Senior Community Liaison-Office of Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Rights (IMRR)

City Colleges of Chicago’s vision is to be recognized as the city’s most accessible higher education engine of socioeconomic mobility and racial equity – empowering all Chicagoans to take part in building a stronger and more just city.  The community college system’s more than 3,500 faculty and staff serve more than 60,000 students annually at seven colleges and five satellite sites.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE

The City of Chicago’s Office of Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Rights is dedicated to improving services and engaging Chicago’s diverse immigrant and refugee communities through enhanced collaboration with community organizations, academic institutions, and the private sector.

Reporting to the Special Advisor, the Senior Community Liaison-Office of Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Rights (IMRR) will ensure that the Office's key priorities and objectives are effectively met, focusing on project management, implementation, and operations. The Senior Community Liaison will play a pivotal role in ensuring that the needs of African Diaspora immigrants and new arrivals from the southern border are prioritized in all aspects of the Office's work.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

·       Advocate for policies and practices that promote the equity and inclusion of African Diaspora new arrivals in Chicago as well as those that support the social and economic integration of immigrants, migrants, and refugees.

·       Build and maintain relationships with African Diaspora-led organizations, aldermanic offices, and community members to ensure that their voices and perspectives inform policy and program development.

·       Work with African Diaspora-led organizations to support programs and services that meet the unique needs of their communities.

·       Collect and analyze data on the needs of African Diaspora new arrivals to inform program development and service delivery.

·       Collaborate with key stakeholders, including advocacy groups and community-based organizations, government agencies, and legal experts, to advance the office's advocacy efforts.

·       Assist in organizing advocacy campaigns, events, and meetings.

·       Track and report on legislative changes and policy developments at local, state, and federal levels relevant to the Office's mission.

·       Coordinate and oversee projects related to asylum seekers including facilitating social services, legal support, and humanitarian aid.

·       Liaise with organizations, volunteers, and agencies involved in asylum seeker response efforts.

·       Ensure efficient resource allocation and timely project implementation.

·       Support the execution of the Welcoming City Ordinance across various city departments and agencies.

·       Collaborate with stakeholders to develop policies and practices that promote inclusivity and protection of immigrant, migrant, and refugee rights.

·       Support multi-sector partnerships and coalitions to promote the long-term integration of immigrants, migrants, and refugees into Chicago's diverse communities.

·       Support initiatives aimed at improving access to education, employment, healthcare, and other essential services for immigrant, migrant, and refugee communities.

·       Create and maintain a comprehensive resource repository on immigration policies, legal rights, and integration services and support.

·       Coordinate public awareness campaigns to disseminate accurate information regarding immigration issues.

·       Collaborate with the Mayor’s Office Communications and IMRR team to ensure the accessibility of information to immigrant, migrant, and refugee communities.

QUALIFICATIONS

·       Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Public Administration, Public Policy, Social Work, or related field.

·       Five years of experience in community organizing, community engagement, communications, or related area.

·       A combination of experience and education may be considered in lieu of a degree.

·       Demonstrated experience in project management and event planning, preferably across various departments

·       Experience with advocacy, or community engagement, with immigrant, migrant, and refugees from the African Diaspora.

·       Knowledge of immigration policies, legal rights, and legislation within both the national context and local context preferred.

·       Strong organizational, communication, and collaboration skills.

·       Proficiency in data tracking, reporting, and project evaluation.

·       Ability to work effectively in a dynamic and diverse environment.

·       Bilingual skills are a plus.

·       Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

The intent of this job description is to provide a general description of the duties and responsibilities of this position.  It is not intended to be an exhaustive set of the duties and responsibilities, nor all of the necessary qualifications to perform the work.