Sanctuary Movement Organizer

Voces de la Frontera is a national leader in the movement for immigrant and worker rights and the largest grassroots Latinx membership organization in Wisconsin. Led by low-wage immigrant workers and students, Voces works to protect and expand civil rights and workers’ rights through leadership development, community organizing, and collective empowerment. Voces de la Frontera has chapters in Milwaukee, Racine, Madison, Green Bay/Fox Cities, Sheboygan, Manitowoc, Waukesha, Walworth County, Kenosha, and West Bend. Voces’ student arm is called Youth Empowered in the Struggle.

The Voces de la Frontera Sanctuary Movement has played a critical role in supporting immigrant families in crisis, particularly those facing detention and deportation and their families. By mobilizing faith-based organizations and community volunteers, the New Sanctuary movement has provided financial aid, ICE and court accompaniment to legal proceedings, and advocacy for just immigration policies. However, at this critical moment there is a need for a dedicated organizer to strengthen coordination between participating congregations and Voces de la Frontera. This proposal seeks to establish a Sanctuary Movement Organizer position to enhance communication, engagement, and resource-sharing among immigrant families and faith-based communities in our coordinated campaigns and services. In the first year, the New Sanctuary Movement organizer will focus primarily in Milwaukee and will support statewide in the regions where Voces has its strongest chapters. This includes LaCrosse/Sparta/Arcadia, Brown County, Dane County, and Racine County.

This is a part–time position.

The Sanctuary Movement Organizer will serve as a liaison between Voces de la Frontera and various faith-based organizations to:

• Strengthen the infrastructure of the Sanctuary Movement by deepening relationships between churches, synagogues, mosques, and Voces in supporting immigrant rights campaigns and families facing the threat or reality of deportation.
• Support direct services for immigrant families, particularly those facing detention and deportation, ensuring swift coordination of financial and logistical support such as Know Your Rights, Rapid Response, court and ICE accompaniment, support with legal defense and humanitarian needs of families impacted by deportation.
• Enhance communications between participating congregations, volunteers, and impacted families, streamlining advocacy and resource distribution efforts. This includes tools on physical sanctuary and support.
• Build leadership within faith-based communities, encouraging congregational members to take active roles in immigrant rights advocacy and days of action such as Dia Sin Latinos and Immigrants on May 1 and state-based campaigns to restore state driver licenses on May 2 and in key regions of the state.

Major Responsibilities:

1. Strengthening Communication and Coordination

• Develop and maintain a structured communication system between Voces de la Frontera and participating faith-based organizations.
• Create a rapid response network for emergencies involving immigrant families in crisis.
• Facilitate regular updates and coordination meetings among faith-based groups.

2. Organizing Faith-Based Advocacy and Action

• Coordinate prayer vigils, rallies, and advocacy events in collaboration with religious institutions and Voces.
• Support congregation leaders in developing Know Your Rights trainings, family support networks, and sanctuary policies.
• Mobilize faith groups to take active roles in immigration justice initiatives, including court accompaniments and direct advocacy efforts.

3. Expanding Financial & Material Support for Immigrant Families

• Strengthen fundraising efforts for the New Sanctuary Movement, connecting donors and faith groups to ensure sustainability.
• Identify additional funding sources and faith-based contributions to expand financial relief for families in crisis.
• Work with the Voces de la Frontera development team to create partnerships with religious organizations that can offer emergency assistance.

4. Training and Leadership Development

• Develop and facilitate leadership trainings for congregation members to engage in immigrant rights work.
• Provide capacity-building workshops for faith-based volunteers on accompaniment, legal processes, and trauma-informed support for families
• Strengthening interfaith collaboration and expanding the number of faith-based groups actively involved in sanctuary efforts.
• Increasing financial support and emergency resources available to immigrant families in crisis.
• Improving communication between Voces de la Frontera, religious institutions, and impacted communities.
• Enhancing the effectiveness of immigrant rights advocacy through coordinated faith-based action.
• Developing long-term sustainability by fostering leadership among congregation members and immigrant families.

Qualifications:

• Associates degree in a related field with work experience
• Exceptional time management and verbal and written communication skills
• Impeccable attention to detail and self-motivated
• Ability to meet deadlines
• Commitment to working in a fast-paced environment and quick to adapt to change
• Commitment to supporting the work of immigrant rights and social justice initiatives
• Must be willing to work a flexible schedule including evenings and weekends
• Bilingual Spanish/English is required

Benefits: (Eligible after 90-day probationary period)

• Life, Long-Term, and Short-Term Disability insurance coverage
• 401K benefits based on longevity
• Reimbursement to personal phone if willing to utilize it for work purposes, in accordance with the Voces de la Frontera employee policy handbook
• Paid-time off includes: 40 hours vacation, 1 personal day, 4 sick days, 3 days bereavement, and paid holidays all in accordance with the Voces de la Frontera employee policy handbook (Please note this time is ultimately prorated according to when in the year you begin)

Salary: $27,500 Reports to: Christine Neumann-Ortiz (Executive Director)

Voces de la Frontera is an affirmative action employer. Voces believes that all people are entitled to equal employment opportunity and does not discriminate in any matters on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, gender identity and presentation, religion or spirituality, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental ability, sexual orientation, physical characteristics, marital status, pregnancy or parental status.