Caring Out Loud Fellow

Summary:

Down Home NC, in partnership with Family Values at Work, is launching the Caring Out Loud Fellowship. Fellows will design and implement innovative narrative change programs. These programs will uplift the needs of children and families, foster community belonging, and increase engagement in North Carolina communities. Fellows will be embedded working with Down Home NC, receiving mentorship, professional development, and program funds to bring their visions to life while advocating for issues like Medicaid expansion, SNAP/WIC, and public education.

​​About Family Values @ Work:

Family Values @ Work is a movement network of grassroots organizers and coalitions in more than two dozen states. We have built power in key states and localities focused on winning policies that support workers and families including paid family and medical leave, earned sick and safe days, and affordable, high-quality childcare at the state and national levels. 

FV@W promotes the leadership of women, low-wage workers, and workers of color at all points in a campaign to achieve transformative policy change, and actively engages underrepresented communities to build deep, long-term power.

About Down Home North Carolina:

Down Home North Carolina is a growing statewide organization of rural and small-town communities that advocate for economic, gender, and racial justice. We will move North Carolina toward the values of dignity, safety, and inclusion through leadership development, strategic campaigning, multiracial movement building, and civic engagement that advances positive, life-changing reforms for rural communities.

We are unique in our focus on building permanent, statewide organizing infrastructure in North Carolina’s rural places. Through our growing network of member-led, county-based chapters, we are engaged in year-round organizing. Our member-leaders, deeply rooted in their communities, are the heart and soul of Down Home NC’s work. Our organizational mission includes a deep commitment to building multiracial and working-class member leadership, and our chapter culture inspires the deep and necessary commitment required to transform small towns and rural places.

Founded in 2017, Down Home has built a strong organizational track record, including:

• Helping to elect the first Latinx state legislator in state history
• Winning Medicaid expansion for more than 600,000 working Carolinians
• Winning local campaigns to raise the minimum wage for city workers, prevent evictions, and oppose the expansion of local jails
• Growing a statewide membership base that includes all 100 counties of North Carolina
• Establishing member-led chapters across eight counties, stretching from mountains to sea
• Anchoring the first southern, rural deep canvass and race-class narrative tests
• Holding and growing a statewide coalition to fight for public schools

What Makes You Shine:
We’re looking for someone who’s not only skilled but also a compassionate, creative, and engaging team player. Here’s what excites us:

• Seriously Approachable: You make people feel welcome and comfortable, naturally building trust and connection.
   
• Brings the Fun: You know how to keep things engaging and positive. You infuse energy and positivity into your work, balancing enthusiasm with focus when needed.
   
• Creative Thinker: You’re full of fresh ideas, love brainstorming, and tackle challenges with innovative solutions.
   
• Go-Getter Spirit: You’re proactive, take initiative, and are excited to build impactful programs from the ground up.
   
• Bridge Builder: You connect with diverse people, foster respectful dialogue, and find common ground to move forward together.
   
• Compassionate Storyteller: You’re curious, empathetic, and skilled at crafting and sharing narratives that galvanize communities around shared impacts.
   

What You’ll Be Up To:

You will be designing and implementing narrative change programs aligned with the Down Home NC’s goals. These programs will be focused on the well-being of children and families, including issues like: Medicaid expansion, SNAP/WIC, and public education. You will be utilizing creative strategies to shift narratives and advocate for social and economic justice.

 

Community Engagement:

• Build relationships with multi-racial working class communities, mainly in rural NC, meeting people where they are to foster inclusive environments.
• Connect and build relationships with Down Home NC members, creating space to hear their stories and amplifying them in the broader public sphere
• Engage community members through conversations, events, training, wellness activities, and other initiatives.
• Collaborate with community leaders, organizations, and stakeholders to amplify narrative change efforts.
  
   

Collaboration & Partnership:

• Work closely with the Down Home NC, integrating into their mission and contributing to shared goals.
   
• Collaborate with FV@W staff, other Caring Out Loud Fellows, and external stakeholders to develop narratives into compelling stories.
   
• Participate in Fellowship-wide activities and shared learning opportunities.
   

Professional Development & Learning:

• Actively participate in all Fellowship-related training sessions, workshops, and professional development opportunities. You must attend a mandatory, all-expenses-paid Fellowship kickoff convening.
   
• Engage in training sessions, workshops, and ongoing learning about narrative change, cultural organizing, political education, and the history of multiracial, working-class movements.

Program Management & Reporting:

• Manage program funds responsibly, adhering to organizational guidelines.
   
• Track progress, collect data, and provide regular updates and reports on Fellowship activities.
   

Contribution to Fellowship Goals:

• Actively contribute to the success and impact of the Caring Out Loud Fellowship.
   
• Represent the Fellowship thoughtfully, aligning with its mission to build a powerful, inclusive, rural, multiracial, working-class movement.
   

What You’ll Bring to the Table (Required):

• Commitment to Mission: Deep passion for uplifting children, families, and working-class communities, aligned with Down Home NC’s vision of building long-term community strength through civic engagement and investment in local leadership.
   
• Knowledge of Race Equity and Inclusion: Comfortable discussing identities like race, class, and gender in specific terms, with an understanding of historical and present-day racial inequities. Open to feedback and continuous learning about diverse identities.
   
• Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling narratives and connect across race, class, and other identities.
   
• Project Management: Excellent organizational skills, with experience managing schedules, content, and cross-functional collaboration with stakeholders.
   
• Computer Literacy: Proficient in Google Docs, email, calendars, scheduling, and Zoom/web chat platforms.
   
• Community Engagement: Ability to engage diverse communities with cultural sensitivity, humility, and a focus on fostering inclusive environments.
   
• Proactive & Collaborative: Self-motivated, resourceful, and able to work independently while collaborating effectively with teams and external partners.
  
  
   

Nice-to-Have:

• Experience working with graphic designers.
   
• Skills in video production or photography.

• Experience in creating content, managing social media (writing, scheduling, promoting organizational campaigns, posting) and organizing events that engage communities.
   
• Personal or professional experience living in rural communities, the South, or organizing/activism in the South; with specific knowledge of the State’s nonprofit landscape and specific communities.
   
• Networker/organizer with a track record of building relationships and mobilizing communities.
   

Compensation and Benefits:

• Salary: $63,550 - $74,741/year
   
• Benefits: Health, dental, and vision insurance; paid time off (PTO and holidays); monthly phone stipend; office supplies stipend; professional development funds.
   

To Apply:
Please submit your resume and a cover letter or questionnaire outlining your interest and relevant experience to jobs@downhomenc.org. Application deadline: October 24, 2025.

Hiring Process:

• Applications close: October 24, 2025
   
• First Round Interviews: October 2025
   
• Second Round Interviews: November 2025
   

Equal Opportunity Employer:
Down Home NC and Family Values at Work are equal opportunity organizations. We do not discriminate based on sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, age, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, or parenting status. We seek applicants who reflect the diversity of our broad network. This fellowship offers a supportive environment for fellows to receive coaching, experience ongoing hands-on mentorship, and integrate constructive feedback. This role is eligible for inclusion in the staff union bargaining unit under the Campaign Workers’ Guild.

Note: This job description provides a general overview of the Fellow role. Specific responsibilities and projects may evolve in collaboration with Down Home NC and FV@W. If selected, you must attend a mandatory, all-expenses-paid Fellowship kickoff convening in Durham the week of November 17, 2025.