The Wildflower Alliance is currently hiring for the following positions:

• Cross Disability Communities connector with the Wild Ivy Social Justice Network (20 hours per week with potential for more for the right candidate)
• Pittsfield Community Coordinator (25 hours)
• Bowen Community Coordinator (30 hours)
• Pittsfield Advocate (20 hours)
• Bowen Advocates (15 to 25 hours)

Please continue reading for the details of each position!

Cross-Disability Communities Connector

This position is with the Wild Ivy Social Justice Network, a part of the Wildflower Alliance. It is 20 hours per week with the potential for additional hours for candidates who are interested in/qualified to support our Black Communities Connector position. $22 to $24 per hour (based on bilingual/bicultural capacity and completion of core trainings).

This position focuses on outreach, bridge building, and involvement of the voice of people with visible and/or invisible disabilities who have also faced emotional distress, trauma, problems with substances, and/or other life-interrupting challenges in public policy development and more. It is primarily designed as an advocacy position, and its projects and responsibilities are based on its goal of progressive movement in cultural and policy practices. It will include support group facilitation, training facilitation, individual support, event planning, public speaking, work with legislators and others involved in public policy, researching resources, and more.

REQUIREMENTS: A commitment to raising awareness of and undoing racism, anti-transness, ableism, psychiatric oppression and other forms of systemic oppression is required. Candidates must also have first-hand experience with this focus area, including navigating systems as a person with visible and/or invisible disabilities, as well as having first-hand experience with one or more of the following: Psychiatric diagnosis (you yourself being diagnosed); Trauma (you yourself having experienced trauma); Homelessness (you yourself being unhoused); Problems with substances (you yourself struggling with substances); History of incarceration (you yourself having been incarcerated or navigating significant problems with the legal system).

The successful candidate will also be fully familiar with e-mailing, web searching, and use of on-line meeting platforms. Additionally, while some training will be provided, the willingness and ability to jump in and sometimes independently make new connections, or figure out less familiar tasks (event promotion, etc.) is an absolute must!

PREFERRED: Community organizing* experience is strongly preferred. Knowledge of local and statewide resources also highly valued. Residency and investment in Massachusetts communities strongly preferred, as is access to a reliable vehicle you can use for work.

A PLUS: Bilingual/Bicultural (Spanish/English, ASL/English, etc.) a plus. Some experience with public speaking and/or training facilitation, experience working with legislators and other public policy makers, and knowledge of and experience offering peer support also very helpful. Training* in Intentional Peer Support (IPS), Alternatives to Suicide, Hearing Voices, harm reduction, trauma sensitivity, peer-to-peer support, group facilitation, and other relevant topics also a plus.

To Apply: Send a resume and cover letter to celeste@wildfloweralliance.org by Friday, February 11th, 2022. Applications without cover letters may not be reviewed.

*All employees are offered IPS, Alternatives to Suicide, Hearing Voices, and anti-oppression training if not already completed prior to hire. We consider ‘community organizing’ to include any of the following: Organizing around any social justice issue, participating in founding groups, clubs, committees, task forces, etc., drafting and participating in online organizing campaigns and strategies, active membership in social justice organizations, being part of a team that creates and distributes consciousness-raising materials in any medium or form (artistic or otherwise), community or legal advocacy, developing strategies as part of a team and in accordance with shared values, etc.

Community Coordinators

Bowen Community Coordinator (30 hours). Help grow our Springfield-based community and team, supervise advocates working alongside you, coordinate outreach and events, offer peer-to-peer support, facilitate groups, and more. $22—$24 per hour based on completion of core trainings and bilingual/bicultural experience.

Pittsfield Community Coordinator (25 hours). Help grow our community and team in the local area, supervise one or more advocates working alongside you, coordinate outreach and events, offer peer-to-peer support, facilitate groups, and more. $21—$23 per hour based on completion of core trainings and bilingual/bicultural experience.

Requirements: Some flexibility with schedule and ability to work independently on multiple projects; Attention to detail and strong organizational skills; Your own experience living through trauma, psychiatric diagnosis, homelessness, problems with substances and/or a variety of other life-interrupting challenges; Understanding and commitment to examining and undoing systemic oppression related to racism, gender, psychiatric diagnosis, etc.; Ability to participate in meetings and trainings in Springfield and/or Holyoke Area (Lodging available if needed).

A Plus: Experience being a supervisor; Familiarity with c/s/x, mad, peer, recovery, and/or human rights movements; Intentional Peer Support, and/or other trainings relevant to peer-to-peer support (Hearing Voices, Alternatives to Suicide, etc.); Experience facilitating mutual support groups; Bilingual (English/Spanish or English/ASL)/Bicultural.

Advocates

Bowen Advocates (15-25 hours). Offer direct support, group facilitation, etc. in our Springfield Center. $17.50—$19.50 based on completion of core trainings and bilingual/bicultural experience.

Pittsfield Advocate (20 hours). Offer direct support, group facilitation, etc. in our Pittsfield Center. $17.50—$19.50 based on completion of core trainings and bilingual/bicultural experience.

Requirements: Ability to balance a variety of needs in an active center; Your own experience living through trauma, psychiatric diagnosis, homelessness, problems with substances and/or a variety of other life-interrupting challenges; Understanding and commitment to examining and undoing systemic oppression related to racism, gender, psychiatric diagnosis, etc.; Ability to participate in meetings and trainings in Springfield and/or Holyoke Area (Lodging available if needed). Bilingual/Bicultural (English/Spanish) required for some hours.

A Plus: Familiarity with c/s/x, mad, peer, recovery, and/or human rights movements; Intentional Peer Support, and/or other trainings relevant to peer-to-peer support (Hearing Voices, Alternatives to Suicide, etc.); Experience facilitating mutual support groups; Bilingual (English/Spanish or English/ASL)/Bicultural.

Resume and cover letter for Community Coordinator and/or Advocate positions should be submitted by February 4, 2022 to info@wildflowerallianceorg. Please include how you meet the basic requirements of the job in your cover letter. Applications that do not include a cover letter will be discarded.