The Brazilian Women’s Group (BWG), a grassroots immigrant-led organization that provides advocacy and direct support to the Brazilian immigrant community in Massachusetts is seeking an Immigrant Rights Organizer.
This position is a balance of direct support to community members, coalition building with other organizations, and creative long-term project development. This position is ideal for a candidate with strong interpersonal skills, especially supporting people in crisis, who takes initiative to develop new project ideas, and who builds relationships well with others. We will hire ASAP.
Qualifications
– Community or labor organizing experience, immigration experience preferred
– Bilingual Portuguese/English required. Proficient in writing, speaking and reading in both languages
– Able to work flexible hours including some evenings and weekends for events. This position occasionally requires travelling.
– Computer literate
– Able to take initiative and maintain the focus in a self-structured environment
– Lived experience as a Brazilian immigrant a plus
– Paralegal experience a plus
Roles and Responsibilities
– Direct support to clients: We attend to approximately 10-15 community members per day by walk-in, phone, and WhatsApp. These people are facing a wide variety of issues ranging from questions about education to imminent threats of eviction, deportation, and violence.
– The elected candidate will provide emotional care, assess people’s situation, and support with addressing needs, whether providing direct resources on behalf of the BWG or referring to community partners
– Coalition building and participation: We participate in a number of coalitions with values-aligned organizations, some for ongoing power building, others for specific legislative or community projects
– The elected candidate will participate in these meetings, volunteer to take on responsibilities in these groups, schedule 1:1 meetings to build relationships with organizers in these spaces, and identify opportunities for new collaboration
– Political education: Using social media as well as virtual and in-person sessions to educate the public about relevant topics including Know Your Rights for deportation and eviction prevention, misinformation, paths to citizenship, among others
– The elected candidate will find existing materials from partner organizations conducting similar trainings, adapting them to the linguistic and cultural needs of the BWG. The elected candidate will organize, recruit, and conduct sessions, as well as post content.
– Creativity and initiative: Especially in light of the political moment we’re entering, much of the immigration work will require fast approach to initiatives to develop new projects, respond to government policies, and finding creative ways to meet the needs of the community. This will rely on your initiative to identify gaps, collaborate with colleagues to understand needs, and independently seek out, pitch, and develop programs. Examples of such ideas include:
- – Getting trained to fill out immigration forms, and if possible, EBT (Food Stamps), RAFT (Rental Assistance for Families in Transition), and other government forms
- – Creating a meeting of organizations serving the Brazilian community to connect and identify opportunities for better collaboration
- – Drafting (in collaboration with other BWG organizers) a ladder of engagement for general members of the public to become members of the organization, defining what membership entails
- – Working with other local immigration organizations to create local rapid response networks
- – Creating (or finding existing) guidelines for safety planning for undocumented individuals and families, and organizing sessions for guided safety planning
Commitments and Compensation
- – 25-30 hours per week, in-person at our office in Brighton. Occasional remote work
- – Starting salary subject to experience $25 hour, prorated vacation and sick days
- – This position will include occasional evening and weekend responsibilities for attendingcommunity events and meetings
Values
- – We center lived experience. Our leadership, board, and members are all Brazilian immigrant women, and this foundation establishes the basis of all we do
- – We fight for systemic changes. We know that corrupt systems of power do not represent our community, and we will continue fighting for nothing short of radical transformation
- – We value diversity and believe that together we can achieve a more diverse, equitable and inclusive society
- – We work from a point of strength. Against formidable oppressive forces, we recognize that we keep each other safe.Please send resume and cover letter to mulherbrasileira@verdeamarelo.org. No calls please