Gun Violence Prevention Navigator Program Coordinator

Overview

Title: Gun Violence Prevention Navigator Program Coordinator

Location: Metro-Detroit, Hybrid.

Compensation:  $60,000 annually, paid bi-weekly

Position Duration: The position is grant-funded for 2 years, with the possibility (though not guarantee) of renewal.

About Michigan United:

Michigan United is a membership organization of thousands of individuals and institutions across our state. Together, we’re fighting for an inclusive democracy where all of us can thrive.

We’re working on a whole range of issues that matter to everyday people. These include issues of economic justice, like affordable housing and workers rights. We promote racial justice issues, like fair policing. We’re working so that immigrant families and students can live with dignity. We are advocating for environmental justice so we can all have clean air, pure water, and a sustainable climate.

The most important way we work on these issues is through training our members to be leaders in their own communities. We can make real change when regular people learn to speak out and take on the politicians and big corporations who are responsible for our problems. By working together, we can ensure that our government is working for all of us, not just the powerful.

About the Program: 

Firearm deaths are a growing problem in Michigan, to the point that guns are now the number one cause of death for children. Detroit and Wayne County have gun violence rates far higher than the state average. Firearm homicide in particular disproportionately impacts communities of color and low-income communities.

In 2023, Michigan passed the first new gun safety laws in our state in forty years. These include safe storage of firearms in homes with children, universal background checks for all firearm sales, protections for survivors of domestic violence, and procedures to temporarily remove firearms from those who have become a danger to themselves or others.

These new laws have the potential to save many lives. However, they must be broadly understood by the community to be effective.

Michigan United is launching a Gun Violence Community Navigator program. The program will hire trusted community leaders who are passionate about gun violence prevention and deploy them throughout Detroit and Wayne County. Navigators will perform community education sessions, distribute literature and gun locks, answer common questions, and ensure that the residents of Wayne County thoroughly understand these new laws. Navigators will perform outreach at houses of worship, community events, festivals, sports events, schools and local organizations.

Essential Functions: 

The Program Coordinator will have primary responsibility for overseeing the Gun Violence Prevention Navigator Program. This includes:

Recruiting, interviewing and hiring Navigators.
Developing and implementing a training curriculum for Navigators on topics including:Background on gun violence as a public health crisis, particularly in communities of color and Wayne County.
Gun violence prevention strategies, including the new laws that were passed in Michigan in 2023.
Working knowledge of Extreme Risk Protection orders, and how they can be used to prevent suicide, interpersonal violence, or mass shootings.
Working knowledge of domestic violence and domestic violence homicide, and how the new protections for DV survivors can be used in tandem with ERPO to reduce harm.
Working knowledge of child access prevention and the new safe storage law, including which devices are the most effective, how to use them, and where they can be accessed.
Public speaking techniques and presentations skills, including non-judgemental communication.
Community outreach and education strategies, including community mapping, event planning, tabling, and making presentations.
Overseeing the development and implementation of local outreach plans by Navigators.
Overseeing weekly check-in meetings with Navigators.

Requirements:

Required: 

3-5 years of previous experience in advocacy or organizing;
Ability to work independently in a remote environment;
Demonstrated ability to train, motivate and inspire others;
Previous experience successfully managing volunteers;
Proficiency with common productivity software, such as Zoom, Google Docs, and Gmail;
Ability to build and foster new relationships;
Ability to travel to in-person meetings throughout Metro-Detroit;
Ability to attend occasional evening meetings with volunteers.

Preferred:

Familiarity with education and/or gun violence issues;
Previous experience successfully managing paid staff;
Competence with EveryAction and/or Wix;
Existing relationships with political, advocacy or educational leaders in Metro-Detroit.

Benefits: 

Health Insurance and a $600/year Health Savings Account or monthly Health insurance stipend are available after 90 days of employment
Individual Retirement Account (IRA) after earning at least $5,000 within the preceding two year period
An internet stipend of $34.62, and phone stipend of $23.08 per pay period.
Paid time off accruing at 4.616 hours every 2 weeks (subject to black out dates around primary and general elections)
Paid sick time policy beginning at 16 hours and accruing up to 80 hours
Floating Holiday Policy
Mileage reimbursement policy
Working Conditions:

This is a remote position, which will require travel several times per month for in-person meetings locally.

The position requires that the applicant be able to work remotely, with reliable access to broadband internet and cell phone connections.

This is a full-time, exempt position. The position reports to the Executive Director.

OUR COMMITMENTS

DISABILITY, DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

MI United / MI United Action is an Equal Opportunity Employer; womxn, people of color, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQI people are strongly encouraged to apply.

TRAINING

MI United / MI United Action has a robust training program that will be made available to staff as part of their work schedules. Training may include developing organizer skills such as how to properly do 1:1’s and cut issues strategically, storytelling, and self interest.

DEVELOPMENT

MI United / MI United Action believes in transformational, not transactional, organizing. We take our duty to develop our members, volunteers, leaders, and staff into the next generation of this movement’s leaders very seriously. Previous staff and current members, volunteers, and leaders are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to apply.

APPLICATION DETAILS

Submit resume, statement of interest, and three references (at least two references must be work-related, one may be personal)
You may apply via Paylocity. If you are having difficulties uploading your materials to Paylocity please send them via email to: resumes@miunited.org. Please do not submit your resume to both Paylocity and our email.
Please put the name of the position you are applying for in the email subject line
Resumes that do not adhere to these instructions will be discarded

ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND

Michigan United is a statewide organization of community members and institutions fighting for the dignity and potential of every person. Michigan United organizes along with the following issue areas: immigrants’ rights, criminal justice reform, environmental justice, rural issues, healthcare, and civic engagement. Michigan United, along with Michigan United Action, our affiliated 501(c)(4), is serious about building long-term, political power with the aim of transforming our political and economic system into one that puts people and the planet first. Our main office is in Southwest Detroit, with additional offices in Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, and Flint.

As a racial and economic justice organization, we actively encourage individuals who are underrepresented on the basis of race, ethnicity, income, gender identity, and sexual orientation, as well as those who share the life experiences of the members we serve, to apply.

Michigan United is represented by SOUL of MU & MUA (Statewide Organized United Labor of Michigan United and Michigan United Action), affiliated with the Newspaper Guild of Detroit, Local 34022. The person hired for this position will not become a bargaining unit member.