WHO WE ARE: Founded in 1933, the IRC is a leading organization providing relief, protection, and resettlement services for refugees and victims of oppression throughout the U.S. IRC in San Diego has resettled over 31,000 refugees to San Diego County over the past 48 years and provides numerous program services. In San Diego, the IRC opened its doors in 1975 and has grown to serve approximately 7,000 refugee and immigrant individuals from 115 countries of origin each year through 5 different departments.

Serving San Diego’s immigrant community for over 30 years, the IRC in San Diego’s Immigration Department provides comprehensive immigration legal services and citizenship education to low-income immigrants, refugees, and asylees. This role will play a critical part in supporting San Diego’s growing immigrant population, educating local immigrant communities about existing immigration benefits, their rights, the unauthorized practice of immigration law, community resources and connections, and civics education.

WHAT IS AMERICORPS? AmeriCorps is a voluntary civil society program supported by the U.S. federal government, foundations, corporations, and other donors by engaging adults in public service work, with a goal of helping others and meeting critical needs in the community. "The program is often seen as the domestic Peace Corps.” Members commit to full-time positions of completing 1700 hours during an 11-month contract.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

As the Immigration Volunteer Outreach Coordinator and Intake Specialist, you will work with the Immigration Department to manage volunteers and help them become citizenship tutors, classroom aids, translators/interpreters, or administrative volunteers, determine volunteer needs, conduct volunteer screening interviews, hold monthly volunteer trainings and orientations, supervise administrative volunteers, implement volunteer recognition activities, support outreach initiatives, and collect and submit data on volunteer statistics.

The AmeriCorps member will positively contribute to empowering more immigrants in our community to obtain secure immigration benefits such as green cards, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, and work permits. For others, it will allow them to naturalize and become a U.S. citizen. The ability to obtain more secure immigration benefits results in more significant numbers of immigrants obtaining employment, accessing healthcare, reunifying with their families, and becoming civically engaged. This position will also facilitate outreach efforts into San Diego’s immigrant communities to inform them of existing immigration benefits and connect them with quality, low-cost legal resources.

WHEN YOU SERVE WITH US

• Earn a $25,500 stipend ($15/hour) payable by bimonthly direct deposit.
• Earn an additional $6,895 education benefit to pay down qualifying student loan debt or to continue your education.
• Access to health insurance program at no premium cost to you.
• Available childcare assistance benefit, if eligible.
• Participate in a 3-day, in-person leadership conference in Indianapolis, IN, in March 2024.
• Receive ongoing coaching, mentorship, and professional development.

OBJECTIVES

Under guidance from the Immigration Specialist, the AmeriCorps member will:

• Develop professional skills by providing direct service to clients (DACA and Naturalization application preparation, with legal eligibility review/supervision completed by authorized representative/staff).
• Outreach to the community and training and managing a cohort of volunteers to support the Immigration Department.
• Build the capacity of the IRC to increase the organization's efficiency, effectiveness, and/or program reach. The AmeriCorps Members will recruit and/or manage residents as episodic or long-term volunteers.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Actively manage 15-20 Immigration Department volunteers to become citizenship tutors and classroom aides, translators/interpreters, or administrative volunteers;
• Work closely with the Immigration and Citizenship Education teams to determine volunteer needs;
• Conduct screening interviews with volunteers interested in the Immigration Department;
• Hold monthly volunteer training and orientations for Immigration Department volunteers;
• Actively supervise all Immigration Department administrative volunteers;
• Implement recognition activities for Immigration Department volunteers;
• Maintain active correspondence with the volunteer base to ensure the volunteer experience is going well (in the case it is not, make appropriate adjustments and changes);
• Collect and submit monthly volunteer statistics;
• Support the implementation of outreach initiatives for the Immigration Department;
• Work in the community to build strategic relationships, conduct a variety of outreach activities, and recruit program participants;
• Design and implement outreach activities using a variety of media and strategies to increase awareness in local refugee, asylee, and immigrant communities about the availability of no-cost and low-cost immigration services;
• Support Immigration legal services; Participate in training seminars, online courses, and shadowing of DOJ accredited representatives;
• Assist with 10-15 citizenship or DACA renewal applications under the supervision of DOJ-accredited staff;
• Conduct screenings and intakes for scheduling purposes.

WE WELCOME YOU TO APPLY IF YOU:

• Have lived experience or an interest in working with a diverse group of people.
• Identify as any generation but are at least 17 years old.
• Possess unexpired proof of status as a US citizen or permanent resident.
• Consent to complete a criminal history check, which is required for all candidates. Don’t let this stop you! A criminal record does not mean a person cannot serve, and if this is a concern, reach out to Beth Romeo at americorpslisc@gmail.com.

LISC AmeriCorps is available to everyone eligible to serve. We treat all persons without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic or status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field of study preferred.
• Desire and ability to work with a diverse group of people, particularly those living in low-income distressed neighborhoods.
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment.

Work Experience:

• Interest and/or experience working with immigrant and refugee communities.
• Knowledge of the San Diego community or willingness to learn.
• Demonstrated Skills & Competencies:
• Strong relationship building, diplomacy, and networking skills; ability to effectively build internal and external relationships.
• Demonstrated success working and communicating effectively in a multi-cultural environment.
• Self-starter with excellent problem-solving skills combined with the proven ability to prioritize and manage time effectively.
• Attention to detail and accuracy in work product.
• Fluent in Arabic, Farsi/Pashto, Ukrainian, Russian, Burmese, or Karen
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook); ability to use the internet and other digital tools for data entry, research, and problem-solving purposes.

This position reports to the Immigration Specialist.

The IRC has high expectations for AmeriCorps members; they are treated as IRC staff members and expected to work, participate, and behave to the same standard as staff.

This position is made possible through a partnership between Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), AmeriCorps, and International Rescue Committee. To learn more about LISC AmeriCorps, visit www.lisc.org/americorps. To learn more about IRC, visit www.rescue.org.

Working Environment:

Standard, professional office environment, including the current hybrid mode of remote work within San Diego County and required in-office days and some 'field' time within the service delivery area to perform the above-outlined responsibilities. Office working environment is subject to change based on organization/business needs.

San Diego Office hours are scheduled Monday-Friday, 8:30 am-5 pm with 1 break for lunch, a 15-minute break in the morning, 15-minute break in the afternoon; occasional evenings and weekend service may be required.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity: IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential.