Bilingual Korean Immigrant Justice Organizer

HANA Center (HANA) is a Chicago-area, community-based non-profit organization working to meet the critical needs of Korean, Asian American, and multiethnic immigrant communities and build power toward systemic change. HANA Center has offices in Chicago and Prospect Heights, Illinois.

HANA’s Community Organizing program builds a strong base and leadership of community members to advance social, economic, and racial justice. HANA organizes on-going community education and cultural programs, political education series, skills-building trainings, and year-round civic engagement. HANA also advocates for policies that support all immigrants, including undocumented, youth, adults, families, older adults, and intercountry adoptees.

Position Summary

As a key member of HANA’s Organizing team, the Immigrant Justice Organizer functions as a point person for outreach, communication, and engagement program coordination with HANA’s Korean American community members. The Organizer builds a base and leadership of Korean American community members by facilitating HANA’s programs including Racial Justice Committee, cultural arts (adult pungmul, nonggi making) programs, and Korean seniors. The Organizer also supports HANA’s organizational involvement in campaigns and actions through canvassing, phonebanking, rallies, pressers, and other actions.

Major Responsibilities:

  • Build a community base of engaged first, 1.5, second, and adoptee generation Korean Americans through ongoing outreach, relationship building, including one-on-one conversations, leadership development, and organizing initiatives

  • Plan and facilitate HANA Racial Justice committee meetings and public education programs, People’s Academy, by working closely with HANA’s multigenerational Korean Racial Justice Planning Committee

  • Coordinate HANA’s cultural arts programming by working closely with contracted artists and instructors

  • Interpret and provide written translation in Korean for community members to facilitate their involvement in organizing campaigns

  • Represent and facilitate community members in representing HANA before the media, legislative bodies and legislators, community meetings, coalitions, and funders

  • Create and ensure smooth operation of actions, trainings, and mobilization opportunities for interested community members

  • Represent HANA at relevant coalitions including serving as the lead liaison between HANA and its national network, NAKASEC, on the network’s national immigrant justice campaigns

  • Participate in year-round organizing and civic engagement campaigns with HANA’s Organizing team

  • Support HANA’s grant reporting requirements and proposal development

  • Participate in regular staff meetings, staff trainings, and supervisory sessions

  • Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

  • Bilingual in Korean and English languages, both verbal and written, is required

  • Demonstrated commitment to immigrant rights and social, economic, and racial justice

  • Belief in communities’ ability to support each other, heal, organize, and achieve desired goals together

  • Experience working on Korean American, Asian American, immigrant community issues, and/or social, economic, and racial justice issues preferred

  • Proven track record of developing leadership of impacted community members

  • Ability to effectively develop and implement outreach and relationship building efforts to increase community engagement and work collaboratively in local partnerships

  • Ability to manage multiple projects with attention to detail, accuracy, and proven track record of meeting deadlines

  • Ability to take initiative, work independently, think creatively, and problem solve with a commitment to continued learning

  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team

  • Proficiency in Pungmul is an asset

  • A valid driver’s license, car, and car insurance strongly preferred

  • Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as required

Reports To: Executive Director

Compensation: This is a full-time position with a salary range of $47,000-$52,000 and benefits that include paid leave, paid sick leave, health, dental, vision, short-term disability, long-term disability, life, and 401K.

Application: Applicants should submit a resume and cover letter to jobs@hanacenter.org with the subject “Immigrant Justice Organizer.”

HANA Center is an equal opportunity employer.
Women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals are encouraged to apply.