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Want to join the OCAD team? Please see below for responsibilities and qualifications for the Deportation Defense Coordinator position. To apply: please send a resume and cover letter to info@ocadchi.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Deportation Defense Coordinator

‍About OCAD

Organized Communities Against Deportations (OCAD) is an undocumented-led group that organizes against deportations, detention, criminalization, and incarceration, of Black, brown, and immigrant communities in Chicago and surrounding areas. Through grassroots organizing, legal and policy work, direct action and civil disobedience, and cross-movement building, we aim to defend our communities, challenge the institutions that target and dehumanize us, and build collective power. We fight alongside families and individuals challenging these systems to create an environment for our communities to thrive, work, and organize with happiness and without fear.

Position Summary

OCAD is looking for a Deportation Defense Coordinator that will be responsible for family support and program contract work in family deportation cases, as well as strategy support for legal and public events. We are looking for applicants that have organizing experience, especially around deportation defense work, approach the work through an abolitionist lens, and share OCAD’s organizational values.

Responsibilities include:  

● Coordinate the Family Support Network (FNS)

○ Coordinate and follow up with volunteers to operate intake process and the Family Support Network line

○ Bottom line intake follow-up when of interest to OCAD  

○ Follow up and coordinate with partner organizations when necessary regarding letters of support, coordination of legal strategy, public support and campaign work

● Individual campaigns  

○ Bottomline Initial intake forms  

○ Be main contact person and maintain constant communication with family/ attorney if there is one  

○ Conduct legal outreach for individual cases as needed  

○ Bottomline public campaign events and strategize effective tactics  

● Assess best way to support incoming cases, and whether a public or private campaign is needed

● Maintain and update database of individual cases, including keeping an up-to-date calendar of important dates in Clio (a legal case management software)

●  Coordinate with membership organizer to strategize effective public actions

● Stay in touch with local and national organizations  doing anti-deportation work  

Qualifications

• Experience with grassroots community organizing and coalition-building, especially in rapid response strategy and campaigning;
• Experience with tactic building and direct action;
• Alignment to OCAD core values including cooperative decision making, abolition of deportations, detention centers, and prisons, and belief in grassroots organizing;
• Highly organized, self-driven, and ability to maintain deadlines with minimal supervision;
• Excellent communication and relationship building skills with an ability to prioritize, negotiate,  and work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders;  
• A multi-tasker with the ability to wear many hats in a fast-paced environment
• English-spanish bilingual ability required.  

Compensation:  This position is a full time, salaried position set at $50,000 plus benefits annually. Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Insurance Plan, 14 vacation  days and 14 sick days accrued monthly with a 3 month probation period. Candidate must be based in Chicago, IL.

OCAD is an equal opportunity workplace and is committed to working closely and effectively with the  communities that we serve. Individuals self-identifying as undocumented, people of color, LGBTQI, working-class or poor, persons with a disability, or as otherwise having backgrounds and experiences  underrepresented in professional settings are highly encouraged to apply.