Cover Letter to OBS

I've started a new job today - Employment and Careers Coach.  I am really excited about this opportunity to incubate a community, faith based non-profit and design its career pathways for under-skilled low income workers.  My work will allow me to not only shared the professional development skills I've been introduced to, but will let me create an employment program focused on job training, skills assessment, and job creation.

I'm so excited!!!!

I'm looking at some of my old cover letters and happened upon this one...thought I would share....

November 14, 2014

The Organization for Black Struggle

1401 Rowan Ave.

St. Louis, MO 63112

Dear OBS,

I know that everything in life has an ordained purpose - nothing is by happenstance. As a little girl growing up in E. St Louis, IL I witnessed hard working people striving to make a better tomorrow for their families while battling the difficult conditions of their reality.  I lived in a community where people valued their ability to share what they had while also being open to the generosity of their neighbors.  Over the last 14 years I’ve traveled this country for the purpose of working, learning, honing my skills and gaining perspective, with the intention of returning home one day to serve as a resource to my community. That day has arrived, and it is with great excitement and humility that I submit my resume and cover letter for consideration of the Development Lead position for The Organization for Black Struggle.

Over the last decade, I’ve honored my many passions and expanded my skills through diverse work experiences. Most recently, in 2013, I completed a year-long professional development fellowship with the Proteus Fund Diversity Fellowship – a program designed to increase the presence of people of color in philanthropy. Throughout my career, I have sought to remain substantively connected to community work, while also exploring the critical question of sustainability. My career path has nurtured a long term commitment to community; building integrated networks necessary to establish multi-stream funding sources for the sustainability of your organization.

I am extremely impressed with the mission and history of OBS, and its dedicated staff and leadership. I have had multiple opportunities to work with members of OBS through my organizing work with the Campaign to Bring Mumia Home.  During the last two years my work with the campaign has focused on building a sustainable revenue generating infrastructure to support our five-year strategic goals.  Without the support of full-time staff or dedicated funding from grantmaking organizations, we have made significant inroads in creating revenue through merchandising, cultural event fundraising, crowdfunding, and cultivating individual donors through an ambassadorship program. 

In the pursuit of justice, human rights, and democracy I employ the words of Dr. W.E.B DuBois, “…to earn a living by doing the work which I wanted to do, and the work that the world needed done.” I hope to embody these words as the Development Lead for Organization for Black Struggle.  Thank you for this opportunity to share a little about my work, and I am available via email (lillymaples79@gmail.com) or telephone (###-###-####) to schedule a follow up conversation or interview.

Respectfully,