Request for Proposals (RFP) – Education Consultant 

Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago (Advancing Justice | Chicago) builds power through collective advocacy and organizing to achieve racial equity. For nearly 30 years, we have worked to bring together the Asian American community and create change in our communities. Advancing Justice | Chicago is 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. 

Project Background 

In 2020 and 2021, Advancing Justice led a coalition effort that successfully passed the Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History Act, or TEAACH Act (HB 376). On July 9, 2021, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed the TEAACH Act into law, making Illinois the first state in the U.S. to require a unit of Asian American history to be taught in public schools. This historic legislation will ensure that more than 100,000 Asian American K-12 students in Illinois see themselves reflected in their curriculum and understand the perspectives and contributions of Asian immigrants and Asian Americans in US history. The new mandate goes into effect in the 2022-2023 school year. 

To support the successful implementation of this new mandate, we are seeking a consultant to develop and facilitate a series of professional development (PD) trainings for K-12 teachers on the topic of Asian American history. The consultant will be responsible for developing and delivering trainings with support from our partner, the Asian American Education Project (TAAEP), and a team of 2-3 current educators (selected by Advancing Justice) who will share ongoing feedback.  

Scope of Work 

All dates are tentative and subject to change. 

• Develop trainings for K-12 teachers in Illinois Public Schools on Asian American history (Oct-Feb 2021).  

• Collaborate with TAAEP to adapt their existing content for an Illinois context, and alter or add to the content where appropriate; 

• Ensure that the training series includes content for all grade bands (K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12) 

• Gather feedback on the trainings from in-service teachers, former teachers, and those in higher education; 

• Coordinate and facilitate PD trainings for K-12 teachers in Illinois Public Schools (March-Dec 2022) 

• 2-3 trainings per month from March to May 2022 
• 4-6 trainings per month from June to August 2022 
• The consultant may train other facilitators to conduct trainings as needed. 
• Advancing Justice | Chicago’s School Outreach team will assist with arranging trainings in partnership with schools and/or school districts and recruiting teachers to attend public trainings. 

Trainings will be free for teachers to attend, and will be conducted virtually and in-person as circumstances allow. Advancing Justice will work with the Illinois State Board of Education to arrange for continuing education/PD credits.  

Audience 

These trainings are geared towards current K-12 teachers in Illinois public schools. Their familiarity with the subject matter will range from teachers who have never taught Asian American history, to teachers who have actively integrated Asian American history content into their lesson plans. Teachers across elementary, middle, and high school grades will be attending. While it is likely that most attendees will be in the social sciences, there may be teachers in other disciplines who attend as the mandate does not specify which subject Asian American history must be taught in.  

Other considerations 

While there is a wealth of content to build on through TAEEP, we want to ensure that this training series considers: 

• The importance and impact of teaching Asian American history in schools; 

• Illinois and Midwest specific examples of Asian American history; 
• Representation across different Asian ethnicities in Asian American history; 
• The contributions of Asian Americans across different sectors e.g. government, civil rights, sciences, arts, etc. 

Proposal Requirements 

Proposals should include the following: 

• Past relevant experience in K-12 education and/or teacher training; 
• A topline overview of training models, including topics/content that will be covered by each training, length of trainings, format/facilitation style, and intended audience (i.e. grade band(s)) 
• Training assets that will be developed 

• Timeline of training development 
• Proposed rates  
• Any other information that candidates would like to provide to highlight their experience and capabilities. 

 Please submit proposals to work@advancingjustice-chicago.org by 11:59pm on October 20, 2021 and include “Education Consultant” in the subject line. 

 Advancing Justice-Chicago is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified persons are encouraged to apply, regardless of race, color, creed, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, age, height, weight, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, HIV status, marital or domestic partner status, or religious affiliation. 

Voting Rights Legal Fellow (Post Graduate) Job Description

Administered by Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus

Exempt, Full-time, Remote, Travel required

Temporary – Two-Year Term

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

The Asian Americans Advancing Justice affiliation immediately seeks a full-time (40 hours per week) Voting Rights Legal Fellow to support its national voting rights project, with dedicated responsibilities in Chicago and the Midwest.  This position may be located remotely and reports to the Director of Affiliation Voting Rights Strategy, is administered by Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Asian Law Caucus, and jointly supervised by Asians Americans Advancing Justice-Chicago.

THE ORGANIZATIONS

Asian Americans Advancing Justice (Advancing Justice) is a national affiliation of five civil rights nonprofit organizations:

Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Asian American Justice Center
Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Atlanta
Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles
Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Chicago (Advancing Justice-Chicago)
Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus (Advancing Justice-ALC)

Although independently led, operated, and funded—the affiliates share a common mission to promote a fair and equitable society for all by working for civil and human rights that empower Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and other underserved communities.  The Affiliation Voting Rights Strategy is a joint project to increase voting rights advocacy, including litigation, in strategically selected Asian and Pacific Islander communities across the country.

Advancing Justice-ALC will manage this position.  Since 1972, Advancing Justice – ALC , our nation’s first and oldest Asian American legal advocacy center, has litigated high-profile civil rights cases, advocated for the passage of landmark policy changes, and provided an array of services, including community education, advocacy, and direct client representation, to further the rights of low-income immigrants and communities of color. Current program areas include Voting Rights, Workers’ Rights, Immigrant Rights, Housing Rights, Criminal Justice Reform, and National Security & Civil Rights. A growing staff of 45+ provides strong collegial support and opportunities to learn about and collaborate with other program areas. Advancing Justice – ALC is based in San Francisco, a hub of the Asian American rights movement, progressive politics, and social justice activism.

Advancing Justice – Chicago will jointly supervise and co-host this position. For nearly 30 years, Advancing Justice-Chicago has worked to bring together the Asian American community and create change in our communities. Advancing Justice-Chicago is deeply committed to grassroots community organizing and invests in the leadership of grassroots community members through trainings, community education, civic engagement, and collaborative issue-based campaigns. In order to transform inequities in Illinois and across the Midwest region, Advancing Justice-Chicago works with multiracial coalitions that emphasize racial equity, accountability to those most impacted, and an infrastructure of grassroots leadership. Current program areas focus on promoting racial, economic, and immigrant justice, including initiatives around Voting Rights, Language Access, Immigrant Rights, Criminal Justice Reform, and Education Equity.

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