TreePeople is one of the largest environmental movement nonprofit organizations, headquartered in Southern California. We have inspired, engaged, and supported more than 3 million people to take action for our environment by planting and caring for trees in forests, mountains, parks, and our neighborhoods. TreePeople is a well-known and respected environmental nonprofit organization that is mobilizing people, business, philanthropists, and public agencies to work together to create green, resilient communities by planting trees, capturing the rainwater, greening schools and providing fun environmental educational activities.

TreePeople is seeking to hire a Forest Health Community Organizer to share education and information with community members across the Angeles National Forest’s surrounding communities (Green Valley, Wrightwood, Bouquet Canyon, Lakes Communities, Acton, Agua Dulce and Santa Clarita) to combat the Goldspotted Oak Borer (GSOB). This position is responsible for making lasting connections with and between community members, community-based organizations, public agencies, churches, schools, parent centers, businesses and other key stakeholders in support of forest health and TreePeople’s mission to inspire, engage and support the community to take environmental action.

DUTIES INCLUDE:

• Create and implement a comprehensive community outreach and education plan for lasting behavior change in people across the region in an effort to reduce the spread of GSOB and other pests to improve our forests health.
• Assist in the development of educational materials for the communities in GSOB satellite infestation areas related to wildland forest health and pests that are based on the latest research being conducted related to forest health and current GSOB activity.
• Work within satellite communities to provide training and workshops to disseminate information from the toolkit focused on GSOB.
• Partner with trusted local organizations in the communities to ensure authentic community engagement and participation. This will include partnerships with local fire safe councils.
• Help to disseminate a forest health awareness campaign with TreePeople’s marketing communications team. This campaign will be aimed towards the general public in an effort to communicate the role everyone plays in maintaining wildland forest health and stopping the spread of pests, like GSOB.
• Lead community outreach efforts, recruiting a diverse group of stakeholders that includes but is not limited to residents, community-based organizations, faith-based groups, youth groups, parent centers, neighborhood associations, schools, advocacy groups, businesses, public agencies (particularly the US Forest Service) and public officials.
• Serve as a community liaison by participating and representing TreePeople at meetings, fundraising, marketing, membership, volunteer events, etc.
• Network and cultivate relationships with current and new community stakeholders.
• Identify key community stakeholders in the project area(s) to leverage TreePeople’s work and establish and maintain relationships in the community.
• Integrate into or build coalitions, coordinate activities with coalition partners and recruit coalition members; coordinate the content and logistics for public events and large-scale mobilizations; and connect organizing work with research, public policy, and communications designated campaigns.
• Support TreePeople’s teams by participating in event preparation and volunteer events, including on weekends and some evenings.
• Participate in TreePeople team activities.

PROFESSIONAL AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Community-oriented individual who is effective at mobilizing and understands the needs of the forestry health issues, particularly combating GSOB in California.
• Strong leadership, team-building and problem-solving skills.
• Experienced project management skills and organizing strategy.
• Inspiring public speaking and interpersonal skills.
• Highly-organized, friendly, smart, proactive and a quick-learner.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills: listening, negotiating, public speaking, and writing.
• Literate and passionate about local climate resilience and environmental issues.
• Driver’s license and proof of insurance required.
• Able to push, pull, lift, and carry up to 40 pounds.
• Able to stand and walk for long periods of time.
• Able to work outside for hours at a time at tree planting and care events, which includes physically digging holes, lifting equipment and planting trees, among other activities.

JOIN THE TREEPEOPLE TEAM, APPLY AT:

Please apply here →