About Building Peaceful Bridges
Building Peaceful Bridges carries out its mission by:
- Assisting legal refugees to integrate into American culture by financial and non-cash donations, sponsoring and mentoring families, and partnering with other organizations (Programs: Mentoring and Sponsoring; and Bridge to Belongings)
- Educating communities on the challenges refugees face during resettlement and fostering multi-cultural relationships that provide the foundation for a deeper understanding, acceptance, and support (Educational Program)
- Advocating for improved refugee resettlement programs in coalition with Refugee Action Network (RAN), Church World Services, Refugee Council USA, International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) and the United Nations Association of Chicago. BPB supports the inclusive integration of refugees in Illinois through public policy and community education. (Advocacy Program)
Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities at Building Peaceful Bridges
Current Opportunities at Building Peaceful Bridges
Grant Writer
The need
We are a young 501c3 charity with a big vision. The Grant Writer will use their evidence-based research, needs-assessment and intermediate to advanced grant-writing skills to establish a grant writing program that will be the first of its kind at our organization.
The Grant Writer is passionate, positive, innovative and creative. Able to quickly pivot and adapt, the Grant Writer embraces a high standard of excellence in the work that they do. They are compassionate, have a global perspective and embrace the mission, values and culture of BPB.
Reporting into the Executive Director, this position is critical to the growth and expansion of Building Peaceful Bridges and our impactful programs. Through these programs, we assist in family resettlement by establishing a community safety net, assisting in the citizenship process, and building trust, hope, resilience, and empowerment. Ultimately, refugees give back to their community and make the country stronger. We have impacted 200+ families and we hope to double our support this year.
Responsibilities and duties
The Grant Writer will:
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- Communicate effectively across BPB in order to investigate and understand needs, requests and opportunities.
- Develop templates and tracking mechanisms so as to standardize and streamline the grant-writing process.
- Search for potential grant opportunities.
- Prepare proposals by determining concept, clarifying needs with opportunities, gathering and formatting information, writing drafts, and obtaining approvals.
- Write, revise, and edit drafts including executive summaries, conclusions, and organization credentials.
- Maintain quality results by using templates, following proposal-writing standards including readability, consistency, and tone and maintaining proposal support databases.
- Meet proposal deadlines by establishing priorities and target dates for information Communicate effectively across BPB in order to investigate and understand needs, requests and opportunities.
- Develop templates and tracking mechanisms so as to standardize and streamline the grant-writing process.
- Perform external research and matching.
- Prepare presentations with compelling text, graphics and video.
- Manage relationships and improve processes.
- Communicate authentically and effectively with existing and proposed foundations.
Improve proposal-writing results by evaluating and re-designing processes, and approach.
Skills and qualifications
The Grant Writer needs to have:
- Appropriate years of experience in grant writing, prospect research, general fundraising or comparable and transferable skills acquired in a professional setting.
- Marketing knowledge and success stories in grant-writing.
- Evidence of strong presentation, written communication, graphic design, layout, and technical documentation skills.
- Problem solving, process improvement, and strategic planning skills.
- Deadline-orientation.
Hours and benefits
This is an unpaid, volunteer position. Instead of compensation, the Grant Writer gets to:
- Embrace and grow their passion for purpose, peace, and inclusion.
- Place a vital and instrumental role in the growth and impact of BPB.
- Leverage their global awareness by developing and implementing programs to further BPB’s mission and goals.
- Network in a large sphere of agencies.
- Give between 2 and 10 hours a week (or more if interested) and commit to 6+ months.
Glenview
Opportunity Good For: Adults, Internships, People With Disabilities, Seniors
Categories: Immigration & Refugees
Digital Marketing
Volunteers may assist with writing our digital publications which include: Quarterly reports, informational newsletters (e.g. Did You Know?), event announcements, and presentations.
Glenview
Opportunity Good For: Adults, Internships, People With Disabilities, Seniors
Categories: Immigration & Refugees
Event Planning
Volunteers may assist by organizing our quarterly education events (e.g. Learning Luncheon and Book Club), mentoring events (e.g. Family Fun Day), speaking events, and our Annual Event.
Glenview
Opportunity Good For: Adults, Families, Groups, Internships, People Over 16, People With Disabilities, Seniors
Categories: Immigration & Refugees
Advocacy
Volunteers may write, research, and participate in meetings regarding immigration policy changes/improvements. We are looking for someone to manage this program.
Glenview
Opportunity Good For: Adults, Internships, People With Disabilities, Seniors
Categories: Advocacy
Bridge to Belongings
Volunteers may help collect, sort, and deliver food, clothing, furniture and household items for refugee families. We are also looking for someone to manage this program.
Glenview
Opportunity Good For: Adults, Families, Groups, Internships, People With Disabilities, Seniors
Categories: Immigration & Refugees
Mentoring and Sponsoring
Our Volunteers support English language development, assist with job placement, provide tutoring, financial assistance, and physical and mental health support. They help families navigate their communities to find the resources they need to achieve self-sufficiency and a sense of belonging.
About us
In 2014, two compassionate women from different parts of the world came together to inspire positive actions and peaceful resolutions. Seeds of mutual respect, compassion, and love grew out of multicultural luncheons and ultimately blossomed into Building Peaceful Bridges (BPB). We pick up the resettlement process where the U.S. refugee resettlement agencies leave off. Our Vision is “bridging the hearts and minds of all people”. We invite you to visit www.buildingpeacefulbridges.org to learn more about us.
The need
Our Mentoring/Sponsoring Program assists in family resettlement by establishing a community safety net, providing monthly visits, assisting in the citizenship process, and building trust, hope, resilience, and empowerment. Ultimately, refugees give back to their community and make the country stronger. We have impacted 200+ families, and currently provide comprehensive mentoring to several families. We hope to double our support this year. In pursuit of this, we are looking for Volunteers to support our Mentoring/Sponsoring Program.
We search for Volunteers that are highly adaptable and flexible, as no week will look the same. Our Mentors are compassionate people, nurturing by nature, and professional listeners. They frequently offer cultural counseling, education, tutoring, companionship, and a host of other friendly services.
What you will do
- Be a part of a team that mentors a refugee family.
- Meet with the family once a week.
- Tutor English through regular conversation.
- Introduce and guide family members through new settings, systems, and cultural norms.
- Coordinate donated food, clothing, and household items as needed.
- Identify and request assistance in other areas such as education, social services, and community needs.
- Nurture and support the refugee’s experiences, and share skills that might benefit the family.
- Tailor your approach to each family’s dynamics and mitigate challenges.
- Become the refugee family’s “favorites” on their phones!
What you need
- A character that thrives on fluidity and exhibits adaptability.
- Proven ability to remain calm under pressure.
- Experiences and competencies in areas such as social work, counseling, and teaching are a plus.
- Language skills to include ESL training, or openness to be trained, and/or being conversant in other languages.
- An open mind, a global world view, a strong sense of humor, and a love for Charades!
- Volunteer details
Mentors give between 1 to 10 hours a week (or more if interested) and commit to 6+ months.
Some support can be done virtually, but we would love if our mentors would commit to in-person visits with their mentee family.
What will you get?
This is an un-paid, volunteer position. Instead of compensation, our Mentor volunteers get to…
- Partner and train with experienced Mentor volunteers to develop the skills needed to make a difference in the lives of refugee families.
- Embrace and grow their passion for purpose, peace, and inclusion.
- See families gain a sense of belonging and flourish by their guidance.
How to apply
If you are looking to make a meaningful difference in the community, the state, the country, the world, then reach out to us today!
Please include the following information when you apply:
- A statement telling us why you want to be a Mentor volunteer for a refugee family.
- A snapshot of your relevant skills and abilities.
- A list of all languages spoken.
Glenview
Opportunity Good For: Adults, Families, Groups, Internships, People With Disabilities, Seniors
Categories: Education, Health & Wellness
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