The MinKwon Center for Community Action (formerly YKASEC)
Fall 2011 Internship
Public Benefits Intern
The MinKwon Center for Community Action (formerly YKASEC) was established in 1984 to meet the needs and concerns of the Korean American community through our five program areas: Community Organizing and Advocacy, Social and Legal Services, Civic Participation, Youth Empowerment, and Culture. Since our founding, we have made a profound presence in the Korean American community through various grassroots organizing, education, and advocacy initiatives that address important community issues, including immigration policies at the national, state and city levels, voter rights, and culture awareness. The MinKwon Center places a special emphasis on meeting the needs of our marginalized community members, including youth, elderly, recent immigrants, low-income residents, and limited-English-proficient residents.
One branch of the MinKwon Center’s Social Services Program focuses on empowering the low-income, immigrant community members to access various government public benefits. The Financial Empowerment Counselor specifically screens for eligibility and assists with the application process for Food Stamps, Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), and Bank Accounts. Under the direct supervision of the Financial Empowerment Counselor, the intern will advise and counsel Korean clients, prepare applications, conduct legal/non-legal research on policy issues, and manage the client database.
Internship Description
- Maintaining direct contact with Korean clients through counseling and follow-up
- Researching various laws and policies on public benefits and financial regulations
- Assisting clients to apply for Food Stamps, HEAP, and Bank Accounts
- Preparing and conducting educational workshops on relevant issues related to public benefits and financial literacy
- Administering benefit screenings for clients
- Managing the client database
Details of Internship
- Supervision: Intern is supervised by the Financial Empowerment Counselor.
- Compensation: While internships are not paid positions, academic credit has been arranged in the past.
- Hours: Interns are expected to work part-time for a minimum of 10 hours a week.
- Duration: The internship runs from September to December 2011. Specific internship dates will be discussed in person.
Requirements
- Language proficiency in Korean and English
- Strong organizational skills and independence, requiring minimal supervision
- Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills
- Proficiency in Word and Excel
- A desire to empower the Asian American community
Internship applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Due to a high number of applications, only the applicants who are granted an interview will be contacted. Please submit a cover letter and resume via email to:
Yoon Ji Kim
Financial Empowerment Counselor
yjkim@minkwon.org