Work With Us

Asian Texans for Justice (ATJ) is a statewide nonpartisan, nonprofit organization. We envision a future where all people feel bold in their belonging. Our mission is to connect Asian Texans of all identities to meaningful civic action to build personal and political power for future generations. We do this by building coalitions with leaders and organizations across Texas and the country, build a talent pipeline with leadership development, and advocate for issues that can bring meaningful change for Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. 

The Peer Policy Fellow will have the opportunity to assist ATJ and its allied organizations to unite around collective, common policy priorities that make a meaningful difference for our communities. The fellowship will assist ATJ in establishing our policy and organizing capacity and grow our community’s advocacy power to advance the health and well-being of Asian Texans. The fellow will become a cohort of the Hogg Mental Health Policy program and actively participate in all cohort activities during the two-year period. We are prioritizing applicants with lived experience, someone who has personal or familial experience of receiving and/or coordinating mental health and/or substance use services within various systems in Texas (for example, state hospitals, the public mental health system, child welfare, schools, juvenile justice, etc.). The peer policy fellow is willing to share their experiences to advocate within the policy and advocacy workspace.

The Policy Fellow is responsible for:

• Collaborating with ATJ staff and mentor to support the development of a public policy agenda for ATJ for the 89th Texas Legislative session

• Monitor public policy environment and contribute to shaping ATJ’s public policy agenda through ongoing data analysis and research

• Attend committee hearings and provide analysis of proposed legislation that impact ATJ’s policy priorities and positions

• Representing ATJ, establish relationships with key policy makers and elected leaders and share ATJ’s policy agenda

• Assist in bill development and hearing preparation such as providing public testimony, storytelling, media relations, social media engagement, effective written testimony, etc

• Support the creation of strategies to build a powerful network of statewide advocates through relationship and coalition building to advance policy priorities

• Representing ATJ, work alongside advocacy groups and coalitions to advance policy priorities for the AAPI community Texas

• Assist in developing and administering training for AAPI community members to inform them on state level policy making, advocacy, and how to provide testimony

• Distribute advocacy outreach material, including calls to action and other educational content, via digital channels including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WeChat, and other tools

• Working with school districts, educators, and institutions of higher education to develop budget recommendations for mental health and language access funding in schools and state agencies

• Provide logistical and operation support for the statewide AAPI advocacy day at the Capitol and calls to action 

• Leveraging research and best practices from other states with robust mental health funding frameworks and educational resources

• Recent college graduate (within the past 18 months) of an institution of higher education focusing on policy, social work, public administration, education policy, or commensurate lived experience

• Lived experience and/or personally impacted by mental health, language access, and other policies affecting AAPIs preferred

• Strong oral and written communication

• Strong public speaking and facilitation skills 

• Attention to detail

• Deeply passionate to equity and social justice, particularly for AAPIs and other marginalized groups

• Works well independently and has an entrepreneurial spirit

• Sense of curiosity

• Ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks efficiently 

• Interested in fund development, Texas legislative process, and local and federal government policy development 

• Bilingual in an Asian language is a plus

$50,000 - $60,000, salaried, non-exempt

To apply, please send your resume and a cover letter to info@asiantexansforjustice.org with subject line: Peer Policy Fellow.

Asian Texans for Justice is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, language, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, gender expression, gender identity, marital status, sexual orientation, or disability status.