Education Advocate, Immigrant Students' Rights Project

Advocates For Children (AFC) is a dynamic social justice organization that strives to ensure a high-quality education for New York students who face barriers to academic success, focusing on students from low-income backgrounds. AFC works on behalf of children and youth who are at greatest risk of academic failure due to poverty, race, ethnicity, disability, homelessness, immigration status/limited English proficiency, or involvement in the child welfare or juvenile/criminal legal systems. We use uniquely integrated strategies to advance systemic reform, empower families and communities, and advocate for the educational rights of individual students. For more information on AFC, see www.advocatesforchildren.org.

AFC seeks an Education Advocate for a new position in its Immigrant Students’ Rights Project (ISRP). ISRP works to protect the education-related rights of underserved immigrant families. Immigrant families face unique obstacles in NYC public schools related to their linguistic and cultural backgrounds. The Education Advocate will report directly to ISRP’s Project Director.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Education Advocate will primarily serve immigrant families of children with disabilities and English Language Learners (ELLs). Responsibilities include:

• Assisting families with school related issues such as special education, school enrollment, bilingual programs, and bullying;
• Conducting intakes of new clients;
• Participating in school meetings and school visits;
• Providing know-your-rights trainings to families across New York City and staffing tables at information fairs;
• Locating and connecting families with resources in their communities;
• Drafting and updating informational materials for immigrant parents; and
• Supporting ISRP policy advocacy efforts as needed.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Understanding of and alignment with AFC’s mission. Please review AFC’s work at advocatesforchildren.org.
• A bachelor's degree
• Fluency in Spanish
• Organized, detail oriented, and able to work independently on tasks and deliverables
• Experience working with children or families preferred.
• Strong presentation skills and comfort with public speaking.
• Strong writing ability and analytical skills.
• Ability to explain complex concepts in a manner that is easy to understand.
• Ability to multi-task and respond to changing needs.
• Available to work occasional evenings and Saturdays to staff a workshop or fair.
• Desire to learn, both as an individual and as part of an organization, and apply diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism principles.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Candidates should submit a resume and cover letter highlighting why they are interested in this role at AFC and how their experience aligns with the Education Advocate position, including any personal or professional experience that demonstrates their connection to the populations AFC serves.

This is a full-time position, with a salary in the $57,289 - $62,344 range, depending on experience, and includes a comprehensive benefits package.

The position is available immediately, and resumes will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

AFC is a hybrid work environment and all employees are expected to work 2 days a week in the office and remotely on the remaining days.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AFC’s current compensation package includes medical and dental insurance, with a plan option that covers full payment of medical plan premiums for staff and their qualified dependents. AFC has generous time-off policies that include 10 federal holidays, office closure between Christmas and New Year’s Day, and 15 vacation days and 15 paid time off days in the first year of employment. AFC also currently offers a 403(b) plan with a fully vested employer match and coverage of the premium cost of life insurance, short-term disability insurance, and long-term disability insurance.

Due to a high volume of applicants, only complete applications from qualified candidates will be contacted. No phone calls please.

AFC is an affirmative action employer that actively seeks to recruit and retain a diverse staff and especially encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, parents of persons with disabilities, persons of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or gender expressions and persons of diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. AFC is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability or other protected characteristic. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. To request accommodations, please email HR@advocatesforchildren.org.