DEPARTMENT:                    Research and Policy Center

DIRECT SUPERVISOR:    Director of Research and Policy

ACCOUNTABLE TO:          Director of Research and Policy

SALARY:                                $20,000

The Chicago Urban League seeks three (3) Community Researchers to plan and perform research and public education activities on our 10-month, grant-funded project: The South Side Community Reparations Coalition (SSCRC). SSCRC is a community-based participatory assessment and planning project that seeks to help local residents understand, recommend and prioritize community-based reparations strategies to repair and restore Black communities on the South Side of Chicago.

You will be a core member of the research team, helping the project staff accomplish our three main project goals: (1) building knowledge and understanding of community assets and needs, (2) building knowledge and understanding of community reparations models and solutions and (3) community education and outreach on the grant-focused issue areas: violence prevention, youth development, economic development, civil legal aid, and reentry. SSCRC is a community-based participatory assessment and planning project that seeks to help local residents understand, recommend and prioritize community-based reparations strategies to repair and restore Black communities on the South Side of Chicago.  This work is meant to engage intentionally and intently with our 10 targeted community areas: Douglas, Englewood, Fuller Park, Grand Boulevard, Greater Grand Crossing, Oakland, South Shore, Washington Park, West Englewood and Woodlawn.

COMMUNITY RESEARCHER RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Attending in-house research and reparations workshops and teach-ins to develop community participatory research skills
2. Hosting Community Teach-ins
3. Recruiting and connecting with community partners and organizations
4. Attending all Planning Committee and community meetings
5. Performing research-related activities, including: interviews, surveys creation and dissemination, community mapping, literature reviews, analyzing quantitative and qualitative data
6. Assisting with the SSCRC plan draft

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Must have experience working in South Side communities – residence in one of our target community areas is preferred.
2. Must have familiarity with at least one of the areas to be assessed in the community plan (e.g. violence prevention, youth development, economic development, civil legal aid, or reentry).
3. Should have paid or unpaid experience within communities, community-based and grassroots organizations, volunteer/committee work, neighborhood or church groups/councils/committees. (Can be a professional or volunteer role).
4. Should have qualities that make for a good researcher:
   1. Good at engaging with/connecting with people
   2. Good listener
   3. Ability to create and follow research plans and protocols
   4. Ability to write well and take good notes
   5. Natural curiosity and an interest in asking why/learning more
   6. Persistent
5. Must be a self-starter and work well independently, as well as value collaboration.
6. Computer literacy and knowledge of MS Office products is required, experience with survey software and project management software a plus.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

This is a position that requires strong relationship and critical thinking skills, and we prioritize these over any specific level of education. We care more about your ability to write, communicate, ask questions and collaborate than whether or not you have a certain degree.

We believe that our targeted communities and their residents must be centered in the work we are doing on this project. We strongly encourage applications from people living in these communities and from a diverse pool of candidates including women, LGBTQ people, people from a working class background and people with criminal justice system involvement. People in these groups often don’t apply for positions unless they meet every criteria. If you believe you meet the qualifications for the role, please do not prevent yourself from applying.

REPORTS TO:

Project Director (This is the League’s Director of Research.)

TO APPLY:

Please send a cover letter, resume, list of 3 references and a writing sample to the following email address: careers@chiul.org.  Writing samples can include a paper, a sample of social media posts, blogs or other forms of writing. Please include “SSCRC Community Researcher” in the subject line.