Community Organizer - Trucks Off Our Streets (TOOS) Project

Program Focus: Trucks Off Our Street Coalition 

Work Format: Remote (Required in-person events and outreach across Detroit)  

Status: Part-Time or Full-Time Available 

Hourly Compensation: $20- 24 hr, Commensurate with experience

SDEV is seeking a dynamic and organized Community Organizer to support the Trucks Off Our Streets (TOOS) Coalition. This role focuses on building the capacity of grassroots organizations to reduce diesel trucking impacts and asthma triggers across Detroit. The project engages residents, partners, and decision-makers to advance policy, zoning, enforcement, and community-led solutions that limit truck traffic in neighborhoods. The organizer will work closely with the project lead and coalition members to expand the TOOS network, increase public awareness, and support organizing efforts across Detroit districts. 

The ideal candidate is a relationship builder and self-starter who cares deeply about air quality and public health in Detroit. We welcome candidates with a range of experiences, including those newer to organizing who are eager to learn. We also welcome interest from partner organizations seeking to support a shared staff member or expand this role into a full-time position through aligned funding or collaboration.

Primary Scope of Work & Deliverables

Community Outreach & District Organizing

• Community Engagement: Conduct outreach activities including tabling at community events, canvassing within Detroit districts, surveying residents, phone banking, and building contact lists of allies and partners to support the Trucks Off Our Streets campaign.
• District Engagement: Attend and participate in district-specific meetings, coalition meetings, and committee work related to truck traffic, air pollution, and environmental justice issues.
• Community Mapping: Support truck hotspot mapping efforts, including documenting community concerns and assisting with community-based data collection related to truck traffic impacts.
• Local & Regional Meeting Participation: Attend relevant air quality events, public hearings, and community meetings (including air permit hearings) as schedule permits. Attendance at critical events will be assigned by leadership.

Assist in Partnership Development & Coalition Building

• Cross-District Support: Provide capacity support to other Detroit districts as needed, assisting with outreach, organizing efforts, and district-specific engagement activities.
• District Network Expansion: Support recruitment of lead partner organizations in each Detroit district in collaboration with organizations. 
  

Support Coalition Data Management & Tracking

• Community Data Projects: Assist in deployment of a truck count and air monitors.
• Resident Communication Network: Support maintenance of resident communication network to share updates, alerts, and engagement opportunities related to truck traffic and air quality.

Other duties as assigned

Skills & Qualifications

Preferred Skills & Experience (Training will be Provided):

• Reliable Transportation: Ability to travel regularly across Detroit for multiple in-person meetings, community outreach events, and district-based organizing activities.
• Communication: Exceptional verbal, written, and presentation skills. You must be comfortable speaking with diverse stakeholders, from corporate HR directors to local youth.
• Organization: Mastery of scheduling, calendaring, and managing multiple simultaneous tasks.
• Software Proficiency: Competency in Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Google Workspace, and cloud-based project management tools.
• Independence: Ability to work effectively both as a self-starter and as a collaborative team member.

Essential Mindsets:

• Accountability: Ability to meet strict deadlines and communicate needs/concerns proactively to supervisors.
• Growth Orientation: Aim to operate at the 3rd or 4th level of the SDEV Rubric (high autonomy and leadership).
• Flexibility: Availability for evening meetings/events as the community schedule requires.

Additional Preferred Qualifications:

• Local Knowledge: Familiarity with the Detroit (emphasis on Districts 1,2,3, and 7)

How to Apply

Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your experience with community engagement or environmental programs to juliett@sdevweb.org with the email subject line: TOOS Community Organizer Application. 

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Compensation:

Type: Part-time & Full-time available

Hourly Compensation: $20 - 24, Commensurate with experience.

About the Organization:

The Trucks Off Our Streets (TOOS) Coalition is a citywide group working to reduce residential truck traffic and improve air quality across Detroit. Formed in summer 2024 with support from the Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation, TOOS works in partnership with Community Action Plan for Healthy Environments through the University of Michigan to connect residents, community organizations, and city leaders from all seven Detroit districts.

TOOS is united in advancing citywide truck route solutions by empowering residents and partners to hold decision-makers accountable for existing environmental and public health policies. Coalition members collectively reach over 35,000 Detroit residents, conduct community-led truck counts and industrial monitoring rooted in decades of resident science, mobilize community participation in public processes such as permit hearings, and educate stakeholders about the health impacts of truck traffic and industrial pollution, including fugitive dust.