2026 Democracy Project Fellowship

Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR)

Posted date: July 9th 2026

Application Due Date: July 31st 2026

The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) is launching the search for the 2026 Democracy Project Fellowship class, a 12-week fellowship program for young people who are interested in working hard while exploring a career in social justice and electoral/political work, receiving quality training, and contributing to the participation of new citizens, immigrants, and young people in the democratic process.

Position Summary

Since 2002, ICIRR has led the Democracy Project Fellowship, a nonpartisan Get Out the Vote (GOTV) program that empowers immigrant communities by increasing voter participation across Chicago and surrounding suburbs. The fellowship is a paid, full-time leadership development opportunity for emerging community leaders who are passionate about civic engagement, voter mobilization, grassroots organizing, and strengthening democracy. It will run from Wednesday, August 12, through Friday, November 6. Fellows will work 40 hours per week and earn $1,000 a week stipend, paid biweekly. There will also be a 100$ a month stipend for phone and transportation support in addition. 

Each fellow will be placed with an immigrant-serving organization in the Chicagoland area, where they will work with their host organization to carry out local voter engagement efforts. Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community (CBCAC) will be the host organization at the Great Chicago Chinatown area.

Fellows will receive day-to-day support from CBCAC, as well as training, mentorship, and ongoing guidance from ICIRR staff. Throughout the fellowship, fellows will develop skills in volunteer recruitment, voter registration, and voter outreach. Voter outreach activities include, but are not limited to, door-knocking, phone-banking, community events, tabling, and digital outreach.

Responsibilities

  • Engage immigrant and pro-voter through nonpartisan voter outreach

  • Recruit, train, and support volunteers to expand outreach efforts

  • Plan Election Day mobilization efforts, including early voting initiatives 

  • Build relationships with community organizations and local organizations 

  • Participate in trainings, team meetings, check-ins, and other leadership development opportunities

  • Accurately track outreach activities and report on results 

  • Conduct voter engagement activities in a strictly nonpartisan (not supporting a particular candidate or party) manner, and carried under non-profit 501(C)(3) guidelines

  • Knock doors and phone bank for a minimum of 20 hours a week 

  • Set up weekly canvasses and phonebanks 

Qualifications

  • Passionate about civic engagement, voting rights, and empowering immigrant communities

  • Self-motivated, organized, and capable of independent and team-based work

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills

  • Comfortable engaging community members in-person and virtually

  • Ability to work on evenings and weekends for outreach activities 

  • Access to reliable transportation and willingness to travel locally

  • Applicants must have a valid work permit (Employment Authorization Document)

Bilingual applicants are strongly encouraged to apply. We especially welcome candidates who speak Mandarin, Cantonese, or Taishanese, etc. 

Because fellows will be working with community volunteers and conducting extensive outreach, this will not be a 9-5 job and will require commitment, flexibility, and a 40-hour minimum work week. It will be essential to have access to reliable transportation and a willingness to travel locally. 


Apply:

Applicants are requested to send their CV or resume to yonggangxiao@cbcacchicago.org by July 31, 2026.

伊州移民与难民权利联盟（ICIRR）现正公开招募 2026 民主项目研究员。本项目为期 12 周，专为渴望投入社区实践工作，同时探索社会正义与选务／政治工作职涯的青年所设计。参与者将接受高质量的专业培训，并为促进新公民、移民及青年参与民主进程做出贡献。

职位概述

自 2002 年以来，ICIRR 持续推动「民主项目研究员」计划。这是一项无党派的「催票动员（Get Out the Vote, GOTV）」项目，旨在通过提升芝加哥及周边郊区的选民投票率，赋权移民社群。本项目为全职、有偿岗位，适合对公民参与、选民动员、深耕基层社区以及巩固民主有热情的候选人。

  • 项目时间： 2026 年 8 月 12 日（周三）至 11 月 6 日（周五）。

  • 工作时间与待遇： 每周工作 40 小时，每周津贴为 $1,000 美元（每两周发放一次）。每月另提供 $100 美元的通讯与交通补助。

每位研究员将被派驻到大芝加哥地区的移民服务机构，并与该实习单位合作开展当地的选民参与工作。华埠更好团结联盟（CBCAC）将作为芝加哥华人社区的实习主办单位。

研究员将获得来自 CBCAC 的日常支持，以及来自 ICIRR 团队的培训、导师指导与持续引导。在项目期间，研究员将培养志愿者招募、选民登记及选民外展的技能。选民外展活动包括但不限于：挨家挨户拜访（登门拜访）、电话催票、社区活动、设摊宣传以及社交媒体宣传。

职责说明（Responsibilities）

  • 通过无党派选民外展活动，连结移民及支持此议题的选民。

  • 招募、培训并协助志愿者，以扩大外展工作的成效。

  • 规划投票日动员工作，包括提前投票（Early voting）的宣传专项。

  • 与社区机构及在地组织建立良好关系。

  • 参与各项培训、团队会议、定期进度汇报（Check-ins）及其他领导力发展机会。

  • 精确追踪外展活动数据并回报成效。

  • 严格以无党派（不偏袒、不支持特定候选人或政党）的形式进行所有选民参与活动，并恪守非营利组织 501(C)(3) 的法规准则。

  • 每周需执行至少 20 小时的登门拜访与电话催票工作。

  • 筹备每周的社区扫街拜访（Canvasses）与电话催票行动。

申请资格（Qualifications）

  • 对公民参与、投票权及赋权移民社群充满热情。

  • 具备高度主动性、组织能力，且能独立作业并兼顾团队合作。

  • 具备优秀的书面与口头沟通能力。

  • 乐于与社区成员进行面对面及线上的互动与沟通。

  • 配合外展活动需求，需具备在晚间及周末工作的能力。

  • 具备可靠的交通工具，并愿意在当地通勤与社区走访。

  • 具备合法工作资格（接受专业匹配的OPT）

语言加分条件：

强烈鼓励具备双语能力的申请者应征。我们特别欢迎精通普通话、广东话或台山话等语言的候选人。

由于研究员需要与社区志愿者紧密配合并进行大规模的外展活动，本职位并非传统的「朝九晚五」工作，申请者需具备高度的投入感、灵活性，且每周基本工作时间至少 40 小时。

如何申请：

有意申请者，请于 2026 年 7 月 31 日前将您的个人简历（CV 或 Resume）发送至电子信箱：yonggangxiao@cbcacchicago.org。