Director of Legal Strategies for Immigrant Rights

Director of Legal Strategies for Immigrant Rights

Job Announcement

Rural & Migrant Ministry, Inc. (RMM) is creating a new project for immigrant rights in partnership with our Rural Academy of the People. The project will utilize legal advocacy in collaboration with popular education to build the capacity of immigrants to protect their legal rights. We are seeking a Director to develop and oversee the project.

The core of RMM is the people of RMM and a commitment to ending systemic justice in rural New York.  Here is our mission statement:

We create hope, justice, and empowerment with farmworking and rural families in New York by building community and developing leaders through advocacy, education and the arts.

We carry out our mission through four Worker Education Centers and three programmatic areas: 1) a youth leadership development program; 2) the accompaniment of workers through advocacy and civil rights litigation; 3) popular and participatory education as we stand alongside emerging and committed community leaders. We are a nonsectarian organization with strong ties to a multiplicity of faith bodies, unions and academic institutions.

The project will have four objectives:

• Build a cadre of advocates, allies, organizers to create a proactive approach to honor the humanity of immigrants and protect their rights.
• Use a multifaceted approach of education, legislation, litigation and public relations to build a foundation for immigrant rights justice.
• Utilize RMM’s existing programs, experience, contacts and staff as a foundation for building this effort.
• Partner with other organizations to effectively support immigrants in their quest to be justly treated.

The position has several primary components:

1. Build capacity of immigrants to understand and protect their rights through the Rural Academy of the People (RAP).
1. Creating pathways/protecting individual immigrant rights as RMM helps immigrants gather information (legal documents, paperwork, etc.) and get their affairs in order to advocate for themselves and move forward through the various systems: Immigration process, criminal justice, education, workplace and legislative.
2. Train advocates to stand with immigrants as they navigate these systems.
3. Train immigrants and advocates to work for systemic change within local, state and federal systems.
4. Develop Department of Justice-accredited case representatives to consult community members on a variety of services, including, but not limited to: citizenship, family petitions, adjustment of status, DACA renewals, U-Visa and VAWA for victims of domestic violence, removal defense, bond hearings and asylum.
2. Legislative Advocacy
1. Serve as a catalyst and support for the creation of campaigns at the village, town, county and state levels to counter anti-immigrant policies (emerging and existing) and to introduce proactive legislation/regulations. These campaigns will serve as models that can be replicated in other localities.
2. Train immigrants and advocates through RAP to understand and, in turn, participate in the legislative process.
3. Partner with other organizations in legislative action, public relations and research (of the law and other models).
3. Impact Litigation
4. Partner with other organizations and law firms to develop legal strategies that defend rights.
5. Public Perception
1. Work with RMM’s Communications Coordinator as well as RMM’s Communications Committee and other organizations to develop media strategies that offer a positive narrative of immigrants: their humanity and contributions to our society.

Requirements:

• Five years’ experience with immigrant rights organizations, coalitions and campaigns.
• Experience with government, legislative and legal systems.
• Five years of nonprofit management with strong organizational abilities, including: planning, delegating, program development and task facilitation. Solid, hands-on budget management skills, including budget preparation, analysis, decision-making and reporting.
• Successful leadership of programs resulting in outcomes.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish.
• Systems change & partnership model (theory and practical), and popular education experience.
• Commitment to working with faith communities.
• Strong written and speaking skills.
• The position is based either at the Cornwall-on-Hudson Center or the Riverhead, Long Island, Center, though the position also serves RMM’s Centers across New York State.

This is a full-time position with flexible hours and days. Compensation includes:

• $85,000 stipend
• Full family medical and dental insurance
• Four weeks’ vacation, contributions to a retirement program and a sabbatical after seven years.

RMM’s Global Non-discrimination Policy provides that we do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of gender, color, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, pregnancy, covered veteran status, protected genetic information and/or political affiliation.

To apply, please send resume and cover letter to Richard Witt, Executive Director: richard@rmmny.org  or mail to:

Rural & Migrant Ministry, Inc.

PO BOX 475

Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY 12520