Westword: Separated Immigrant Parents Transferred to Texas Are Missing Court in Colorado
Over the weekend, dozens of immigrant parents who were held in a federal detention center in Aurora after being separated from their children at the border under the recent “zero tolerance” policy were transferred to Texas. These parents include dozens who are working with RMIAN attorneys and volunteers who now find themselves located far away from the “lawyers who know their cases and are fighting for them to stay in the United States.”
USA Today: Family detention is not the answer to family separation. It's a failure and a disgrace.
Asylum-seekers are fleeing chilling violence and threats. They deserve help, not inhumane, sometimes terrifying treatment at family detention centers.
RMIAN's Mekela Goehring to Participate in Changemaker Chat
Founded in 2014, Changemaker Chats is a non-for-profit organization that equips women with the networks and know-how to be more effective at work, at home, and in their community. Changemaker Chats' staple event is its off-the-record “chats” with female leaders, ranging from C-suite professionals to entrepreneurs, to writers, artists, and more.
RMIAN Executive Director, Mekela Goehrng, will be the guest of a Changemaker Chat in Boulder on Wednesday, August 15, 2018, from 6:30pm-8:30pm. Register here.
Immigration Training: Adult and Child Asylum
In response to the humanitarian crisis involving adult immigrants and unaccompanied immigrant children in Colorado and the dire need for pro bono legal representation for this vulnerable population, the Colorado Lawyers Committee, RMIAN, the Immigration Law Section of the Colorado Bar Association, and Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP will present a free training on adult and children asylum on August 10th, 2018 from 8:00 until 12:00 at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP. This training is designed for lawyers with no immigration experience. The training is free to any individual who agrees to take a case screened by RMIAN.
KUNC: Colorado Detention Facility Holds Parents Still Separated From Their Children
RMIAN estimates that roughly 20 of the parents we have worked with have been released from the detention center in Aurora, and only two of them are with their children again. “Each one of them talks to me about how it feels like torture,” says RMIAN’s Laura Lunn. “Each one of the mothers I’m working with has complained about not being able to eat, not being able to sleep, feeling incredibly anxious and depressed and worried about the wellbeing of their children.”
Save the Date! RMIAN Full Day CLE Scheduled for 9/26/18
RMIAN, along with the Immigration Law Section of the Colorado Bar Association, will host a full-day CLE in Denver on Wednesday, September 26. The training will provide attendees with the keys to zealous immigration advocacy and dive into immigration enforcement, detention and bond practices, protections for immigrant crime victims, asylum law, special immigrant juvenile status, and working with experts to build your case. Information here.
Boulder Weekly: America no more
RMIAN’s Ashley Harrington and Laura Lunn speak to the Boulder Weekly about the administration’s policies and migrant families.
Photo: Matt Cortina/Boulder Weekly
NPR: After Reunification Deadlines, A Plan To Transfer Families To Detention Centers
RMIAN's Sarah Plastino speaks with NPR’s Michel Martin about the administration's plans to detain immigrant families and children longer than 20 days and about the challenges her clients face in reuniting with their children.
9News: Local artists sell work to support families separated at the border
Local artists, led by event organizer, Kaitlyn Tucek, held an art auction and fundraiser for RMIAN on Friday, June 29th, in Denver. Over 100 artists donated 240 pieces of art to the event, which raised over $13,000. This funding allows RMIAN to help parents in Colorado experiencing family separation.
Westword: Artists for Immigrant Families Will Host Fundraiser Tonight
From 6 to 9 p.m. tonight, June 29, Artists for Immigrant Families, an art auction organized by Kaitlyn Tucek at the McNichols Building, will raise money for RMIAN. Admission is $5 (you can get tickets in advance here).
Image: "Choices" by Molly Bounds, silkscreen prints.
Vice: Trump is now on a deadline to reunite families separated at the border
Vice quotes RMIAN’s Laura Lunn: “Everyone seems to be very confused, not just the people who are being detained and imprisoned. Across the board I haven’t heard anybody who has concrete next steps about how they will be reunited with their children.”
Photo: John Moore/Getty Images
Director of Development Job Announcement
RMIAN is hiring a Director of Development
RMIAN is currently hiring for a Director of Development
The Director of Development is responsible for planning, execution, management, and evaluation of fundraising efforts at RMIAN including: annual giving, major gifts, development and stewardship of donors, corporate partnerships, and external communication. Additionally, the Director of Development will oversee grant writing and reporting, and collaborate on fundraising events. Ultimately, this person is instrumental in the shaping of, and the execution of, the long-range fundraising plan for the organization.
This position works closely with the Executive Director, Board of Directors, and the Program Coordinator. The Director of Development serves as a member of the RMIAN leadership team.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
Annual Giving
- With the Executive Director and External Committee, sets annual goals.
- Manages a personal major donor portfolio and assists Board members in making "the ask" of their peers.
- Researches major gift prospects and participates directly in all major gift asks.
- Creases an annual fundraising plan and timeline.
- Manages all pledges.
- Creates direct mail appeals and manages mailing process.
- Builds relationships and stewards donors.
- Assists RMIAN Board, Executive Director, and Program Coordinator with the launch of the Liberty Circle.
Events
- Together with Program Coordinator, plans and executes the annual fundraising event, the Immigrant Liberty Awards.
- Plans and executes the annual Liberty Circle and related events, with the RMIAN Board, Executive Director, and Program Coordinator.
Grants
- Researches government, foundation, and other grant opportunities.
- With Program Coordinator, works to craft proposals; communicates with program staff to ensure accuracy in program descriptions, goals, and results.
- Schedules and leads site visits with foundation officers.
- Oversees and coordinates grant timelines and reporting.
- Manages calendar of key development activities.
Community Relations and External Communications
- With Program Coordinator, oversees all donor communications, including thank-you letters, newsletters, an annual report, and print and social media presence.
- Supports media relations work and helps lead external communications.
- Leads marketing efforts for RMIAN, including overseeing creation of print materials and digital media to tell RMIAN's story.
- Makes relevant connections with community groups and potential partners.
- Creates new and meaningful ways to connect community with opportunities to give.
Reporting
- Prepares financial reports and updates for the Executive Director and Board of Directors monthly or as needed.
- Updates and implements new donor database. Maintains donor and foundation records and ensures the accuracy and efficacy of the donor database.
- Rigorously evaluates all efforts and and progress to goals.
Staff Collaboration
- Works as part of a team to achieve the RMIAN mission.
- Participates as a key member of the RMIAN leadership team by: providing strategic direction and input; managing organizational change; helping to focus organizational resources; setting a positive example for staff.
- Contributes to "All Staff" events.
- Attends RMIAN staff meetings, as well as RMIAN Board meetings.
- Regularly reports progress, challenges,, and opportunities to Executive Director.
- Addresses email requests and phone messages in a timely manner.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Knowledge & Skills:
- Strong knowledge of regional and national funders and other non-profit organizations.
- Strong leadership skills, self-confidence and ability to successfully cultivate prospects at executive level.
- Successful applicant will possess an entrepreneurial, results-driven style and ability to identify and implement creative approaches to development.
- Must have the ability to work in a collaborative environment with program staff and board members.
- Experience working with donor databases preferred.
- Ability to communicate the RMIAN mission and programs effectively and match them to donor interests.
- A proven ability to perform under tight deadlines and meet strict financial goals.
- Demonstrated ability to navigate complex problems and rapid changes.
- Engaging and dynamic individual with strong commitment to immigrant justice and immigration legal services.
Education & Work Experience:
- Bachelor's Degree. Three to five years of direct development experience preferred.
- In-depth knowledge of, and experience in, the region’s philanthropic communities is required.
- Experience with donor information systems, records, research, and prospect management and tracking functions, gift processing and acknowledgements and donor relations.
- A proven record of annual giving, special events, corporate, foundation, and government grant support programs.
- Experience working with senior level executives and volunteer leaders in a professional environment.
- Management experience preferred.
Compensation:
- Salary commensurate with experience.
- Position is full-time, but RMIAN is open to exploring part-time opportunities for the right candidate.
To apply, please send a detailed cover letter, resume, writing sample, and list of three references to hr@rmian.org.
RMIAN is an equal opportunity employer and recognizes the importance of diversity in the workplace; individuals from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Local Artists + RMIAN = Support for Immigrant Families!
A group of Denver artists, led by Kaitlyn Tucek, are coming together for a one night only art sale and auction benefiting RMIAN. Join us at the McNichols Civic Center Building in Denver this Friday June 29th, from 6pm-9pm during their advocacy event Giving Voices and donate to support RMIAN's efforts to reunite separated families.
The Denver Post: Family separation will have devastating, irreversible consequences
RMIAN Executive Director, Mekela Goehring, and Dr. Janine Young on the lasting, irreversible consequences of family separation.
Photo: Seth Robbins/AP
CPR: What It’s Like To Be Separated From Your Child At The Border, And How It Still Hurts
Colorado Public Radio speaks to a RMIAN client who was separated from her daughter for two months in 2016, leaving lasting negative effects on her child. “It hurts to see what is happening right now. No parents should have to go through this.”
Photo: AP/Eric Gay
Congressman Polis meets with immigrant mothers detained in Aurora who were separated from their children at the border
Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo., along with Rep. Luis Gutiérrez, D-Ill., visited with migrant mothers at the immigration detention facility in Aurora yesterday. The Trump administration separated the mothers from their young children at the southern border in May, and has detained them ever since, now in Colorado.
Coloradoan: Fort Collins residents sought asylum at the US border. I know because I represented them.
Fort Collins immigration attorney, Kim Baker Medina, tells the stories of her asylum-seeking clients. “These people are real. I know because I represent or have represented each of them. But what is not real are the stories our president tells about them.”
CNN: Immigrant mom speaks out on child separation
An immigrant from El Salvador and RMIAN client shares her story of being separated from her daughter at the border.
Vice: This 6-year old was separated from her mother by ICE. It changed her.
Two RMIAN clients, a mother and daughter from El Salvador, tell their story of being separated at the border. “When I decided to leave with my daughter, I thought we would be together,” Sara said. “When I arrived and they separated us, it was so hard.”
Photo: Associated Press
Denver Post: 50 parents separated from their children await fate at Aurora ICE facility
RMIAN’s Brittany Hurley tells The Denver Post about RMIAN’s work with parents being held in detention in Aurora. “One woman I met with today used the word ‘anguish’ to describe it all,” Hurley said.
Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty