Jeanette Knows Jobs – jwhickl@vcu.edu

DART is now accepting applications for the 2011 DART Organizers Institute, the paid, four month field school for people interested in launching a career in community organizing. Participants will undergo a combined classroom and field training covering topics including:

· Entering a community
· Identifying and training local leaders
· Strategic planning and issue cutting
· Relationship and community building
· Direct Action on community issues
· Fundraising

The DART Center has built coalitions throughout the country that have won important victories on a broad set of justice issues including:

· Education reform in low-performing public schools
· Job Training
· Drugs and Violence
· Criminal Recidivism
· Living Wage
· Neighborhood Revitalization, etc.

The DART Organizers Institute combines a 7-day classroom orientation with 15 weeks of infield training at a DART host organization. This is a paid training program that includes: a $7,000 living stipend, transportation to the classroom orientation and host city, and mileage reimbursement during the infield training. Room, board, and tuition will also be paid by DART during the 7-day classroom training. After successful completion of the program, DART will place graduates into permanent, full-time salaried positions ranging from $30-35,000/year for Associate Organizers + health & benefits.  DART is a 501(c)(3) organization, therefore, employees of the DART Network are eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness under the recently enacted College Cost Reduction and Access Act.  For more information on Public Service Loan Forgiveness, visit www.ibrinfo.org.

The 7-day classroom orientation and 15 week infield training start mid-summer 2011 and run through early fall 2011. Training locations will include placements in several states around the  country.

Although it may be helpful, no direct experience is necessary. Organizer Trainees (OTs) hired to participate in the DART Organizers Institute must demonstrate a desire to pursue community organizing as a long-term professional career. A master’s degree, JD, or equivalent life experience is required prior to July 10, 2011 (exceptions are made for applicants who were nominated by DART Talent Scouts). Also, candidates must display a workmanlike diligence, be driven to produce sustained results, have proven capacity to build relationships of trust, create and execute a plan, act professionally, feel comfortable working with religious institutions, be accountable and willing to hold others accountable, demonstrate disciplined thought and action, and work in a team setting. OTs must also have access to a car during their training and be flexible regarding relocation. Fluency in Spanish/English is a plus and people of color are encouraged to apply.

To find out more about DART or to apply, we encourage you to send your resume to: Hannah Wittmer, DART Network, hannah@thedartcenter.org. For questions about the Institute, please call: (785) 841-2680.  To download the application or view profiles of previous OTs, visit the DART website: www.thedartcenter.org.