Since 1981, the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) has fostered the comprehensive development of the Latino population in the Washington metropolitan region by providing direct legal services, housing counseling, citizenship education, and community economic development, while promoting grassroots empowerment, civic participation, and human rights advocacy. CARECEN’s Citizenship program provides low-income immigrants and Latino/as in the Washington metropolitan area with comprehensive, affordable, high-quality citizenship assistance with the goal of ensuring that even the most vulnerable immigrants can access the protections of U.S. citizenship. These services include immigration legal services, community outreach, citizenship classes and education, and civic engagement efforts, including voter outreach. This is a full-time position under the supervision of CARECEN’s Director of Legal Services
Position Overview:
CARECEN seeks a Citizenship and Volunteer Coordinator to manage all non-legal aspects of the citizenship program. This individual will take the helm of a strong and well-respected citizenship program and will have the opportunity to revitalize services in the wake of COVID-19 to further grow the program and strengthen naturalization access across the DMV. The essential duties include the managing direct services, including:
Naturalization Outreach:
• Develop informational materials and naturalization outreach presentations
• Cultivate partnerships with local organizations to promote naturalization
Citizenship Classes:
• Manage all aspects of quarterly citizenship classes, including enrollment, curriculum, pre-and post-testing, and data tracking of citizenship classes
• Update citizenship curriculum to reflect changes in naturalization process and ensure relevancy to student population
• Develop lesson plans, activities, and classroom tools to support volunteer instructors
• Case management for individual citizenship students,
Comprehensive Citizenship and Civic Engagement Services:
• Provide wraparound services including interview preparation, interview interpretation, passport applications, etc.
• Promote voter registration and participation to ensure newly naturalized citizens are registered to vote. Conduct larger voter registration drives and educational events in election years.
Integration of naturalization-related educational and legal services:
• Obtain DOJ accreditation (training provided)
• Conduct citizenship eligibility screenings and ensure eligible clients receive application assistance
• Promote additional legal services to newly naturalized citizens, as necessary
Volunteer Management:
• Recruit, train and manage program volunteers, including teachers and translators
• Manage volunteer communications
• Maintain accurate records and data regarding volunteer contributions
Administrative and Reporting:
• Maintain accurate client and volunteer records
• Track program data and draft reports for grant proposals and management.
• Participate in advocacy related to naturalization and organizational goals
• Other duties that pertain to CARECEN’s work as assigned.
Candidate Qualifications:
• Fully bilingual English-Spanish
• Commitment to community service and racial equity
• Exhibit patience and support clients with low-literacy, developmental disabilities, and/or native speakers of languages other than English and Spanish. Engage Language Line, as appropriate.
• Awareness and sensitivity of the challenges involved in working with limited-English proficient clients.
• Minimum 1 year experience with adult learners, preferable targeting ESL and low-literacy populations
• Experience in volunteer training and management
• Knowledgeable of the realities faced by Central Americans and Latino immigrants; International experience in Central America and/or lived experience with the immigration system is a plus
• Equally committed to providing excellent direct services while advocating for systemic changes
• Strong written and oral communication skills and comfort with public speaking
• Flexible and personable; thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• Strategic and analytical; identifies opportunities to improve and expand programming
• Humility, responsiveness to feedback, and excellent customer service skills are indispensable to this role.
Please Note: The work schedule for this position involves Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and
Saturdays.
Compensation and Benefits:
Salary is $45,000-$48,000 annually. Competitive benefits package includes employer-paid medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, vacation, holidays, and sick-leave. You will be joining a team of committed and dedicated individuals who work tirelessly to ensure the advancement of the Latino community in our region.
To Apply:
Applicants with professional, volunteer, and/or personal ties to the immigrant and Latino communities in the Washington, DC metropolitan area are encouraged to apply. Those interested should e-mail a cover letter and resume to legaljobs@carecendc.org. Please include in the subject line: Citizenship and Volunteer Coordinator.
No phone calls please. Applicants are encouraged to apply by Friday March 24th, 2023, but all
applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted. Anticipated start date: Monday April 3rd, 2023.