The MinKwon Center for Community Action (formerly YKASEC)
Fall 2011 Internship
Chinese Community Intern
The MinKwon Center for Community Action (formerly YKASEC) was established in 1984 to meet the needs and concerns of the Korean American community through our five program areas: Community Organizing and Advocacy, Social and Legal Services, Civic Participation, Youth Empowerment, and Culture. Since our founding, we have made a profound presence in the Korean American community through various grassroots organizing, education, and advocacy initiatives that address important community issues, including immigration policies at the national, state and city levels, voter rights, and culture awareness. The MinKwon Center places a special emphasis on meeting the needs of our marginalized community members, including youth, elderly, recent immigrants, low-income residents, and limited-English-proficient residents. More recently, it has expanded its program areas to work with the Chinese American community as well.
The MinKwon Center’s Immigrant Rights Legal Clinic features legal representation, free legal clinics and outreach activities in conjunction with a diverse group of legal organizations such as the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), the Legal Aid Society, the Urban Justice Center, Queens Legal Services, the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG). Over the past 3 years, the MinKwon Center has helped clients secure more than $700,000 through settlements, judgments, and court victories.
Internship Description
- Engage in direct contact with Chinese and English-speaking clients – do initial intakes to assess client cases, provide direct assistance.
- Prepare and conduct educational workshops for community members on relevant housing, immigration, labor, and other important legal and social issues.
- Translating and interpreting for staff and clients.
- Coordinate street and media outreach to introduce our services to community members, invite local residents to participate in our events and advocacy efforts.
- Ability to work independent and/or under supervision and take in charge of the given duties.
Details of Internship
- Supervision: Intern is supervised by the Chinese Community Outreach Coordinator.
- Compensation: While internships are not paid positions, academic credit has been arranged in the past.
- Hours: Interns are expected to workpart-time for a minimum of 10 hours a week.
- Duration: The internship runs from September to December 2011. Specific internship dates will be discussed in person.
Requirements
- Mandarin-language proficiency is required. Ability in other languages is a plus.
- Ability in translating document English to Chinese or vice versa is a must.
- Have the desire to empower the Asian American community.
Internship applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Please submit a cover letter and resume via email to:
Kathy Chae, Esq.
Social Services Director
kchae@minkwon.org