The Policy Intern will provide critical support to Hamkae Center staff and community members to advance policy priorities during Virginia’s General Assembly session in 2022. Start date would ideally be in December 2021, with some flexibility to start the first week of January 2022 in preparation for 2022 Session.
Core Responsibilities
Directly assist the Policy and Communications Team Lead for General Assembly lobbying and bill tracking:
- Monitor relevant committee meetings and track votes during the General Assembly
- Schedule meetings with relevant state representatives on behalf of Hamkae Center to advance strategy
- Recommend relevant strategy changes and uplift opportunities to engage community members
- Notify the Policy and Communications Team Lead of any key updates, schedule changes, and other information that impacts status of key priorities
- Provide in-person support in Richmond for lobbying and vote preparation
Provide research, communications, cultural, and administrative support for Policy and Communications Team during the 2022 General Assembly:
- Research and monitor changes to priority legislations, with consideration to impact on Asian American community members in Virginia
- Assist in keeping internal bill tracker current by utilizing Virginia’s Legislative Information System (LIS)
- Make recommendations on communications, social media, and organizing strategy to support General Assembly strategy
- Assist with writing and sending emails to state legislators and Hamkae Center listservs
Community education:
- Provide public-friendly explanations on context, updates, and next steps for legislative priorities
- Assist in developing materials on General Assembly process and strategies to engage Asian American constituents in legislative advocacy
Other duties, as assigned.
Qualifications
- Mission alignment: Commitment to social, racial, and economic justice. A belief in the role values play in the legislative process, and the role legislation plays in impacting social values and systems
- A belief that Asian Americans in Virginia can play a role to impact Virginia’s legislative process
- General familiarity with Virginia’s state legislative process
- Confidence communicating with coalitions, legislators, and constituents
- Ability to report on tasks and key updates in a virtual or distanced environment
- Strong verbal and written communication skills (internal and external communications)
- Self-motivated and able to develop and move projects forward
- Reliable access to internet connection
- Driver’s license and access to car
Additional Details
Location: Virtual (preference is for Central Virginia or Richmond area)
Job Type: internship
Duration: December 2021 (ideally) or first week of January 2022 through 2022 General Assembly session
Reports to: Policy and Communications Team Lead
Pay: $15/hour, negotiable with experience
Hours: up to 20 hours/week
To Apply Applications are closed.
To apply: Send resume and brief essay to Zowee Aquino at zaquino@hamkaecenter.org. Please write in the subject line: “[First Initial, Last Name] – Policy Intern Application”
Essay: Please write a brief (1 page or less) essay in English describing your interest in this role and your perspective on Virginia’s current social and/or political landscape (given the most recent election) for Asian American communities across the Commonwealth. Formatting: Essay must be written in paragraph form, Times New Roman (size 12) font, with 0.5 margins and can be written in any spacing.
About Hamkae Center
Hamkae Center organizes Asian Americans in Virginia to achieve social, economic, and racial justice. Through community organizing, public policy advocacy, civic engagement, and youth leadership development, Hamkae Center works to build a future in which low- and middle-income, immigrant, people of color, and marginalized communities can fully participate in U.S. society and work together as makers of lasting change. We are the Virginia affiliate of the NAKASEC Network. Other members include HANA Center (Illinois), Woori Center (Pennsylvania), MinKwon Center for Community Action (New York) and Woori Juntos (Texas).
Hamkae Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. People of color, women, LGBTQ+ candidates, and people of diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. We are committed to a diverse workplace and supporting our staff with ongoing career development opportunities.
