AACRE Program Advocate

About CAA and AACRE  

Chinese for Affirmative Action was founded in 1969 to protect the civil and political rights of Chinese Americans and to advance multiracial democracy in the United States. Today, CAA is a progressive voice in and on behalf of the broader Asian American and Pacific Islander community. We advocate for systemic change that protects immigrant rights, promotes language diversity, and remedies racial and social injustice. 

In 2014, CAA helped to launch the Asian Americans for Civil Rights and Equality (AACRE) network that focuses on long-term movement building, capacity infrastructure, and leadership support for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders committed to social justice. Including CAA, there are currently 11 partnering member groups with unique strengths. Fiscal sponsorship, administrative, and operational support is provided centrally for all of these groups so they can focus on their core programs. 

More recently, CAA, along with AAPI Equity Alliance and the San Francisco State University Asian American Studies Department, launched the Stop AAPI Hate coalition to document and respond to incidents of hate at the local, state, and national levels. The mission of Stop AAPI Hate is to advance equity, justice, and power by dismantling systemic racism and building a multiracial movement to end anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander hate. This is an exciting period of growth and impact for Stop AAPI Hate. Due to the extraordinary demand and support for our work, we are poised to deepen and expand our reach and engagement throughout the country. 

At the grassroots level, our community building work nurtures the ability of immigrants to participate fully in civic life. These activities include direct services, leadership development, and civic engagement with limited-English proficient newcomers and immigrants on issues that impact our community. At the systemic level, CAA leads advocacy, communications, and movement building work to improve public policy and shape public discourse. We produce community-based research, publish policy analyses and recommendations, influence opinion through media, organize to engage elected and government officials, and nurture a range of progressive coalitions.

Position Overview 

Reporting to the AACRE Director of Programs, the AACRE Program Advocate provides support to the AACRE network working on an array of issues, such as immigration, incarceration, queer and trans justice, and arts and media representation, that impact the Asian American community. 

The support entails organization, preparation and planning for, communication of, and implementation of AACRE programs. The programs vary from workshops and monthly orientation, to training and field trips to AACRE offices. Specific examples of activities the Program Advocate organizes include narrative power workshops, Lunar New Year celebration, and wellness activities such as Book Club, Wellness Circle, and events such as a kayaking outing. Coordination of these activities and collaboration with the AACRE Communications Associate to share them with the AACRE network are critical responsibilities of the Program Advocate. 

The ideal candidate is passionate and knowledgeable about the work that AACRE organizations do, very organized and detail oriented, and possesses sound judgment. We are looking for a flexible self-starter who can thrive in both collaborative and independent work settings; has the ability to prioritize and execute efficiently on multiple projects; and can communicate effectively. This is an exempt position supervised by the AACRE Program Director and requires the candidate to be located in the San Francisco Bay Area and able to attend the events organized by AACRE Programs. 

Key Responsibilities

• Support opportunities to strengthen AACRE network relationships, visibility, and impact, including but not limited to retreats, collaborations, and peer-to-peer learning opportunities 
• Work in partnership with AACRE Program Director to cultivate collaborations, shared and cross-promoted events, and document network happenings including the AACRE safety pod, leadership team, community celebrations
• Utilize systems and structures for tracking, refining, and cultivating network collaborations, resource-sharing, and communication including the WIKI site
• Document AACRE network for stakeholders, including but not limited to AACRE Board of Trustees, AACRE group leaders, and funders 

Qualifications 

• A curious and creative individual who embraces learning
• Excellent at relationship-building, taking initiative, and driving projects
• Knowledge of and previous experience with networks/collaboratives and Asian American Pacific Islander issues 
• Commitment to the organization’s mission, values, and aspirations, and be able to render these values into practice 
• Demonstrated experience in building an inclusive environment in an office setting 
• Excellent communication, dependability, and good judgment
• Able to use communication and other tools (e.g., GSuite, Slack, WordPress, Canva) effectively and learn new tools 
• Able to work independently and as part of a team who supports the mission and diverse partners of AACRE 
• Able to work occasional weekends or evenings based on needs of the member groups, with options for flex time or overtime pay

How To Apply

To apply, please email a cover letter and resume to employment@aacre.org. In the subject line, please write “AACRE Program Advocate.” In your cover letter, please address the following questions: What about our mission or values inspires you? What has been your most impactful work or life experience so far, and why? For more information about AACRE, please visit www.aacre.org.

AACRE is an equal opportunity employer. Women, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, and immigrants are encouraged to apply. We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.