Application Guide

How to Apply for National Organizing Department (NOD) Mobilizing & Training  Organizer

at Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ)

🏢 About Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ)

SURJ is a national organization dedicated to mobilizing white people into multiracial movements for racial and economic justice. With a network of over 150 chapters and a strong national membership, SURJ uniquely combines grassroots organizing with national campaigns, offering a dynamic and impactful environment for organizers who want to leverage their privilege for systemic change.

About This Role

This role is central to SURJ's growth, focusing on seeding new organizing units and developing leaders. You'll train members, onboard them into distributed organizing spaces, and support mass mobilizations, directly contributing to building the white flank of multiracial majorities. This position is ideal for someone who thrives on training and leadership development and wants to see tangible growth in the organization's reach and impact.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve facilitating a virtual training session for new chapter leaders, then meeting with the NOD team to coordinate upcoming mobilizations. You'll spend time on individual coaching calls with members, updating digital onboarding materials, and collaborating with other organizers to refine training curricula. Evenings might include attending a chapter meeting or webinar to support new groups.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) Is Looking For

  • Proven experience in grassroots organizing, with a strong background in recruiting, training, and developing volunteer leaders, especially within white communities for racial justice.
  • Excellent facilitation and training skills, able to design and deliver engaging workshops on racial justice, organizing skills, and campaign strategy, both in person and virtually.
  • Strong digital organizing skills, comfortable with online tools for onboarding, communication, and mobilizing members across various platforms.
  • Commitment to racial and economic justice, with a deep understanding of how to engage white people in anti-racist work and a track record of working collaboratively within multiracial teams.

📝 Tips for Applying to Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ)

1

Tailor your resume and cover letter to explicitly highlight your experience in training and leadership development, not just general organizing.

2

Demonstrate your understanding of SURJ's approach by referencing specific campaigns or language from their website or annual reports in your application.

3

Highlight any experience you have with remote/distributed organizing and the specific tools you've used (e.g., Zoom, Slack, Action Network, etc.).

4

Showcase your ability to work in a unionized environment and your alignment with SURJ's values, possibly by mentioning any union involvement or support.

5

In your cover letter, address how you would approach the challenge of mobilizing white people for racial justice, showing strategic thinking and practical ideas.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Emphasize your passion for building the white flank of multiracial movements and your understanding of why white people should show up for racial justice.', "Provide concrete examples of how you have trained and developed volunteers or members, including any curriculum you've created or adapted.", "Mention your experience with basebuilding, including recruitment and absorption, and how you've integrated new members into ongoing organizing.", 'Highlight your ability to work collaboratively within a team and your commitment to accountability to people of color-led organizations.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Read SURJ's website thoroughly, focusing on their mission, theory of change, and current campaigns.
  • → Look into SURJ's National Organizing Department and any recent reports or updates on their basebuilding projects.
  • → Check out SURJ's social media and news coverage to understand their recent actions and public messaging.
  • → Research the concept of the 'white flank' and how it's used in multiracial organizing, and be prepared to discuss it.
Visit Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ)'s Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you approach training a group of new white activists who are just starting to understand racial justice?
2 Describe a time you successfully recruited and developed a volunteer leader. What steps did you take?
3 How do you use digital tools to build community and mobilize people for offline actions?
4 What strategies would you employ to seed new organizing units in areas where SURJ is not yet present?
5 How do you handle conflict or disagreement within a team, especially when it relates to race or privilege?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Avoid being generic: don't send a one-size-fits-all application. SURJ looks for candidates who understand their specific approach.
  • Don't minimize the importance of training and leadership development; this role is fundamentally about building others' skills, not just doing direct action.
  • Avoid any language that centers white saviorism or paternalism. SURJ is about shared interest and collective liberation, not white people 'helping' others.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ)!

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