The DePaul Migration Collaborative (DMC) is pleased to announce its inaugural Practitioner in Residence program which will host scholars, advocates and expert practitioners to participate in its Reframing Refugees Project.
The Practitioner in Residence program is created for experts and professionals working on migration, immigration and human rights issues. Practitioners in Residence will contribute to the DMCs Reframing Refugees Project, addressing key challenges facing forced migrants in the United States and across the world. Through the Reframing Refugees Project, the Practitioners in Residence will have the opportunity to inform advocates and decision-makers on social and cultural realities that drive migration, collaborate with faculty engaged in various disciplines at the intersection of migration, outline effective strategies for pursuing claims for protection in the US and develop replicable models for advancing and advocating for better representation and treatment of asylum seekers. The Practitioner in Residence program is intended to encourage practitioners engaged in scholarly, advocacy and policy work to develop models for responding to a wide range of migration issues.
Practitioners in Residence will have access to DePaul University libraries, student research assistants, a modest travel budget, and invitations to law school and university events and workshops and administrative support for event planning related to the Reframing Refugees Project.
Practitioners in Residence will have the opportunity to participate in the broader life of the College of Law and the University and to share their expertise with the broader community, including institutional partners, through dedicated lectures, presentations or discussions. Additionally, the Practitioner in Residence will engage with DePaul faculty and community partners in field area expertise to inform practices and policies.
Practitioners are in residence for a flexible period of between 3 to 6 months of residency with the possibility for renewal (beginning as early as August 1 with the residency to be completed no later than June 30, 2024). Residencies allow for some remote work. Practitioners in Residence are expected to be in residence in person for at least half of the residency.
Practitioners in Residence will have the opportunity to engage in research at the intersection of forced migration and US immigration policy. The DMC encourages all practitioners interested in advancing the rights of migrants to apply. Applications are particularly encouraged from those working on areas related to:
Country expertise
The DMC seeks candidates who will address drivers of migration in particular in the current regional context. The US Midwest is a key destination for migrants and a locus of migrant-lead and migrant-serving organizations responding to recent arrivals including individuals from Venezuela, Colombia, Haiti and the Northern Triangle. The DMC seeks a Practitioner in Residence to enhance understanding and awareness of the drivers of migration from these countries and regions in order to inform and train immigrant advocates and decision-makers. The Practitioner in Residence will:
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Participate in all Redefining Refugee Project working groups and DMC gatherings during the period of the residency.
- Provide training for immigrant advocacy organizations on country context.
- Offer monthly talks and presentations to internal and external institutional partners.
- Consult with DePaul faculty and faculty-engaged community partners as needed.
- Produce short written publications, op-eds and media appearances as an affiliate of the DMC.
- Produce a final report addressing findings and recommendations for improved representation of migrants and outlining a comprehensive roadmap for organizational response.
- Present on their ongoing work at the 2024 DMC conference in April.
Policy and advocacy expertise
The DMC also seeks candidates who will identify opportunities for influencing local and national policies for migrant support such that US and local practices are aligned with international standards of human rights and legal protection. The Practitioner in Residence will:
- Participate in all Redefining Refugee Project working groups and DMC gatherings during the period of the residency.
- Examine local government and civil society responses to migration.
- Evaluate sustainability of local responses.
- Examine federal responses to migrants, e.g. utilization of permanent and temporary pathways and gaps in protection.
- Develop and implement a plan for ongoing dialogue with local immigrant advocacy organizations, government representatives and other stakeholders.
- Consult with DePaul faculty and faculty-engaged community partners as needed.
- Produce of a final report addressing findings and recommendations for improved responses, in particular addressing assets-based assessment of responses in the Midwest.
Success of the Practitioner in Residence program would focus on the development and dissemination of model responses to emerging and evolving migration patterns and needs.
The Practitioner in Residence will report to the DMC's Faculty Co-Director, Sioban Albiol.
Compensation
The Practitioner in Residence program does not provide a salary or cover living expenses. Compensation is provided under a generous professional services contract. The amount of the award will depend on the length of the residency and scope of work. A modest travel stipend is also provided.
Application Process
Applications will be accepted on rolling basis through July 21, 2023. Notifications will be made no later than August 15, 2023.
The application requires submission of:
- Curriculum Vitae (uploaded in PDF format)
- One page letter of interest
- Proposed work plan and timeline which addresses the proposed start date (no earlier than August 1, 2023) and end date (no later than June 15, 2024), key objectives and deliverables.
- Two References
Applications and all supporting documents should be submitted
HERE. If there are questions regarding this application please email
migration@depaul.edu