Black Immigrant Engagement Fellow, NYC Community Interpreter Bank

Team: Policy and Programs
Reports to: Project Manager - NYC Community Interpreter Bank

Location: New York City

Company: New York Immigration Coalition

Job Type: Internship (12 months)

Salary: Part-time, $20/hr (10 - 15 hours/week)

Overview of the Organization

The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) is an umbrella policy and advocacy organization for nearly 200 groups in New York State. We envision a New York state that is stronger because all people are welcome, treated fairly, and given the chance to pursue their dreams. Our mission is to unite immigrants, members, & allies so all New Yorkers can thrive. We represent the collective interests of New York's diverse immigrant communities and organizations and devise solutions to advance them; advocate for laws, policies, and programs that lead to justice and opportunity for all immigrant groups; and build the power of immigrants and the organizations that serve them to ensure their sustainability, to improve people's lives, and to strengthen our state.

Black Immigrant Engagement Initiative

This Initiative builds upon the opportunity of President Obama’s November 2014 announcement of executive action on immigration in order to increase capacity for mobilization, advocacy, and leadership development in New York's African, Afro-Caribbean, and Afro-Latino immigrant communities. The project’s ultimate goals will be to build capacity, experience, and networks within eight black immigrant organizations and communities to help a significant number of black immigrants receive comprehensive immigration services regardless of executive action, and to increase the engagement of black immigrant groups in advocacy for executive action and broader immigration reform—in turn, helping build a more diverse and powerful immigrant rights movement.

Position Overview

Over the course of the fellowship, the Black Immigrant Engagement Fellow will support and help coordinate public programming, trainings, and community engagement efforts for the recruitment and hiring of interpreters for the NYC Community Interpreter Bank.

This position will support the NYC Community Interpreter Bank, a community program which the NYIC has undertaken to enhance language access and increase the supply of trained, vetted legal interpreters.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

    1) Community Outreach

    • Develop and implement outreach strategies to engage Black immigrant communities.
    • Assist in the design and implementation of programs and services tailored to the needs of Black immigrant communities.
    • Build and maintain relationships with community leaders, organizations, and stakeholders.
    • Organize and facilitate community meetings, workshops, and events.
    • Create content for social media, newsletters, and other communication platforms to raise awareness about the NYC Community Interpreter Bank and language access issues impacting Black immigrants.
    • Occasionally moves or carries materials weighing 50 lbs or less.

    2) Policy and Research

    • Monitor and analyze local, state, and federal policies concerning language access.
    • Advocate for policies and initiatives that support the rights and well-being of Black immigrants.
    • Work alongside with the NYC Community Interpreter Bank team and member organizations to amplify the language needs and barriers of Black immigrants.

    3) Program Development

    • Assist in the design and implementation of programs and services tailored to the language needs of Black immigrant communities.
    • Evaluate program effectiveness of the NYC Community Interpreter Bank and make recommendations for improvement.
    • Develop educational materials and resources for community members, and NYIC member organizations.

Qualifications

  • Applicants must share a strong commitment to NYIC’s core mission, and knowledge of language access policies and issues.
  • Experience working with immigrant and/or Black communities.
  • Experience in community organizing, advocacy, or program development is highly desirable.
  • Proficiency in Google Workspace, Asana, Salesforce, and social media platforms preferred.

Salary: $20/ hour

**The NYIC has a transparent and equitable salary structure. Starting salaries for each position are set in advance with no room for negotiation.

To Apply: Interested candidates should submit a resume and a cover letter to hr@nyic.orgwith the subject line: Black Immigrant Engagement Fellow.

Deadline to Apply: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and we are looking for someone to start as soon as possible.

All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination based on race, creed, color, national origin, immigration status or citizenship, sex, age, disability or marital status.