Full-Time | Exempt | Black-led, Black-rooted | Justice-First
Location: Washington, DC
Salary: $50,000 - 55,000 (commensurate with experience)
About ONE DC
Since 2006, Organizing Neighborhood Equity (ONE DC) has been on the frontlines of the fight for racial and economic justice in the District. We’re not a charity—we’re a movement. A movement led by Black working-class residents to build collective power, shift systems, and claim what’s rightfully ours: land, housing, education, and economic freedom. Our organizing is rooted in deep relationships, political education, and the everyday lived experiences of the community. We don’t just talk about equity—we organize it.
Our Core Values
ONE DC’s work is inspired by the legacy of freedom fighters like Ella Baker, Mother Jones, Ida B. Wells, and Claudia Jones—visionaries who organized from the ground up, challenged power structures, and affirmed the dignity of all people.
Our core values include:
- Grassroots leadership and democratic participation
- Strategic organizing for justice and liberation
- Collective power, shared resources, and mutual care
- Education, cultural expression, and land stewardship
- Solidarity with global and local movements for change
These values aren’t just history lessons—they are the blueprint for how we build power in DC today.
To read our full values statement, visit Our Values.
The Opportunity
We’re looking for a Co-op Organizer for ONE DC’s Cooperation DC program who doesn’t just believe in justice but is ready to build it—block by block, ward by ward. If you are an experienced organizer, with cooperative economics popular education and co-op advocacy experience, who knows how to engage with grassroots working people of color, this is your moment.
This isn’t your average 9-to-5. This is frontline, relational, justice-centered organizing that holds space for both fierce resistance and radical love. As the coordinator of ONE DC’s Cooperation DC programing, our unique co-op enterprises education and advocacy, and our Healthy Workers Collective community of practice, you’ll join other ONE DC organizers with base-building campaigns, political education programs, and collective leadership development toward economic transformation.
What You’ll Do
Organizing, Strategy & Member Power
- Anchor and lead ONE DC’s Cooperation DC and Healthy Workers Collective Committees and programming
- Co-create with our members, popular education and campaign strategies to promote solidarity and cooperative economics and co-op businss development in DC; as well as political action and advocacy with DC’s co-op movement
- Co-develop grassroots campaigns rooted in community self-determination, engage in outreach and base-building for ONE DC, and develop ONE DC members.
Political and Cooperative Education
- Develop outreach and engagement plans and programming to organize and increase interest in solidarity economics and cooperative economics within targeted communities
- Develop and Facilitate political education, and solidarity and cooperative economics education and business development activities and strategies; use and/or create bilingual English/Spanish materials
- Develop and Facilitate workshops, host forums, and run our cooperative economics education and co-op advocacy activities especially for worker co-ops and housing co-ops
- Coordinate and facilitate technical assistance for co-op business development
- Mentor organizers, members, and apprentices in solidarity economics and cooperative business economics
Movement Partnerships
- Represent ONE DC at public hearings, coalition meetings, and community events around co-op advocacy and with the greater Washington DC co-op movement
- Build strong, strategic relationships with local and national allies in the Black and national co-op movements, and the Black Workers Center movement
What You Bring
As Cooperation DC Organizer, you’ll be organizing people around right to income, solidarity and cooperative values rooted in justice, strategy, and relationship. Here's how you'll help us build power:
Required:
- One year or more of demonstrated direct organizing/base building experience and/or training/education that provides similar skills; and Willingness to learn about and commit to ONE DC’s organizing model.
- Familiarity with cooperatively run businesses, the international co-op principles, and community-based economic development, labor rights, and/or the solidarity economy movement. In particular, experience with co-ops/cooperative economics
- Experience with political education, popular ed, and cultural organizing
- Good written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills; and strong computer, internet, and social media skills.
- Self-motivated with the ability to work as part of a shared leadership team.
- Exceptional organization and time management skills; a demonstrated ability to design a work plan, prioritize, and meet goals
- Flexible schedule—including evenings and weekends
- Deep connection to working-class communities and a commitment to collective liberation
- Emotionally intelligent, politically grounded, and accountable
Preferred:
- DC resident (or strong DMV ties) – we prioritize local leaders!
- Ready to commit to 3+ years with ONE DC
- Bilingual speakers are welcome; Proficiency in written and conversational Spanish strongly preferred
- A good sense of humor, creative spirit, and love for our people
What We Offer
We believe in taking care of the people who take care of the movement. ONE DC offers a competitive salary, paid time off, health and wellness benefits, and support for professional development. Additional details about our benefits package will be shared during the interview process.
Logistics & Expectations
- In-person presence in DC required
- Evening and weekend availability for meetings, actions, and events
- Local travel within DC for organizing, outreach, and coalition work
EEO & Inclusion Statement
ONE DC is an equal opportunity employer that values the richness of our collective experiences. We strongly encourage applications from Black and Indigenous people, people of color, women, people of all gender identities and expressions, LGBTQ+ individuals, working-class and low-income individuals, and people with lived experience of systemic barriers.
We understand that traditional qualifications can sometimes overlook the strengths and wisdom that come from lived experience. If you meet many of the requirements but not all, we still encourage you to apply. We value a deep commitment to justice, the courage to grow, and a heart for building power in community.
How to Apply
Please submit your resume, list of 3 organizing references, and a cover letter (including salary expectations) to: [email protected]. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Early submissions are encouraged.