Application Deadline: January 27
Starting Date: February 13
Ending Date: May 5
Contractor Pay: $15,000, including all expenses*; for twelve weeks of full-time organizing

The Interfaith Drug Policy Initiative is seeking a dynamic person of faith (ideally a clergyperson, seminary graduate, etc.) with advocacy experience and the ability to articulate the merits of drug policy/criminal justice reform from a moral and religious perspective that is persuasive to mainstream people of faith.

Primary Function: Generate vocal support from prominent religious leaders in target state legislative districts for the goals of the
Maryland Campaign for Treatment Not Incarceration. Specifically, the
public policy changes being sought are:
1. Returning sentencing discretion to judges in mandatory minimum drug cases
2. Restoring voting rights to people who were previously incarcerated
3. Increasing funding for drug treatment

Duties and Responsibilities:

- work closely with IDPI's associate director and with the leaders of the campaign coalition to determine where efforts can be most fruitful
- cold call and meet face-to-face with religious leaders to identify and activate support
- prepare supportive religious leaders to meet with legislators, talk to the media, and to persuade their colleagues and congregants
- give presentations to religious groups to garner support
- write letters-to-the editor, speeches, sermons, and letters to legislators
- become an expert on the drug policy/criminal justice positions of major religious denominations on these issues
- become an expert on the religious and secular arguments for drug policy/criminal justice reform
- keep good records of relationships

Applicants must excel at the following:

- quickly adjusting work activities to the ever-changing needs of a legislative campaign
- self-motivation and ability to work independently
- connecting with people who may have very different political and spiritual beliefs
- cranking out massive numbers of persuasive phone calls and email messages
- giving clear instructions to religious leaders on what needs to be done and how to do it

She/he must be results oriented, persuasive, focused, organized, meticulous, resourceful, motivated, and excellent at giving and receiving feedback.

Preference will be given to candidates who:

- have legislative advocacy experience
- are from Maryland
- have a track record as an effective and well-respected religious leader

* NOTE: Since this position is structured for an independent contractor, the organizer will be responsible for all expenses associated with excelling at this effort such as, travel expenses, computer, cell phone, copies, etc. The expected business expenses for this job will be $500 - $