The Refugee Education Center (REC) was started in 2006 by a group of Somali Bantu refugees who were persecuted and prohibited from receiving formal education in their home country. They recognized the incredible value and opportunity that education offers and organized and created REC to help support refugee children placed in West Michigan. Over the last 15 years we have served 4,500 refugees, a small portion of the estimated 25,000 who have been placed in West Michigan. Our mission is to support refugees on their journey to becoming fully participating members of our local community and building a thriving, multicultural region where all can succeed. We do this through offering birth to career launch services that support refugee children with early childhood development, K-12 school readiness and success, and secondary education or career path planning support.

Summary:

The Refugee Navigator is responsible for establishing direct connections and effective communication with REC clients and the wider refugee community to ensure they are supported with understanding and navigating the US educational system. As part of the Navigation Services department, the Refugee Navigator's empathy and connections to the community are essential in building trust with the families served by REC, making the fulfillment of our mission possible. Through their shared language, cultural understanding, and lived experience, Refugee Navigators provide invaluable support to clients and are empowered to advocate for the needs of refugee students within the education system. They are key to REC's effectiveness in walking alongside refugees towards full participation in the community.

*Must speak Haitian-Creole*

Work Location: Hybrid – 15% on-site, 85% remote, local travel required

Key Competencies:

Collaboration: When appropriate, actively seeks out and works effectively with peers and/or community partners to accomplish goals.

Communication: Uses oral, verbal, written and other forms of communication to effectively convey ideas concisely and with an appropriate tone and approach based on the audience.

Ownership: participates in shared responsibilities for the benefit of REC organizational values, programs, and area space.

Values Diversity: Practices identifying individuals with different cultural, educational, and communal perspectives in areas of hiring, program feedback, and program development as a benefit to both the organization and communal equity.

Job Duties

• Conduct initial intake meetings/home visits with clients in a timely manner
• Collaborate with program manager, coordinator, school staff, and clients in collecting and relaying information accurately
• Complete school orientations with clients
• Support clients with variety of support meetings with school staff and external partners – including parent teacher conferences, special education needs, behavioral concerns, etc.
• Collaborate with teachers, administrators, and guardians to navigate support plans for students facing challenges
• Transport clients to school for meetings, intakes, orientations, etc.
• Participate in annual bus training for students
• Make referrals for internal and external needs of clients
• Provide school-related crisis intervention and support in consultation with Program manager
• Recognize wider needs of communities served and share these with program leadership to drive necessary program change and advocacy

Desired Qualifications:

• High school diploma or GED, some higher education preferred
• Experience and knowledge of Michigan education system and enrollment process (early childhood through adult/higher education)
• Multi-lingual/literate in English and Haitian Creole
• Understanding of refugee resettlement
• Experience working with diverse communities; ability to show cultural competence across communities served

Preferred Skills:

• Ability to act with integrity, initiative, patience, and confidentiality
• Ability to mediate with compassion
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Outlook

Physical Demand & Working Conditions:

• Ability to travel locally to meet with families and schools, personal vehicle preferred
• Must be able to transport clients as needed
• Must be able to communicate with clients and staff
• Ability to walk up to a mile, continuously for 30 minutes
• Ability to stand for long periods
• Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times

EEO Statement:

The Refugee Education Center is an equal opportunity employer and thus values diversity at our organization. REC not only does not discriminate based on any characteristic protected by federal, state, and local laws including the following: race, religion, skin-color, sex, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, genetics, marital status, veteran status, or disability status but encourages those of diverse backgrounds to apply because we’re better together.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $19.00 - $25.00 per hour

Expected hours: 10 per week

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Ability to Relocate:

• Grand Rapids, MI 49508: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Grand Rapids, MI 49508