Thursday June 20, 5:30-8:30pm

SLC 2134/35 (Student Life Centre, University of Waterloo)

Want to create actions that create a buzz among your members and get your opponent’s and the media’s attention? Learn the basics of design, planning, timing and implementing great action actions.

About the facilitator: Jessica Bell is the co-founder and director of the Tools for Change training program, a lecturer in advocacy and government relations at Ryerson University, and a steering committee member of TTCriders.
Snacks and bus tickets will be provided.

Please email tammy@wpirg.org to register.

WPIRG’s 2013 School of Public Interest Conference

April 19th-21st

engenderingresistance.noblogs.org

Examining the social, political and economic realities of gender, as well as the liberatory possibilities of militant resistance to gender based oppression, WPIRG’s 2013 School of Public Interest will focus on the theme of (en)gendering resistance. A purposeful play on words, the conference theme is intended to encompass reflections on the lived experience of gender, the gendering of activism, and strategies for fostering vibrant resistance movements.

Taking place April 19th-21st at the University of Waterloo, the weekend long conference will bring together community organizers, activists and students, to critically discuss issues related to gender and resistance/resisting gender. Shaping, while simultaneously being shaped by the ways in which we live, love, fuck and resist, the intricacies and potentialities of gender will be explored.

Our vision is to provide an inclusive space to engage in dialogue that challenges the narratives of the mainstream feminist movement, expanding its critique and radicalizing its practice. We dream of a feminism that does not seek the inclusion of marginalized identities within the dominant order, but rather, strives to unapologetically challenge the dominant order itself. How can we develop a movement for gender justice that is necessarily anti-capitalist, anti-colonial and critical of state institutions? How can we foster resistance practices that are firmly rooted in anti-racism and an intersectional analysis of gender?

Patriarchy and gendered oppressions are everyday perpetuated within our communities and movements. Sexism, queer and transphobia permeate social justice groups and organizations. Gender violence and sexual assault occur with tragic frequently within our ‘safe’ spaces. How can we challenge the reproduction of gender oppression within broader social and environmental justice movements? How can we develop non-state responses to issues of sexual violence? What potential exists for the construction of holistic and nurturing communities of resistance? How can we strengthen our ongoing work, and build our collective capacity to resist?

In the spirit of engendering resistance, WPIRG invites community-based activists, those struggling everyday against gender oppression, supporters, and anyone who sees value in gathering to resist and share strategies, to participate!

Submission Deadline: March 4th 2013, 9am 

WPIRG is seeking a dynamic, personable, and creative individual with a demonstrated commitment to social and environmental justice to fill the full-time permanent position of ‘Outreach & Resource Centre Coordinator’.

The Organization

The Waterloo Public Interest Research Group (WPIRG) is a student funded and directed organization that provides support for students and community members to research, educate, and take action on social and environmental justice issues. WPIRG is a non-hierarchical organization that uses consensus decision-making processes, and strives to create an anti-oppressive working environment by proactively opposing all forms of oppression such as those based on gender, race, class, sexuality, age, cultural heritage/ethnicity, religion, and ability.

WPIRG has a high turnover in volunteers and the three permanent staff provide continuity and stability in this ever-changing organization. Staff carry out critical support work that maintains the integrity of the organization, assist volunteers, and provide connection to other activists, community groups, and organizations. They have an awareness of and interest in issues relating to racism, sexism, queer and trans* phobia, class exploitation, imperialism, environmental degradation, indigenous sovereignty and decolonization, and ableism. WPIRG is a small office environment, so staff work collaboratively, support each other, and share some responsibilities.

The Position

The primary function of the ‘Outreach & Resource Centre Coordinator’ is to develop and implement a WPIRG outreach strategy; build awareness of the organization – its mandate, services, programming etc. on the University of Waterloo campus; increase the public profile of the organization in the broader Kitchener-Waterloo community; and maintain the WPIRG Resource Centre.

Campus Outreach: Raise awareness of the organization on the University of Waterloo campus through a variety of means –  class talks, traveling displays, posters, ads, information meetings etc. Connect and network with other campus groups, societies and clubs, as well as sympathetic faculty and departments.

Community Relations: Build and maintain relationships with allied organizations in the broader Kitchener-Waterloo community. Seek out and actively create opportunities for collaboration between WPIRG and other community groups/projects.

Website & Social Media: Develop and implement a social media strategy. Maintain and regularly update the WPIRG website, Facebook page/group and Twitter account. Create WPIRG outreach materials (both electronic and hard copies).

Resource Centre: Maintain the functionality of the library – ensure that the centre has up to date materials (renew magazine and journal subscriptions, acquire new books and DVDs as required), track materials and maintain/update the Delicious Electronic Library System, assist library users (in-office, calls, email correspondence) in finding information, and stock the WPIRG zine distro.

Research: Envision and develop WPIRG research projects. Supervise and assist with volunteer research initiatives – helping to define and refine projects, developing research strategies and providing feedback.

In addition, the ‘Outreach & Resource Centre Coordinator’ will assist other permanent staff in the following areas: policy development, grant applications and strategic planning.

Qualifications

The ‘Outreach & Resource Centre Coordinator’ is a permanent full-time position with a 6-month probationary period. It is a 30 hours per week position at a rate of $20.63 per hour, with extended health care benefits and four weeks paid vacation per year. Permanent staff are members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 1281. The anticipated start date is March 25^th.

Because WPIRG is located on a university campus it follows the cycles of university life – four-month terms (the busiest terms being Sep-Dec and Jan-Apr and the slowest term being May-Aug).  Within each term, another cycle exists, with the beginning of term being the most active and the end of term quieter. Work time allocated to the various areas of responsibility will vary greatly depending on the time of term. Evening and some weekend work is expected.

How to Apply

WPIRG welcomes the contributions that individuals from marginalized communities bring to our organization, and encourages aboriginal people, people of colour, women, gays, lesbians, bisexuals, queer-oriented people, single parents, members of ethnic minorities, immigrants and people with disabilities to apply. We encourage applicants to describe in their cover letter the contributions and experiences they, as individuals who identify with marginalized communities, would bring to WPIRG.

Also in their cover letter, all applicants are asked to provide a brief statement on their views of power and oppression.

Applicants must provide a resume with 3 references, a cover letter, and a response, no longer than 750 words, to one of the following questions:

1) How would you envision your role in fostering a radical campus environment and supporting students working towards social change?

2) How do you integrate an anti-oppression framework into your activism, and what are some of the challenges?

Deadline for Submissions is Monday March 4th 2013 at 9am.

Deliver submissions to The Hiring Committee, WPIRG, Student Life Centre room 2139, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1; or email applications to tammy@wpirg.org.

Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.