AmeriCorps Financial Literacy Specialist – Kentucky Equal Justice Center – Lexington, KY

Kentucky Equal Justice Center (KEJC) seeks an AmeriCorps member to serve as a Financial Literacy Specialist at its vibrant immigration law program at Maxwell Street Legal Clinic in Lexington.

The AmeriCorps member will engage in outreach, education and referral around workers’ rights, health care and family financial stability with a focus on the Latino community.

With the help of staff and community volunteers, the member will build, create and help recruit volunteers for:

community education and prevention programs and partnerships
a bilingual staff and volunteer tax preparation site
monthly self-help wage claim clinics for workers faced with “wage theft”
a resource bank of agency and volunteer referral options for families

Duties and responsibilities

The AmeriCorps Financial Literacy Specialist will:

Network with community partners to identify top financial literacy needs and topics, with focus on immigrant and Latino communities
Gather, adapt and create prevention-oriented materials including verbal and PowerPoint presentations, fliers and brochures in English and Spanish, discussing workers’ rights and family financial issues
Conduct community education and outreach activities, including workshops, presentations and appearances at community events
With KEJC’s Employment Law Attorney, organize a monthly onsite self-help wage claim clinic, plus periodic offsite clinics, and manage related cases
Receive training in low-income tax preparation and serve at bilingual tax preparation program in Lexington during tax season
Recruit and maintain communication with volunteers to keep the tax site running smoothly and to assist with the wage claim clinic and community education
Participate in Maxwell Street Legal Clinic immigration law case intake weekly and suggest referral options for non-immigration financial issues
Maintain a written and online referral directory of community resources that can help individuals and families
Keep in touch with community partners through regular emails and social media, including Facebook and Twitter

Qualifications

The Financial Literacy Specialist should:

Have strong communication skills, both written and oral
Be proficient in Spanish and English
Be comfortable speaking in front of groups
Have excellent interpersonal skills
Be comfortable working in a multi-cultural setting, sensitive to language and cultural issues
Have excellent organizational and problem-solving skills
Have strong computer skills and excellent attention to detail
Have some knowledge of internet communications tools
Be a self-starter in developing and carrying out activities
Be able to take initiative and work independently, as well as in a team
Have some knowledge of low income issues and a commitment to social justice
Have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation

About Us

Kentucky Equal Justice Center was formed in 1976 to work with all of Kentucky’s civil legal services programs on statewide issues and projects. Today, we are a flexible and responsive public interest advocacy organization with a wide variety of community partners. We convene periodic statewide task forces in multiple areas of poverty law—Consumer, Housing, Welfare and Health and Workers’ Rights—and provide immigration law services through Maxwell Street Legal Clinic in Lexington. Our work includes policy advocacy in all these areas.

Maxwell Street Legal Clinic (MSLC) became a program of Kentucky Equal Justice Center in January, 2008. Launched in 1999 by community volunteers, the Clinic offers free or low cost advice and assistance with immigration law to low-income people and their families. The program helps people fleeing persecution in their home countries; immigrant victims of domestic violence, human trafficking and other crimes; youth who qualify for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals; and Lawful Permanent Residents and U.S. citizens seeking reunification with family members. MSLC also houses a vibrant Citizenship Project which helps eligible permanent residents apply and prepare for the naturalization process.

How to apply

Please email a cover letter, resume and a list of three references to Rich Seckel, Director, Kentucky Equal Justice Center at:

richseckel@kyequaljustice.org

Please put “AmeriCorps Financial Literacy Specialist” in the subject line of your email. For each reference, include a mailing address, phone number and email address. Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls please.

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