will be enthusiastic, flexible, self-motivated, dependable, responsible and creative. 

COMPENSATION

Job Type: In-person Full-time (35 hrs. per week)

Compensation: $50,000

Benefits:

  • 401(k); 5% Match

  • Dental insurance

  • Short-Term Disability insurance

  • Health insurance

  • Wellness Bonus

  • Paid time off (up to 32 days)

  • Federal & State Holidays

Schedule:

  • Monday to Thursday

  • 9AM to 6:15PM

  • Some evenings and weekend commitments

To Apply: Bilingual,  Chelsea and East Boston residents, people of color, indigenous people, immigrants, LGBTQ, gender non-conforming and women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Please send cover letter, resume and writing sample to: 

Roseann Bongiovanni

RoseannB@GreenRootsChelsea.org

Position open until filled.

Youth Programs Organizer

Organizational Overview 

GreenRoots is a grassroots community-based organization with a track record spanning over 25 years of achieving significant environmental justice accomplishments and public health victories in Chelsea and East Boston and the Greater Boston region. GreenRoots’ mission is to achieve environmental justice and greater quality of life through collective action, unity, education and youth leadership across neighborhoods and communities. We do so through deep community engagement and empowerment, youth leadership and implementation of innovative projects and campaigns.   

Job Overview 

GreenRoots is seeking a full-time Youth Programs Organizer (YPO) to support the work of the 7-member Environmental Chelsea Organizers (ECO) Youth Crew, GreenRoots Junior Organizer, and other seasonal youth employees and interns. The ideal candidate must have experience working with youth and community resources serving youth.  The YPO will provide support to young people on a year round basis and will serve as a link to mental health, social services, and community resources for the youth.  The YPO will empower ECO and their peers to develop and implement their own workplans, youth-led activities and events and other youth-led programming and campaings. The YPO will support the youth in identifying tutoring and mentoring support for academic achievement; and assisting with college application processes. 

Responsibilities include, but not limited to:

  • Support the work of the ECO Crew, Junior Organizer and Urban Farm Crew to develop and carry out youth-led programming and campaigns.

  • Provide support, make connections and refer youth to community resources.

  • Assist youth in broadening skills, resume building, obtaining necessary resources such as tutoring and mentoring assistance and applying for college or jobs.

  • Outreach to and build relationships with community residents, parents, youth, teachers, businesses, churches and civic groups using a variety of outreach methods including one-on–one meetings, door knocking, attending community and school meetings, flyer creation and distribution, and other methods.

  • Work with youth to further develop leadership skills.

  • Organize and run meetings and events.

  • Coordinate projects with city agencies and other community based agencies.

  • Plan, coordinate and/or provide assistance for special programs and events.

  • Provide assistance/guidance to volunteers.

  • Participate in appropriate coalitions.

  • Other youth-related work, as directed.

  • Support and work with other GreenRoots programs as necessary.

Qualifications:

  • High School diploma required. Bachelor’s degree or higher recommended.

  • Minimum of 2 years of youth work related experience

  • Ability to work evenings and weekends

  • Commitment to social justice and youth empowerment efforts a must

  • Completed youth leadership/ youth work trainings preferred

  • Bilingual (Spanish/ English) preferred

  • Experience working in Chelsea, a plus

  • Experience with youth employment initiatives and enrichment program, a plus

  • Good computer skills - Microsoft Office, e-mail, database software, desktop publishing a plus

  • Knowledgeable about academic, employment, mental health and other community resources for youth

  • Strong verbal and written skills

  • Strong organizational and interpersonal skills

  • Program management experience

  • Ability to work in a team, as well as to take initiative and work independently

  • Quick learner

  • Ability to handle multiple and complex projects

  • Ability to work with a diverse range of people and to motivate them to become involved in community work

  • Enthusiastic, flexible, self-motivated, dependable, responsible and creative.

GreenRoots is looking for someone who is willing to take on new initiatives, work meaningfully with the community, can communicate technical energy jargon in accessible ways, is an accountable, innovative, articulate and thoughtful quick learner. The ideal candidate will be enthusiastic, flexible, self-motivated, dependable, responsible and creative. 

COMPENSATION

Job Type: In-person Full-time (35 hrs. per week)

Compensation: $50,000

Benefits:

  • 401(k); 5% Match

  • Dental insurance

  • Short-Term Disability insurance

  • Health insurance

  • Wellness Bonus

  • Paid time off (up to 32 days)

  • Federal & State Holidays

Schedule:

  • Monday to Thursday

  • 10AM to 7:15PM

  • Evenings and some weekend commitments

To Apply: Bilingual,  Chelsea and East Boston residents, people of color, indigenous people, immigrants, LGBTQ, gender non-conforming and women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Please send cover letter, resume and writing sample to: 

Roseann Bongiovanni

RoseannB@GreenRootsChelsea.org

Position open until filled.

Energy Democracy Community Organizer

Organizational Overview 

GreenRoots is a grassroots community-based organization with a track record spanning over 25 years of achieving significant environmental justice accomplishments and public health victories in Chelsea and East Boston and the Greater Boston region. GreenRoots’ mission is to achieve environmental justice and greater quality of life through collective action, unity, education and youth leadership across neighborhoods and communities. We do so through deep community engagement and empowerment, youth leadership and implementation of innovative projects and campaigns.   

Job Overview 

GreenRoots is seeking an Energy Democracy Organizer to support the work of our team on energy democracy, climate resiliency and energy efficiency. The organizer will receive support and guidance from GreenRoots’ Director of Organizing in addition to working in a team with GreenRoots’ Associate Executive Director, Director of Waterfront and Climate Justice Initiatives, Microgids Manager and the Waterfront Initiative Organizer.  Our work on Energy Democracy centers on a just transition from a fossil fuel economy to a regenerative one while prioritizing the lives and health of our most vulnerable communities. Our long term vision is one in which: residents don’t have to choose between putting food on their table and paying utility bills; energy is reframed as a public good that is prioritized over private profit; the priorities of frontline communities reshape siting processes for energy infrastructure; communities have self-determination over their energy systems; our economy is not sustained by over-exploiting natural resources; and most importantly BIPOC communities are not sacrifice zones.

Responsibilities include, but not limited to:

  • Lead energy democracy projects; and work in partnership with the Leadership Team and Microgrid Manager on energy democracy campaigns.

  • Lead outreach and coordinate the Solarize Eastie campaign effort to sign up low income residents, renters and immigrant community members in East Boston for solar panel and battery storage installations – working closely with City staff from the Environment Department and the solar contractor; 

  • Support the development and implementation of the vision of energy democracy and resiliency in the City of Chelsea and neighborhood of East Boston;

  • Educate community members about the energy sector and translating its highly technical jargon into terms and language that is relatable and understandable to people’s lived experiences;

  • Conduct multilingual outreach to residents of Chelsea and East Boston most impacted by the climate crisis, extreme weather and energy burden; disseminate information; and build trust; 

  • Develop bilingual, public facing materials, both for the community and for potential funders and investors; 

  • Lead community wide conversations around the importance of energy democracy and energy resilience with our residents;

  • Work with GreenRoots Microgrid Manager, the City of Chelsea’s contractor on communication and outreach strategies for the implementation of municipal energy aggregation in Chelsea; 

  • Represent  GreenRoots’ interests professionally and articulately with residents, stakeholders;  utility companies, local businesses and organizations;

  • Collaborate with the municipalities of Chelsea and Boston on energy democracy projects;

  • Conduct outreach to microgrid partners, participants and community as a whole; 

  • Collaborate on and engage residents (including renters and homeowners) and local businesses in efforts to achieve greater energy efficiency and utility cost savings;

  • Support grant writing and reporting on energy democracy; 

  • Maintain information log, tracking: community outreach; meetings attended; project updates; status of resident engagement, etc.;

  • Provide project information, where appropriate, on social media, in written media (both language outlets) and on radio Zumix;

  • Host community meetings, local events and info sessions where appropriate;

  • Provide bilingual flyers and contact information to closest and mostly likely to be impacted residents;

  • Provide other support as requested by the Executive Director and Associate Executive Director.

Qualifications:

  • Fluency in Spanish and English, oral and written, is required.

  • Familiarity with the energy sector, from generation and distribution to electrical grids and renewable energy, and willingness to learn more.

  • Experience in community organizing, residents engagement, base-building and relationship building.

  • Strong communication, both verbal and written, skills. 

  • Passion for and commitment to door-knocking and meaningful resident engagement and relationship building.

  • Experience designing flyers and other outreach materials.

  • Ability to make technical topics relatable and accessible. 

  • Knowledge of Chelsea and/or East Boston community.

  • Strong understanding and commitment to the principles of environmental and climate justice.

  • Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.

  • Experience in taking initiative, being accountable and willingness to grow with position.

  • Ability to work in a team, as well as to work independently.

  • Ability to foster working relationships with a diverse range of people,  organizations and perspectives. 

  • Ability to navigate between governmental agencies, non-profit organizations and residents. 

  • Ability to represent GreenRoots in a professional manner to a wide range of partners, institutions and community-based organizations.

  • Ability to work some evenings and weekends.

GreenRoots is looking for someone who is willing to take on new initiatives, work meaningfully with the community, can communicate technical energy jargon in accessible ways, is an accountable, innovative, articulate and thoughtful quick learner. The ideal candidate will be enthusiastic, flexible, self-motivated, dependable, responsible and creative. 

COMPENSATION

Job Type: In-person Full-time (35 hrs. per week)

Compensation: Starting Salary $50,000

Benefits:

  • 401(k); 5% Match

  • Dental insurance

  • Short-Term Disability insurance

  • Health insurance

  • Wellness Bonus

  • Paid time off (up to 32 days)

  • Federal & State Holidays

Schedule:

  • Monday to Thursday

  • 9AM to 6:15PM

  • Some evenings and weekend commitments

To Apply: Bilingual,  Chelsea and East Boston residents, people of color, indigenous people, immigrants, LGBTQ, gender non-conforming and women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Please send cover letter, resume and writing sample to: 

Maria Belen Power

MariaBelenP@GreenRootsChelsea.org

Position open until filled.

In Chelsea, cooling an urban heat island one block at a time

WBUR by Martha Bebinger

A city block just behind the industrial waterfront in Chelsea is typical for urban heat islands across the U.S. Nearly every foot is covered by a roof or pavement. There’s a Boys & Girls Club at one end and a vacant lot at the other. Ten multi-family buildings with parking lots for backyards fill out the middle. A few weeks ago, there were just five small trees.

But this nondescript slice of the state’s smallest city is worth watching. It may become a template as municipalities struggle with longer, more intense warm seasons and heat waves.

The Cool Block project is loading the area with pretty much every heat fighting tool in use around the country. There are 47 new elm, crabapple, cherry and hawthorn trees. Sidewalks are being ripped up to add planters, porous pavers or white concrete. Dark asphalt will be replaced with gray. There’s a design contest underway for the best way to green and chill the vacant lot. And the city is negotiating with the Boys and Girls Club about installing a white roof.

Cooling one city block may not sound like an effective way to tackle climate change, but María Belén Power with the Chelsea-based environmental group Green Roots, says starting small works.

“That has really been an approach that we take in a lot of our projects,” says Power, Green Roots’ associate executive director. “Piloting small scale and ensuring that we can replicate those models to really have a much broader impact.”

Green Roots is collaborating with the city and researchers at Boston University. The team at BU helped select the block. They started last summer, placing temperature sensors in trees and on roofs around Chelsea.

All 2.5 square miles of the city are considered a heat island. That means residents are at greater risk for asthma and other lung ailments, heart disease and stroke, risks that will only get worse with climate change. But the BU research shows not all blocks pose equal threats. Chelsea has pockets of extreme heat. Temperatures on blocks like this one can be seven degrees hotter than in less sweltering areas of the city.

Five-year-old Julia Martinez shovels dirt, as state worker Jake Hennessey assists Malikai DeTar-Kock, 2, and Sonorus Salem, 4, water the root ball of a tree they just set into the ground. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)

“It feels oppressive and kind of blinding,” says Madeleine Scammell, an associate professor at the BU School of Public Health. “I’ve walked every street in the city and these are two of the hottest streets.”

Scammell sits at one corner of the block, in front of the Boys & Girls Club.

“We identified the hottest block that we could where there are a lot of people likely to be affected by the heat,” she says.

Scammell’s team plans to monitor temperature changes during warm seasons for the next few years to measure the impact of the Cool Block pilot. Some residents say the trees are already adding beauty and a sense of well-being, but they’re a long term investment in shade. The white roof and new pavement could help cool the area immediately.

Chelsea’s director of housing and community development, Alex Train, says a white roof on a city elementary school lowered the surface temperature by 20 degrees and the surrounding air temperature dropped by seven to 10 degrees in the summertime.

“The health and environmental benefits are immense,” Train says.

The cost of the white roof on the Boys & Girls Club, the road and sidewalk resurfacing, the corner plantings, the trees and the creation of a park in the empty lot will total approximately $350,000. Most of that will come from a state grant.

Other cities are doing pieces of this project. Phoenix pledged to plant 100 tree-lined “cool corridors” by 2030 and is painting streets gray. Philadelphia requires cool roofs, often white, on new construction. Misting projects are opening as a way to cool down residents in Vancouver and New York.

Train says packaging all of these elements on a single block will multiply the impact.

“What we've found is that each of these interventions individually, although they're slightly effective, they're not as effective as they could be if they're implemented in unison,” he said.

Experts offer cautions. Ariane Middel, who studies urban heat impacts at Arizona State University, says it may be difficult to measure which strategies have the biggest impact when they overlap as in the Cool Block pilot. And making some changes on the same street may not make sense. For example, light colored sidewalks are cooler because they reflect sunshine. They aren’t useful under shaded trees.

“Some of the strategies are tough to combine,” Middel says. “You have to think about how to smartly place them and arrange them so they can work together and not against each other.”

But Middel says it does make sense to start small and focus resources on the hottest areas of a city. Juan Declet-Barreto, with the Union of Concerned Scientists, says low-income areas like Chelsea, where residents don’t always have the means to buy air conditioning or pay a higher electric bill, should be a priority.

“A population of wealthier people that drive air-conditioned cars to air-conditioned offices is not going to need the cooling benefits more than people who ride a bike or walk or take a bus or ride in the back of a pick-up truck to work,” says Declet-Barreto, a senior social scientist for climate vulnerability.

Declet-Barreto says making changes on one block may be easier because there are fewer political hurdles. And the return on dollars spent will be greatest in densely packed neighborhoods, like Chelsea, where the cooling effects will reach more people.

To track the impact of the project, he suggests monitoring 911 calls to see if residents experience any decrease in aggression, mental health problems, heart attacks or any of the other physical ailments linked to heat.

Some residents on or near Chelsea’s “Cool Block” say they are already enjoying the changes. Brian Martinez, 15, volunteered to help plant the new trees.

“Trees do make you calm down,” he says. “And they will give us some shade. We don’t have that now.”

Green Roots is applying for a grant so it can pay low income residents to water the trees. That’s one lesson learned from past tree plantings that didn’t take root. Many Chelsea residents work two or three jobs. Train says they should be compensated for this additional task.

The Cool Block project may offer additional lessons in the months and years to come. In the meantime, organizers say it gives them hope at a time when climate change updates deliver a lot of doom and gloom.

“Some days we feel like, what are we really having an impact — like is this really going to prevent the climate crisis?” Power asks. “And then I think, ‘It's no longer about preventing it. It's about protecting the most vulnerable communities.’ ”