Newsletter Volunteer

The newsletter volunteer will help write articles for KOM’s quarterly newsletters to highlight the impact of KOM’s programs and raise support for refugees and immigrants in Minnesota.

Key Responsibilities:

• Collect stories from KOM clients to illustrate the impact of its programs (interview staff, clients and others to gather stories for the newsletter that highlight KOM’s programs, mission, values or services).
• Amount: 4 articles per year (choose one or more)
• Draft a feature article for KOM’s quarterly newsletter, highlighting one program area per quarter:
  • 1^st Quarter (January – March): Employment and Career Supports
  • 2^nd Quarter (April – June): Youth Programs
  • 3^rd Quarter (July – September): Community Health Programs
  • 4^th Quarter (October – December): Social Service Programs

Time commitment:

One article usually takes 2-4 hours per week for one to two months, with the first few weeks spent gathering content, visiting programs, and interviewing staff and clients. Commit to writing one or more articles per year.

Location:

In-person at the KOM Office, 2353 Rice Street, Suite 240, Roseville, MN 55113, or at off-site program locations around the Twin Cities metro area. Some work may be done remotely, including writing and editing.

Qualifications:

Volunteers must be age 18 or older. Volunteers should have an interest in journalism and writing.

• Previous experience interviewing and writing content for school or an organization is preferred
• Proficient in English (speaking and typing), with strong English writing skills
• Experience with writing articles for a diverse audience is beneficial
• Knowledge of the Karen community and other refugee and immigrant communities in Minnesota is highly desired
• Proficiency in any of the following languages is beneficial, but not required: S’gaw Karen, Pwo Karen, Karenni, Burmese, Pashto, Dari, and Spanish. The ability to type in Karen is highly beneficial.
• Knowledge of the Karen Organization of Minnesota and it’s mission and programs is highly beneficial

Benefits: 

This position offers an opportunity to gain insights into and raise awareness of the experiences of refugee and immigrant communities in Minnesota. It also provides an opportunity to use your writing skills, tailor articles to a target audience, and build your portfolio.

How to apply:

Please complete KOM’s online volunteer application or contact Suzanne Olive to receive a paper application. Volunteers will attend a meeting to discuss their interest in volunteering, attend orientation, and be subject to a background check.