Community Engagement Fellow - TSNE

The School and State Finance Project is a nonpartisan, nonprofit policy organization that works collaboratively with policymakers, communities, and other key stakeholders to develop data-driven solutions that ensure all public-school students receive equitable education funding that supports their learning needs.

Our Mission: To eliminate racial and economic disparities in Connecticut education funding.

Our Vision: All Connecticut students have equitable funding, access, and opportunities — no matter their race, socio-economic status, learning needs, or zip code.

Since our founding in 2015, we have secured an additional $526 million in need-based funding for Connecticut students, directly engaged nearly 15,000 community members, and led the effort to implement a comprehensive, student-centered funding formula.

We are an independent and trustworthy source of high-quality research and accessible analysis, and serve as a bridge between those who demand equity for all students and the elected leaders who are charged with making policy.

Our work includes conducting front-line community engagement work with families, students, and schools; building public knowledge about how Connecticut funds K-12 education; and increasing transparency around education funding and district spending by providing greater public access to timely, accurate, and easy-to-understand data and information.

The School and State Finance Project is a fiscally sponsored organization of Third Sector New England, Inc. (TSNE) (tsne.org).

The Community Engagement Fellowship program at the School and State Finance Project is built in a cohort learning model, and designed to build knowledge of community engagement practices through professional development and training, peer learning, networking, and practicum. Six individuals will be selected to participate in the Fellowship program.

This is a great opportunity for individuals who have been engaged individually, either personally or professionally, in any facets of civic participation, system improvement, or community.

Essential Functions

• Completing assigned curriculum focused on education finance, identifying problems, navigating political systems, assessing communities, connecting people, storytelling, and much more.
• Participating in cohort learning and networking exercises, including 2.5 hours of biweekly cohort learning sessions via zoom and in-community meetings
• Engaging in approximately 4 hours of individual learning (selected readings or other assignments) each week.
• Attending approximately 1 hour of coaching/mentorship each week with the leader of the Fellowship program.
• Completing a capstone project in which the Fellow engages their community to identify a local issue and advance a shared solution.
• Documenting time spent and work completed

Special Requirements

• Occasional evening and weekend work may be required.

We will consider exceptional candidates who demonstrate a strong combination of the specific qualifications and skills described below.

Don't meet all the qualifications? That’s ok! Studies have shown individuals — in particular those who are women, people of color, LGBTQIA+, or have a disability — are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single condition. Our organization is dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive culture of belonging, so if you're excited about this role but your experiences don't match every qualification exactly, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or another role in our organization!

• Live in any of the following communities: Hartford, Stamford, Waterbury, Danbury, Bridgeport, New London, Windham, or New Britain.
• Have lived experiences regarding education they are passionate about.
• Have been an active member of their community in any visible way, whether (for example) participating in the Parent-Teacher Organization at their school or actively advocating for policy change at the state level.
• Have 3 references, personal or professional, related to their engagement experiences and passion/interest in community engagement.
• Have at least 5 hours per week of availability, including Mondays from 6-8:30 p.m.
• Have access to a computer, as approximately 50% of work will be online.
• Knowledge of Google Docs, Sheets, Mail, Slides, Meet; knowledge of Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Zoom preferred.

Physical Demands/Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those for this position. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. Work is performed in an office environment and in close proximity to other workers.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is required to:

• Handle, or feel objects, tools or controls;
• Reach; traverse; sit (usually for longer periods of time); occasionally ascend/descend; and position self (to) move;
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds;
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate;
• Job is not subject to significant occupational or environmental hazards;
• Likelihood of personal injury would be relatively slight;
• Environmental and work hazards are not present to a measurable degree.

Organization Commitment to Equity

The School and State Finance Project was founded with the mission to mitigate inequity in education funding and provide opportunities to Connecticut’s public school students no matter their race, ethnicity, community, or background.

We recognize that within this work, systemic racism plays a powerful and harmful role in the creation of inequitably funded school systems and the outcomes of students. We also recognize this same systemic discrimination is deeply intertwined in our state’s economic policies.

We are committed to explicitly addressing how systemic racism and racial injustice intersect with our work. We will consciously use the independence and self-acknowledged privilege of our organization to call for equity and fairness in all facets related to our mission, and will actively listen to — and collaborate with — the historically underserved and disenfranchised communities we are working to strengthen.

We continually work to ensure this commitment is reflected in the diversity of our staff, the data we analyze, the policies we develop, and the conversations we have with policymakers, stakeholders, and community members across Connecticut.

We know as an organization, and as individuals, we will always have learning to do, room to grow, and ways we can be better allies. We hope you join us in this commitment to build a more equitable state for Connecticut’s students, families, and communities.

Compensation and Benefits

Location: Work will be primarily performed remote. Presence at community events around Connecticut may also be required.

Compensation: The hourly range for this position is $19.00 - $20.00/hour and is commensurate with experience.

Benefits: This position is not eligible for benefits.

TSNE/SSFP strives to achieve excellence through a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment that embraces all of our individual and collective differences. Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Middle Eastern and North African, Bilingual and/or Bicultural candidates, and LGBTQ2SIA+ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We value and honor the unique talents, learning styles, and lived experiences of each individual that enrich and strengthen our workplace culture, and we are proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.

All employment conditions are based on an individual’s performance and job qualifications. TSNE/SSFP prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, creed, color, religion, native language, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, race-based hairstyles, or any other protected characteristic stated by federal and state law. Regardless of any class’ protection under the law or lack thereof, TSNE/SSFP celebrates diversity and values the strengths that come with having a diverse team of employees. It is represented in our workplace culture, and it is who we are.

TSNE/SSFP's EEO statement extends to volunteers, interns, contractors, vendors, and clients.