Maccess Social & Political Advocacy Executive(s)

Reports to: Maccess Director     

Hours: 5-8 hours per week   

Term: Sept 1 to April 30 

When submitting your resume, please also submit a Word document (in place of a traditional cover letter) answering the following questions. Please note that answers can be point form: 

1. Maccess is a peer support service for students with disabilities (both formally diagnosed and un-diagnosed), facilitated by students with disabilities. How do you feel that you fit into this vision?* *Please note that Maccess is looking for members who have lived experience with disability (both formally diagnosed and undiagnosed). If you do not identify as disabled, we recommend checking out other MSU services such as WGEN, SHEC, and more! 

2. Why is peer support important to you? Please feel free to provide an example that highlights the skills, prior experience, and/or qualities you would bring to the role.

Maccess
aims to build and maintain a campus that celebrates, advocates, and ensures inclusiveness in the area of disability.  We provide programming and events in an effort to
establish a sense of community for those that self-identify as having disabilities or as disabled. In addition, Maccess strives to advocate on the behalf of students in a proactive and affirmative fashion and provide educational programming on and opportunities to learn about critical disability studies. 

Please note this posting will close Thursday, May 28th at 11:59pm.

The Social and Political Advocacy Executive is one of many members of MSU Maccess’ executive team. They will be primarily responsible for the creation and implementation of campaigns and workshops that raise awareness and promote positive change of various social and political issues relevant to disability and ability in the McMaster community.  

Advocacy work will be carried out by creating educative workshops and campaigns that address relevant McMaster student issues surrounding issues such as awareness, social disability theory, the Mad movement, as well as critical analyses of the socially constructed dichotomies between physical health and mental health, and visible and invisible disabilities. This executive will work with both MSU and community partners in order to assure that the projects are highly inclusive, appropriate, and impactful.  

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Awareness and understanding of topics associated with Maccess (i.e.
  intersectionality, critical disability theory, ableism, and human rights, mentalism/sanism, disability history, intersecting oppressions and invisible privilege). 

• Confidence and ability to challenge dominant views 

• Organizational and time management skills 

• Interpersonal skills 

• Communication skills 

• Creativity 

Effort & Responsibility 

• Establish and maintain professional connections on and off campus 

• Maintain confidentiality of all individuals accessing the Maccess 

Working Conditions 

• Time demands may exceed stated hours of work 

• Previous experience planning events or workshops is an asset 

• Most work can be completed in a shared office space 

Training and Experience 

• Necessary training will be provided 

Equipment 

• Personal computer 

Major Responsibilities

Advocacy and Promotions Function                                         

• Work with the Promotions Executive to communicate ideas for promotional materials and timelines to work within 

• Network with clubs, services, and community partners to find partners and promote these social events 

• Continually update social media with articles, community events, and ongoing campaigns 

Financial & Budgeting Function     

• Work with the Maccess
  Director to ensure that the budget aligns with the service budget 

• Retain financial information to receive reimbursement from the Maccess
  Director when necessary 

• Seek external funding as needed 

Communications and Programming Function  

• Respond to general inquiries 

• Maintain strong communication with the Maccess
  Director, fellow executives, and volunteers 

• Work with the Maccess
  Director
  and  executives to generate ideas about educative workshops 

• Work with the executive team to plan and launch campaigns 

• Coordinate with the Maccess
  Director and external partners to organize workshops in both semesters 

• Collect statistics on the number of students attending all workshops and campaigns 

• Work closely with the Logistics Executive to ensure events are accessible 

Other

• Other duties as assigned by the Maccess
  Director 

• Provide feedback on the service 

• Attend executive meetings as scheduled 

• Be an active member of the Maccess community through attending events, maintaining an online presence, etc. 

• Be available for peer support shift coverage 

• Provide transition for the incoming Social and Political Advocacy Executive 

When submitting your resume, please also submit a Word document (in place of a traditional cover letter) answering the following questions. Please note that answers can be point form: 

1. Maccess is a peer support service for students with disabilities (both formally diagnosed and un-diagnosed), facilitated by students with disabilities. How do you feel that you fit into this vision?* *Please note that Maccess is looking for members who have lived experience with disability (both formally diagnosed and undiagnosed). If you do not identify as disabled, we recommend checking out other MSU services such as WGEN, SHEC, and more! 

2. Why is peer support important to you? Please feel free to provide an example that highlights the skills, prior experience, and/or qualities you would bring to the role.