The mission of Proyecto Faro/The Lighthouse Project, an immigrant-led organizing effort, is to help build a community in which all people can live without fear or anxiety. Working to galvanize support and action among those in Rockland County who feel insecure due to their immigration status, we strive to create solidarity across boundaries of legal status, country of origin, and secular and religious affiliation. We are committed to acting as a lighthouse in the midst of the storm, walking hand in hand with all refugees and undocumented neighbors who are navigating hostile waters with the goal of helping all to find solid ground.
OverviewProyecto Faro is a small non-profit organization in Rockland County, NY. Our Legal Empowerment Clinic has grown out of a collaborative process with the community we serve. We’ve developed a network of pro bono and “low-bono” lawyers to help immigrant families stay together and thrive. This free and safe legal clinic has a strong focus on empowerment through sharing knowledge. The clinics are not simply a space where lawyers provide services to “clients.” Immigrants themselves do as much work as possible, in close consultation with allied lawyers. PF clinics educate people one-on-one and demystify the law so we can use it as a tool to assert control over our lives. Our immigration attorneys answer questions on issues like naturalization, DACA, removal proceedings, and battered spouse waivers. We also assist people to report unethical lawyers and seek remuneration where applicable. We are seeking an intern to assist one of the Program Leaders and attorneys with tasks related to clinic cases. Intern will be working under the supervision of an attorney.
Assignments may be fast-paced, and consistency, a strong work ethic, and time-management are very important. Must be bilingual (Spanish and English).
Responsibilities & Duties Include:
- Assisting clinic Program Leaders with basic administrative work
- Coordinating social media work and posting
- Attending to inquiries from community members and connecting them with resources and information
- Working with other key team members to develop and expand PF’s clinic
- Writing blog posts discussing FAQS and Know Your Rights topics
- Participating in our Your Voice Counts/Tu Voz Cuenta/Ou Vwa Konte sessions where applicable
- Supporting volunteer recruitment and coordination
- Following up with clients, prospective clients, and volunteer attorneys
- Assisting with filing forms and applications
Qualifications:
- Fluent in Spanish
- Strong writing skills including the ability to recognize and emulate PF’s “organizational voice”
- Excellent people skills with the ability to converse in a welcoming and thoughtful way
- Able to pay close attention to details
- Capable of working independently and with minimal supervision at times
- Comfortable working with social media platforms such as Instagram, Tik Tok, and Facebook
- Working knowledge of Dropbox, Google Drive, and Microsoft Office
Flexible schedule and opportunity to work some hours from home. The internship will be for four months, working 35 hrs/month.
Must be available to attend, in person, our monthly legal clinics which are every third Wednesday from 6-9pm.
Benefits:
This is not a salaried internship but a $750 stipend is given monthly (totaling $3,000), as well as college credit and/or community service hours. The most significant benefit of this internship will be the experience of participating in a community-based project at the intersection of immigration law, mutual aid, and community organizing and working alongside a collective team of lawyers and volunteers.
Location : Zoom and onsite in Spring Valley, NY
How to apply: We need to fill this position very quickly. Please submit a cover letter and resumé to info@proyectofarorockland.org as soon as possible.
Proyecto Faro is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, women, persons with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ+ community.