GRAHAM WINDHAM

In full partnership with families and communities, Graham Windham strives to make a life-altering difference with children, youth, and families who are overcoming some of life’s most difficult challenges and obstacles, by helping to build a strong foundation for life: a safe, loving, permanent family and the opportunity and preparation to thrive in school and in the world. We have been a leading innovator for over 200 years, and today provide an array of supports in the city’s most under-resourced communities in Harlem, the Bronx, and Brooklyn. We do this by listening to our families, co-creating new approaches and by providing immediate supports. We also address societal barriers to our families' autonomy, safety, and success by working to make civil systems more just.

Advocacy and Public Policy Associate

NEW YORK, NY
Hybrid or Remote: Hybrid*
Supervisor: Chief Strategy Officer and General Counsel


JOB DESCRIPTION

The Weil Legal Innovator would play a pivotal role in Graham's advocacy work and advancing the policy objectives most important to our community, while also supporting Graham's impactful daily legal work, which spans different populations, regulatory schemes, and legal disciplines. The Innovator will report directly to Graham's Chief Strategy Officer and General Counsel and take the lead on researching policy issues, helping Graham executives stay informed on legislative changes and advocacy needs, coordinating meetings with elected officials, and recommending and implementing advocacy strategies. The Innovator will also provide support to Graham's General Counsel, conducting research on pertinent legal topics and serving as a thought partner on how to respond to legal questions big and small.

Among other responsibilities, the Weil Legal Innovator would:

  • Coordinate, prepare briefings for, and attend meetings with legislators
  • Develop white papers and make recommendations to the Graham leadership team on actions to take on pending legislation
  • Conduct outreach, event planning, and meeting planning for community leaders and elected officials
  • Support the development and execution of advocacy strategies
  • Provide concrete assistance on legal matters involving health, safety, privacy, litigation, compliance, tax, finance, governance, employment, and more

Specific areas of advocacy focus may include:

  • Addressing the root causes of involvement in the child welfare and other punitive systems (e.g., the federal child tax credit, universal child care, NYC and NYS housing subsidies, Cash Transfer Initiative for youth aging out of foster care)
  • Addressing systemic biases in child welfare (e.g., through determining how to join with parent activists on legislation/policy changes, such as redefining child neglect so as not to punish families for poverty and ending anonymous (versus confidential) reporting policy to deter false and malicious reports)
  • Expediting permanency for youth in foster care by focusing on expanding mediation as an alternative to Family Court
  • Expanding education and employment opportunities for youth who are living in under-resourced communities
  • Equitable, just salaries for human services staff

DESIRED SKILLS

  • Excellent writer and editor
  • Outstanding verbal communication skills
  • Keen analytical skills
  • Strong ability to conduct research and summarize findings clearly for an executive audience
  • Eagerness to learn and willingness to jump in and complete many types of assignments
  • Excellent time management and organizational skills
  • Ability to work independently and meet deadlines
  • Ability to work collegially with a wide range of people
  • Must have a passion for Graham's mission and pillars
 

*REMOTE WORK DETAILS

This will be a hybrid role, with weekly remote and in-office work. Most work will be at the Brooklyn Heights office; however, there will need to be travel to our other sites in Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Harlem, and to meet with elected officials in NYC and possibly Albany.

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