Message from Vivian and ED job announcement

Message from Vivian Chang, Executive Director of APEN:

Dear Friends,

With a full heart of gratitude, I am writing to let you know that I will be leaving APEN as its Executive Director at the end of January 2009. There were many factors that led to my choice: the wonderful experience of becoming a mother, the length of my tenure here at APEN (9 years) and longstanding commitment to new leadership, the many changes that are happening in the world and the realization that now is the right time for a new direction.

I am so proud of what we have been able to accomplish together here at APEN – whether taking on oil company interests right here in Richmond CA, or big development in Oakland CA – and I continue to be humbled by the incredibly supportive and creative board, the dynamic and skilled staff team, the courageous community members and leaders who give life to our work.

I have the utmost confidence in the strength and readiness of the organization to move forward. We have strong leadership from top to bottom. The Board and staff are working closely together on the executive transition with the guidance of an executive transition and search consultant. We have a steady and healthy financial base to support our work. We have a clear and bold strategic direction, with the goals of increasing our membership to 1,000, of putting forward a community-derived environmental justice solution and agenda, and of leveraging statewide impact.

In my opinion, there has never been a time when “an APEN” has been more needed. The planet is facing an unprecedented ecological crisis with climate change. Low income communities of color who already bear the heaviest burden of environmental and economic damage will be the first and worst hit by this change. With the economic reorganization and transformation that is required to address this ecological crisis, come opportunities that will have significant impact on our local communities – from how our cities are built, how public funding gets prioritized, to what kinds of economic opportunities are created. APEN’s focus in the next 5 years will be to push forward solutions that address climate change, and to build environmentally just cities for all communities.

You have been a friend and supporter of APEN for many years, and I’d like to ask for your help in several ways. First, can you take part in our search for the next Executive Director? Attached is a job announcement for your review and distribution. Second, if you are in a financial place to consider making a contribution, please do so.

And finally, please extend the warm support you so generously offered to me when I first started here at APEN, to Miya Yoshitani. Miya currently serves as APEN’s Associate Director, but has agreed to step up as the Acting Executive Director while we complete our search. She has had a long history of working in the environmental field; at the young age of 23, she served as the executive director of The Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC), a national network representing almost 30,000 student and youth environmentalists. Miya first joined the APEN staff in the mid-90’s as a youth organizer, and now brings to APEN over 15 years of experience in social justice organizing, fundraising and organizational development.

Thank you for your trust in APEN and my leadership. I look forward to continuing our work together.

Sincerely,
Vivian Chang

APPLICATION PROCESS

APEN Executive Director Full Job Announcement (PDF)

APEN has retained Viveka Chen and Associates to conduct the candidate search. Applications are due electronically to APENexecsearch@earthlink.net and should include:

• Resume including chronological employment history
• Cover letter describing interest in the position, qualifications and salary history and expectations (2 pages maximum)
• Short writing sample (2-5 pages maximum)
• Four references

Please direct all inquiries to the above email address only (please do not contact the APEN office directly).

Application Deadline: January 12, 2009, 5:00pm (applications received after the deadline may be considered if APEN decides to expand the pool of applicants)
Start Date: Mid to late February

APEN is an equal opportunity employer. Women, people of color, gay, lesbian, and trans-gendered persons encouraged to apply.