News

06.11.2021
Events

KINETIC Summer Program 2021

Are you an immigrant or refugee CPS high school student? Do you want to develop yourself as a community leader this summer? Join Advancing Justice | Chicago’s KINETIC summer program from July 6th to August 12th! We’re looking for 15 dynamic young people to learn and grow with us this year.

Through our KINETIC summer program, you will have the chance to build community with your fellow leaders from high schools all over the city while expanding your knowledge and analysis of political issues, developing organizing skills, and getting involved in our ongoing city and state-level campaign work.

As a KINETIC leader you’ll become familiar with immigrant and refugee advocacy and organizing in the context of Chicago public schools, and gain organizing skills/knowledge. You’ll build your own analysis of racial equity, education equity, and local school politics. You’ll also understand the importance of culturally relevant education and language access in our schools, and have the opportunity to take on roles in our organization’s campaign work, like our work to implement the Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History (TEAACH) in our schools. The program will be a mix of interactive workshops, skill/knowledge building sessions, facilitated discussions, and creative projects. There will also be small-group and 1-1 sessions. (more…)

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04.19.2021
News

A Message from our Executive Director

Dear Advancing Justice | Chicago friends and supporters,

I would like to share the news that at the end of June I will be transitioning out of Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago to become the new Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Immigration & Citizenship Coalition (PICC). A few months ago, my wife Cassie received an amazing career opportunity that is located on the East Coast. After her unequivocal support of me and my community work for the last decade – including caring for my parents in their final years – I was enthusiastic to likewise support her in this small way. It was fortuitous and perhaps destiny that shortly thereafter I was introduced to PICC and the critical challenges in Pennsylvania, many of which have national implications for the progressive movement.

For nearly the last decade, I have called Advancing Justice | Chicago home and have been privileged and blessed to learn from and advocate alongside some of the finest community organizers and grassroots leaders in the country. Together, we have built a vibrant, bold community that I have complete confidence will meet the challenges facing the Asian American community and live out a vision of active solidarity with other communities of color to work towards racial equity. We launched the Asian American Legislative Caucus (with no Asian American elected officials), advocated for life-saving state funding for Hepatitis B, strengthened Chicago’s Welcoming City Ordinance, and passed the Illinois TRUST Act, VOICES Act, and Automatic Voter Registration. We have also protected our communities’ voting rights with our poll watching project on election day and improved language services for limited-English voters. These are but a few of the successes that I am so humbled to have been a part of. It is a deep honor to have been entrusted with this leadership position and one that has been rewarding beyond words. And yet, the work must continue with our KINETIC youth and A Just Chi leaders, federal immigration reform advocacy, anti-hate bystander trainings, language justice work, and the chance to make history by passing the TEAACH Act into law, the first-time ever any state has required Asian American history curriculum to be taught in public schools.

I pray that in the coming months, I will have the opportunity to personally thank and meet with many of you if and when the pandemic subsides, but please know that Chicago and Illinois will always be my home and in my heart.

With much love and thanks,
Andy
Executive Director

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03.25.2021
Jobs

JOB POSTING: Communications Coordinator

Communications Coordinator Job Description

 

BACKGROUND AND MISSION

For nearly 30 years, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago has worked to bring together the Asian American community and create change in our communities. We are deeply committed to grassroots community organizing and we invest in the leadership of grassroots community members through trainings, community education, civic engagement, and collaborative issue-based campaigns. In order to strengthen our work and transform the inequities in our city, state, and Midwest region, we work with multiracial coalitions that emphasize racial equity, accountability to those most impacted, and an infrastructure of grassroots leadership. Our advocacy work focuses on promoting racial, economic, and immigrant justice, including initiatives in the areas of voting rights, language access, and immigrant rights.

As part of the national Asian Americans Advancing Justice affiliation, Advancing Justice | Chicago is a leader in the nationwide Asian American movement. Regionally, Advancing Justice | Chicago is prioritizing the Midwest, and collaborating with partners across the Midwestern states to tackle common struggles and build power.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago is seeking a motivated Communications Coordinator to work in the Development department and report to the Director of Development.

The Communications Coordinator will work collaboratively across all departments within the organization to research, develop, and write content for print, digital, and social media platforms. This position will help set the organizational tone and voice through editorial and media content, including emails, social media posts, newsletter stories, press, marketing collateral, and other communication vehicles. This position also identifies and develops compelling stories that inspire and motivate others to engage, as well as prospects and maintains media relationships with Advancing Justice | Chicago.

The position requires a self-starter who is creative, takes initiative, and can shepherd a project from conception to execution. Excellent grammar and writing skills are required for this position.
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03.01.2021
Jobs

JOB POSTING: Democracy & Redistricting Project Manager

Job Posting: Democracy & Redistricting Project Manager  

 

BACKGROUND AND MISSION

Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago is searching for a Democracy & Redistricting Project Manager to join our team in February/March 2021. This is a temporary full-time position that would run through the 2021 calendar year, with the possibility of being converted into a permanent position contingent on the organization securing additional funding. We are looking for an individual who is eager to work collaboratively with other highly passionate and committed individuals, whether our staff, coalition partners, or grassroots community leaders. All candidates must be committed to our mission of building power through collective advocacy and organizing to achieve racial equity.

Reports to:
Executive Director

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Democracy & Redistricting Project Manager position is an opportunity for a strategic and motivated relationship-builder to work with Advancing Justice-Chicago staff and grassroots leaders in Illinois and throughout the Midwest on a range of democracy and voting rights issues, with a special focus on redistricting. This position will also represent Advancing Justice-Chicago in the Just Democracy Illinois coalition and possibly collaborate with other staff from the Advancing Justice national affiliation’s Voting Rights working group. If capacity allows, this position would also have the opportunity to support other existing advocacy campaigns as deemed appropriate by their supervisor.
 
Key Responsibilities:

    • Advocate on behalf of Advancing Justice-Chicago in its redistricting advocacy efforts for Illinois and the City of Chicago.
    • Provide support to Advancing Justice-Chicago’s community organizers and Policy Director on all issues related to redistricting, including providing technical support to community partners in the Midwest region.
    • Create educational materials and presentations related to the redistricting process in various Midwest states and redistricting-related advocacy.
    • Represent Advancing Justice-Chicago in the Just Democracy Illinois coalition.
    • Participate in collaboration efforts by our Advancing Justice affiliation’s Voting Rights Working Group.
    • Conduct policy research and analysis on issues related to democracy reform and voting rights.
    • Contingent on capacity, provide additional support to other on-going Advancing Justice-Chicago issue advocacy campaigns.
    • Participate in internal meetings as deemed necessary.
    • Assist in grant processes involving the subject areas of democracy and voting rights.
    • Maintain a high-level of organization and accountability to expectations and deadlines.
        (more…)
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    02.25.2021
    Blog

    Board Spotlight: Mark Anthony Florido

    Dearest Community,

    Her name was Ana, but we all called her Lola Ima. She was my maternal grandmother –  known for her sinigang and her love of shopping. She loved her grandkids, often sneaking us little spoonfuls of coffee as a treat! It’s been more than a decade since she’s passed, but I’ve been thinking about her a lot recently. As more and more news about Asian community members, particularly our elders, being subjected to anti-Asian violence come to light, I can’t help but see my Lola Ima in them. I can’t imagine what it would feel like to have a beloved member of my family be a victim to such hate. But I know, I must do something.

    That’s where my role as a Board Member for Advancing Justice | Chicago comes in. I am thankful to be able to support efforts that honor my Lola Ima by engaging in work that uplifts the Asian American community and educates our community on how to protect others like her. For example, our bystander intervention training offerings give us some concrete tools that we can use to protect folks like Lola Ima during instances of anti-Asian bias motivated incidents. I am proud to know that through these trainings we are helping to create a safer world for all our Asian family members.

    But the work doesn’t stop there. As one of the Core Leaders for A Just Chi, I am in awe of the community’s endeavors to ensure that immigrants like my Lola have equitable access to resources and that they can live their lives without fear. (more…)

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