The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) is a national nonprofit working to reverse today’s extreme levels of corporate concentration and advance policies to rebuild the economic capacity of local communities. We use in-depth research, reporting, and data analysis to produce influential reports and articles. Our work illuminates the public policy decisions that have fueled concentration and shows how we can change the rules to create a more equitable and democratic future. Our analysis is frequently featured in national news media and sought out by policymakers. We work closely with a broad range of allies to move these ideas and policies. 

ILSR is hiring a Digital Communications Manager, who will work closely with the Communications Director to develop and implement communication strategies that support the mission of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

In this role, you will work across several different initiatives to write, edit, and design creative public messaging to promote ILSR’s work through the organization’s newsletters, website, social media, events, and more. Download the full description here, or see this job posting at ilsr.org.

Responsibilities:

Social Media (35%)

• Design captivating visuals that grab attention, enhance engagement, and broaden interest in ILSR reports, blogs, podcasts, and other releases
• Craft copy that strikes the right chords of urgency, hope, and assurance to keep followers actively engaged
• Monitor social media for opportunities to engage with trending, highly relevant, and staff-generated content
• Log publicity hits and translate key passages into compelling social media content

Website (20%)

• Maintain the ILSR website including drafting original content, copy editing, selecting images and infographics, and ensuring site-wide consistency and visual appeal of posted content

Multimedia Production (15%)

• Distill and repurpose audio and video content from staff interviews, public hearings, virtual events, and other recordings that can be used on social media and other platforms
• Occasional assistance with production of ILSR podcasts...

The Schools, Health, & Libraries Bradband Coalition is hiring for a new position that will work with state and federal policymakers to advance its mission to “to close the digital divide by promoting high-quality broadband for anchor institutions and their communities.” 

From the call for applicants, SHLB is looking for someone who “has a graduate degree in public policy or a law degree, 3-7 years of broadband or technology policy experience and strong writing skills. This person will work with federal and state policy-makers, including on Capitol Hill, regarding broadband policy issues and funding programs. Knowledge of broadband and technology policy issues preferred. Physical location in the Washington DC area is preferred but not required.”

Duties for the Policy Advocate/Director include:

• Working with the Executive Director to develop and implement policy positions to promote our mission.
• Leading calls with SHLB members to formulate advocacy strategies.
• Initiating meetings and developing relationships with policymakers.
• Organizing speakers for our events, including our Annual Conference in October.
• Analyzing and suggesting changes to federal and state legislation.
• Drafting and filing comments with the FCC, NTIA and other government agencies.
• Representing the SHLB Coalition in other coalitions and interacting with our allies on a regular basis.
• Speaking at broadband conferences around the U.S.

SHLB is seeking candidates for the position who have:

• A strong commitment to working with anchor institutions to help solve the digital divide for people without access to affordable, high-quality broadband.
• Flexibility to adapt to a fast-paced and changing environment.
• Knowledge of federal and/or state legislative and regulatory processes.
• Familiarity with the variety of broadband technologies and stakeholders.
• Able to work on multiple projects simultaneously.
• Able to collaborate closely and positively with all SHLB staff on operations, communications, Annual Conference and events, and membership recruitment and retention.
• Able to work remotely (SHLB does not currently maintain an office)
...

We're excited to announce that two postdoctoral fellows will be joining the Institute for Local Self-Reliance this coming fall to undertake one-year broadband projects to advance policy intitiatives and help move the needle towards universal, affordable, high-speed Internet access in the United States. 

The fellows are coming to us through the American Council of Learned Society's Leading Edge Fellowship Program, which places humanities and social science PhDs with nonprofits working to solve problems, build capacity, and advance justice and equity in society. 41 fellows were named for the 2021 year to work on issues like voting, civic governance, housing uncertainty, health outcomes for communities of color, reforming the justice system, and education.

This is our first year participating, and we're thrilled to announce that both of our proposed projects were chosen. The candidates were each unique and outstanding, and we're thrilled to announce that Tessa A. Eidelman (PhD, Community Research and Action, Vanderbilt University) and Revati Prasad (PhD, Communication, University of Pennsylvania) will be joining us starting in September.

Tessa joins us to continue work via a project called Internet Access as a Health Imperative: Defining the Health Outcomes and Cost Savings of Broadband Networks in Unconnected Communities. She will extend the work of an existing project ILSR is undertaking alongside the Southern Rural Black Women’s Initiative (SRBWI) to explore the cost savings of and increasing health outcomes for communities resulting from the installation of robust networks in rural areas for a constellation of promising telemedicine interventions, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, asthma, and cancer. 

Revati will be...

The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) is a national nonprofit working to empower communities by striking at the roots of monopoly power and striving toward a vision of thriving, diverse, equitable communities. We use in-depth research, reporting, and data analysis to produce influential reports and articles. Our analyses are frequently featured in national news media and sought out by policymakers. We work closely with a broad range of local community leaders, elected officials, and a diverse coalition of allies to advance these ideas and policies.

Community Broadband Organizer

ILSR is looking for an enthusiastic candidate to assist these local organizing efforts. Our Community Broadband Networks program has many resources and contacts that can dramatically accelerate local organizing efforts. This position will require frequent meetings with local groups to understand their goals and challenges, as well as organizing more general support systems like mutual-aid calls and other resources as needed. Success will mean many more communities will achieve digital equity more rapidly than would otherwise occur.

Responsibilities

• Meeting with local leaders/activists working on community broadband planning or building networks; helping to educate local efforts on common challenges, constraints, and opportunities.
• Learning about broadband technology, policy, and related state and federal tools.
• Finding alignment and opportunities in the work of allies in the field and engaging on them.
• Occasionally developing one-pagers and other basic materials with colleagues at ILSR.
• Knowing when to ignore bullet points.
• Reporting back to ILSR colleagues on trends, challenges, and creative solutions and soliciting feedback to continue helping local efforts.

A Successful Candidate

• Is an empathetic and engaged listener that can quickly understand what people in local efforts need and are struggling with.
• Is highly self-directed and driven with an appreciation of the awesome power of human networking.
• Is quick to learn new subjects.
• Possesses a genuine enjoyment of collaboration with a willingness to give and receive honest feedback.
• Passionate about the ILSR’s mission of countering corporate monopolies and building community power.
• Understands that setbacks are...