The Special Projects Coordinator will develop anti-racism programming that includes organizing critical conversations about anti-Asian violence and driving change through arts and cultural practices in Virginia. At a time when “anti-Asian hate” is in the spotlight, the Special Projects Coordinator will lead this initiative at Hamkae Center to engage diverse Asian Americans to grapple with hard topics in accessible and approachable ways, while also centering creativity to push back on harmful narratives that leave Asian Americans as being victims.
This position will be supervised by the Organizing Team Lead and work closely with a Project Design & Curriculum Design consultant.
Core Responsibilities
Organizing and Workshops (40%)
- Work with Project Design & Curriculum Design Consultant to refine presentations and workshops about racism and anti-violence with an understanding of how Asian and Asian American communities both experience and reinforce racism, sexism, classism, homophobia, anti-immigrant sentiments, and other forms of oppression. Content may draw on present-day issues in Virginia, including debates about racism and public education, increased reporting of racially-motivated harassment and attacks towards Asian Americans, policing of communities of color, etc.
- Identify opportunities to organize workshops and deliver the content described above and recruit participants. The goal is to schedule at least one workshop a month
- Work with Organizing Team to refine materials that can be delivered in monthly community meetings (separate from the workshops)
- Build relationships with organizations that work on identity-based violence prevention, including LGBTQIA+ and gender-based violence organizations
- Develop social media content to be translated into select Asian languages with translators
Arts & Culture (40%)
- Identify opportunities for Hamkae Center to work with cultural workers and artists to expand the role of art and culture in organizing, civic engagement, and advocacy efforts, starting in July 2022. Later, this position will facilitate arts and culture-based programing year-round that connects Asian American creative expression with social justice issues
- Inspire community members to develop cultural tools that can help bring more interest and energy to issue campaigns
- Organize events for Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May and Pride Month in June in 2022 and 2023
Miscellaneous (20%) 
- Attend weekly staff meetings. 
- Participate in year-round organizing, civic engagement, and fundraising campaigns with rest of Hamkae Center team
- Carefully track time and communications to ensure appropriate assignment to c3 or c4, direct and grassroots lobbying, and electioneering
- Provide data for reports as requested
- Other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
- Mission alignment: Commitment to social, economic and racial justice. A belief in community’s ability to support each other, organize and achieve desired goals together
- Training or experience in arts and cultural field
- Community outreach experience engaging with Asian Americans from many different backgrounds and experiences
- Strong and adaptable verbal communicator to convey ideas clearly and simply and adapt messaging to appeal to multiple audiences as needed
- Flexibility/adaptability with changing external circumstances
- Project management skills: Can respond rapidly to day-to-day needs while staying on top of long-term multiple projects without dropping any balls, plans backwards and anticipates + accommodates/adapts for obstacles, identifies and involves stakeholders appropriately, uses resources wisely
- Collaborative: should be comfortable working in small teams and across different organizational programs
- Proficient or adaptable with using and modifying digital tools and programs such as Google Forms and Microsoft Word
- Driver’s license and access to car
- Preference: individual who identifies as an artist/cultural worker and who has had experience doing art/cultural work in community-based settings.
Additional Details
Location: Northern Virginia
Job Type: part-time
Duration: now until May 2023
Pay: $23/hour
Hours: 20 hrs/week; could go up to 30 hrs/week in April and May
To Apply Applications are closed.
Send resume and cover letter to Mitch Chan at mchan@hamkaecenter.org. Please write in the subject line: “Special Projects Coordinator”. Priority deadline is January 15, 2022.
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 from a wide range of backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. We are committed to a diverse workplace and supporting our staff with ongoing career development opportunities.
