Sept 2023 

ABOUT WAISN 

The Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN) is a grassroots coalition of over 400 immigrant and refugee rights organizations, formed in the wake of the November 2016 elections. 

WAISN’s mission is to protect and advance the power of immigrant and refugee communities through a multiracial, multigenerational, multiethnic, multigender, multilingual, and multi-faith coalition. Our organizing strategy educates and mobilizes statewide to uphold and defend the rights and dignity of all immigrants and refugees, centering the voices of vulnerable and impacted communities. 

The state of Washington is home to over 943,000 immigrants and receives the 8th most refugees among states. Many groups of, by and for immigrants and refugees have been working around the state for decades. In the face of the proliferating threats unleashed on us by the Trump administration and a rise in the white supremacy movement in the U.S., we have coalesced to form the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network. 

WAISN is the largest immigrant-led coalition in the state of Washington. We are a powerful, volunteer-driven network of immigrant and refugee-rights organizations and individuals distributed across the state in 27 counties. We work to provide support, capacity and resources to organizations’ efforts to build power and act as a united immigrant justice voice statewide. 

The ideal candidate shares our commitment to building relationships and grassroots power in immigrant and refugee communities and supports our feminist decolonial transnational and intersectional values of joy, care, solidarity across differences, integrity and accountability. 

POSITION SUMMARY 

This position will work closely with the Resource Information Coordinator to support the organization in its next chapter during a period of increased growth and becoming a 501 C(3). The set length of the fellowship is three months with the option to renew/extend for another three months after a favorable performance evaluation if all parties agree. Interns will be expected to commit to 10 hours of work per week, which can be completed on a flexible schedule. 

The Resource Research Fellow will be responsible for supporting the following: 

● Maintaining and expanding WAISN’s robust resource information delivery system to the WAISN Deportation Defense Hotline and Network. 

● Learning about the organization’s mission, goals, and programs. 

● Developing skills in resource management, cross-departmental collaboration, team-building, and internal communications. 

Priority projects in 2023 include: 

● Updating and expanding the WAISN Resource Finder database. 

● Reviewing and correcting resource information Spanish translations.

Resource Research Fellow Job Description This position will report to the Resource Information Coordinator. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

Area of Responsibility #1: Resource Management (70%) 

● Correct and update resources in the WAISN Resource Finder database of 1400 resources. ● Add new entries to the WAISN Resource Finder. 

● Edit Spanish language translation of Resource Finder entries as needed in collaboration with and informed by the Language Justice Coordinator. 

● Copyedit and proofread Resource Finder entries in Spanish and English as needed. 

Area of Responsibility #2: Cross-Departmental Collaboration (30%) 

● Develop fluency on WAISN’s editorial and style guide to ensure a cohesive honed organizational voice and brand. 

● Participate in special focused resource research projects as needed. 

● Participate in weekly team meetings and one on one meetings as required. 

Job Requirements and Personal Traits Preferred 

● Spanish/ English speaking, reading and writing skills are preferred. 

● Demonstrated strong writing skills with excellent grammar. 

● Stellar computer skills and experience with Microsoft operating systems and data entry systems. ● Access to Hi Speed internet required. 

● Strong interview skills and ability to gain all information needed for resource research. ● Ability to distill complex source materials into approachable language for diverse audiences. ● Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage a variety of projects in a fast-paced environment. 

● Familiarity with basic categories of immigration status and ID options preferred. ● An understanding of the nuance and complexity of resource accessibility issues faced by immigrants. 

● Knowledge base should also include service management, intervention approaches related to vocational, housing, healthcare access, and other immigrant-specific needs. 

● Ability and willingness to work within the WAISN’s community-centered organizing strategies constructively. 

● Capacity to display a positive, optimistic, accepting attitude toward personnel, callers, and larger immigrant communities of all faith, genders, sexuality, ethnicity, races and embodiment. ● Sensitivity to individuals’ unique cultural characteristics, and to the challenges faced by the socioeconomically disadvantaged people. 

● A demonstrated commitment to social and racial justice issues and understanding of challenges facing immigrant communities, communities of color, queer and transgender communities, as well as low- and moderate-income families; 

● A demonstrated commitment to cutting edge progressive values that champion an intersectional, decolonial, and transnational feminist agenda centered around the dismantling of all systems of oppression;

Resource Research Fellow Job Description 

● Demonstrates self-awareness of their own multiple group identities and their unconscious biases, can adjust to different spaces accordingly; 

● Ability to communicate and build strong relationships and trust across race, gender, class, and other group identities, both internally and externally; 

● Knowledge and willingness to learn about the U.S. immigration system, preferably with lived experience as an undocumented person, immigrant, or immigrant family; 

● Highly organized, self-driven, can independently manage multiple tasks successfully, and can work collaboratively; 

● Excellent writing and communication skills; 

● Willing to work in a collective environment with consensus-based decision-making; ● Bilingual/Multilingual skills are highly preferred and desired; 

COMPENSATION This is a project-based fellowship. This position offers a stipend of $2,000 per quarter for the fellowship, contingent on experience. 

REMOTE/ HYBRID WORK POLICY WAISN employees are currently located across the state of Washington and do not share a centralized office. 

VACCINE POLICY In an effort to maintain a safe and healthy workplace, WAISN requires all current staff members and contractors to be fully vaccinated. WAISN defines "fully vaccinated" as having received either 1 dose of the Johnson&Johnson or 2 doses of the Moderna or Pfizer administered vaccines. WAISN also strongly encourages personnel to receive a booster dose when possible. All new personnel must present proof of COVID-19 vaccination card to the HR & Operations Manager upon request. Exceptions to the vaccine mandate include religious reasoning and health concerns. If you are eligible for an exception, please reach out to the HR & Operations Manager to discuss in further detail. 

TO APPLY Please send resume, cover letter, and list of three references to jobs@waisn.org. All documents must be in a single PDF in one email with “Resource Research Fellow” in the subject heading. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Priority for applications received by October 16, 2023. No phone calls please. 

**WAISN is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer that provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees/applicants in all of our employment practices without regard to race, religion, color, sex or gender (including gender identity, pregnancy, childbirth, lactation), sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, medical condition, physical or mental ability, or any other basis protected by law. We encourage applications from historically and currently disenfranchised people of color, immigrants, women, people with disabilities, members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer communities and other historically and currently disenfranchised groups.**

‍