ABOUT MIRIAMS KITCHEN

Miriams Kitchen works to end chronic homelessness in Washington, DC through high quality meals, on-site social services, street outreach, permanent supportive housing, and advocacy.

We are committed not only to meeting our neighbors' most immediate needs but also to advocating for long-term systems change to prevent and end homelessness across our community. Our Advocacy team works to increase local funding for permanent housing, improve broken systems at the root cause of homelessness, and elevate the leadership of individuals with lived experience.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Advocacy Specialist will be responsible for supporting efforts to address advocacy, policy, and organizing opportunities to support the organizations mission to end long term homelessness in DC. Specifically, the Advocacy Specialist will be responsible for supporting the development and implementation of advocacy strategies to address root causes of DCs homelessness crisis, including (but not limited to) DCs severe lack of affordable housing and criminal justice systems.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The responsibilities of the Advocacy Specialist may include (but are not limited to):

• In close collaboration with advocacy staff and leaders with lived experience of homelessness, develop and implement advocacy strategies for 1-2 issue areas at the intersections of homelessness, housing, and criminal justice
• Meaningfully partner with individuals with lived experience of homelessness and other partners to develop aforementioned strategies
• Maintain and strengthen relationships with partner organizations, coalitions, policymakers, and local organizers
• Contribute to advocacy and organizational communications
• Represent Miriams Kitchen at external meetings and events, such as coalition meetings, conferences, and meetings with government representatives
• Contribute to departmental data tracking and reporting
• Providing strategic, communications, and administrative support toThe Way Home Campaign(a coalition dedicated to ending chronic homelessness in the District of Columbia that is led by Miriams Kitchen)
• Researching and developing an understanding of best practices to end homelessness and chronic homelessness, and helping to integrate those into MKs advocacy strategies
• Representing Miriams Kitchen andThe Way HomeCampaignin work with a wide range of stakeholders, including government agencies, partner organizations, coalitions, and advocates
• Complete administrative tasks as necessary
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong interest in and commitment to ending chronic homelessness in DC
• An understanding of the structural and systemic causes of homelessness, including systemic racism
• Comfort working with a diverse population with a variety of backgrounds and lived experiences
• Experience identifying and analyzing potential racial equity impacts of advocacy strategies and activities
• Broad interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with individuals and organizations from diverse backgrounds
• Participatory group facilitation skills
• Understanding of and willingness to examine how race, power and privilege impact our internal and external work
• Demonstrated understanding of organizing principles, coalition building, politics, and/or the legislative process
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Comfort representing the organization and the advocacy department internally and externally
• Strong attention to detail
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Openness to feedback
• Ability to manage up and across departments

Experience

• 2-5 years of experience in community organizing, advocacy, policy, communications, and/or social justice movements
• Experience working in coalitions and across sectors to advance advocacy and policy strategies
• Interest in, in depth-knowledge of, or experience related to issues of homelessness, housing
• Interest in, in depth-knowledge of, or experience related to criminal justice issues?and the intersections of homelessness and the U.S. criminal legal system

Benefits

Miriams Kitchen is proud to offer comprehensive benefits that support the continued health and wellbeing of our team including: 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance; generous medical coverage for dependents; 100% employer-paid short term disability, long term disability, and life insurance; employer retirement contributions; generous annual paid leave, and annual professional development funds for all full and part-time team members.

EOE STATEMENT