Executive Director

www.ilcm.org www.ballingerleafblad.com
 Executive Director of Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota

MISSION
Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota enhances opportunities for immigrants and
refugees through legal representation for low-income individuals, and through
education and advocacy with diverse communities.

GOALS
• Remedy legal issues by providing quality immigration legal services to low-income
immigrants and refugees of all nationalities;
• Prevent legal problems by providing law-related education to immigrants and
refugees of all nationalities; and
• Raise public awareness of immigration issues to encourage sound public policy that
protects the universal human rights of immigrants and is both compassionate and
practical.

VALUES
ILCM’s values are grounded in respect for and partnership with its immigrant and
refugee clients.
• ILCM brings full legal passion, dedicated attention and highest quality service to
low-income immigrant and refugee clients and their families;
• ILCM values relationships with the communities we serve and seek to express
their full potential and contributions through working together;
• ILCM works with excellence and integrity;
• ILCM believes in taking action to make immigration systems work for all.

In 2018, the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota:

• Provided legal services to 4,270 clients from 112 countries
• Delivered over 100 educational and advocacy programs
reaching over 5,000 people and countless others
• Coordinated 266 pro bono attorneys who donated over 4000
hours of legal service to ILCM clients and their families

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ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW
The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota (ILCM) is a
prominent 35-person organization with five locations in
the State of Minnesota including two Saint Paul offices
and offices in Moorhead, Worthington, and Austin.
ILCM is staffed by talented, caring professionals, and
has been in operation for 23 years. The organization’s
annual budget of approximately $2.6 million is
supported by a diverse funding base. This includes individual, law firm, corporate,
foundation, and local, state, and federal government support.

ILCM provides essential legal aid to immigrants and their families, allowing them to
overcome legal obstacles in order to thrive in Minnesota. Without ILCM’s services,
hundreds of low-income immigrant families and individuals would have no assistance
navigating a complex legal realm.

Fifty-five percent of clients served reside in the 7-county metro area, while 45% reside
outside of it. That’s not too far from the statewide population distribution: 55.1% of
Minnesota’s population is in the 7-county metro area. Clients come from 112 different
countries and represent an array of nationalities.

PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota occupies a
unique niche among nonprofit immigration legal
service providers because of the breadth of
immigration legal services available, the capacity to
represent clients throughout the state, and the
ability to work with clients of all nationalities. A
three-pronged model—direct legal services,
advocacy, and education—allows ILCM to
comprehensively respond to and prevent immigration legal problems.

Legal Projects
ILCM provides quality legal assistance on a wide variety of immigration issues.

Advocacy
The Immigrant Law Center engages in community, state, and federal policy
surrounding immigrants through working directly with government officials,
communities, coalitions, labor unions, religious organizations, professional groups,
grassroots, and immigrant and refugee organizations. The organization supports
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comprehensive immigration reform that recognizes the needs of our economy,
protect security, and respects the fundamental human rights of immigrants and
refugees.

Education
ILCM believes a key part to providing effective legal
service is education. ILCM is one of the primary providers
of immigration-related legal education services in
Minnesota. Legal service programs, community
organizations, and elected officials rely heavily on the
expertise of ILCM staff.

To meet the specialized needs of clients, ILCM has developed several innovative
programs:

• New Beginning Project assists provides advice and brief service to

victims of domestic violence or
other serious crimes, and their
children to obtain immigration
benefits, enabling them to gain the
personal and economic self-
sufficiency needed to escape the
cycle of violence. ILCM works
closely with other service
organizations and law enforcement
to mutually assist these clients.
• Minnesota Family Naturalization
Project focuses on increasing the
number of legal
permanent
residents in
Minnesota who
apply for and
become U.S. citizens while building
collaborations across sectors
promoting the importance of
citizenship and increasing civic
engagement and strengthening
communities.
• Community Defense Project
detainees in custody, provides full
representation for detained clients
who qualify for relief from
deportation, and presents appeals
in court to defend the
constitutionally-guaranteed
fundamental liberties of immigrants.
• Rural Immigration Project provides
legal representation and
coordination of education to
immigrant individuals and families
living in rural Minnesota.
• DREAMers Immigration Project
provides legal representation and
outreach to persons renewing their
DACA protections (Deferred Action
for Childhood Arrivals), and
represent qualified clients in
applying for alternative relief.
• Pro Bono Project increases access
to services by recruiting, training,
and supervising volunteer attorneys
to provide assistance with
citizenship applications, provide
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 representation to immigrants who
have been the victims of domestic
violence or other serious crimes,
assist clients with filing for
Temporary Protected Status and
family reunification, defend
immigrant detainees and present
appeals in federal court.
• Refugee Services Project works
with community organizations to
provide holistic services that include
immigration advice and assistance
to Minnesota’s newest refugees.
• Austin Area Minority Business
Project is a partnership with the
Development Corporation of Austin,
Hispanic Advocacy and Community
Empowerment through Research,
and Ballard Spahr LLP that
addresses the legal needs of the
immigrant and minority business
community in the Austin and
Winona areas.
• Public Defenders Project provides
technical assistance, training, and
education to Minnesota public
defenders on the immigration
consequences of criminal
convictions.
• Advocacy Project allows ILCM to
provide systematic education to
immigrants, the general public, and
policymakers about the impact of
immigration laws and proposals.

Organizational Culture
Staff at the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota describe the organization’s culture
as: Welcoming, hardworking, dedicated, and focused on the mission. There is a
supportive, non-competitive approach that values collaboration and sense of
community. “Everyone is needed and valued,” said one staff member.

A small-office environment makes for an understated and less formal culture, but
there is great seriousness where clients are concerned. Staff members celebrate
success and weave in fun amidst the challenges of the important work they do every
day.

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THE POSITION…

Executive Director of Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota

The Executive Director is a visionary leader who works with the Board of Directors to
carry out the organization’s mission and goals. The Executive Director provides
organizational leadership and is responsible for the strategic planning,
implementation, and ultimately the results of the organization. The Executive
Director has the primary responsibility for obtaining funding and financial support,
for assuring the highest quality of client services, for managing financial budgets and
operational results, and for representing the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota in
the communities it serves.

This executive is a passionate advocate for immigration and immigrant communities.

They are a respected leader in an organization serving immigrant and/or
underrepresented communities with legal, advocacy, education and related services.

Primary Responsibilities:

Advocacy
• Maintain and expand ILCM’s leadership role among municipal, state, and
national advocacy organizations, coalitions, and stakeholders and strategically
prioritize and coordinate to achieve annual goals.
• Maintain a strategic and thoughtful balance of programmatic work between
individual client assistance and systemic advocacy to address systemic
problems related to immigration.
• Develop and maintain effective networks and coalitions of support for humane
and fair policies that affect immigrants including immigrants, policymakers, and
community leaders.

Resource Development
• Together with the development team, maintain, create, cultivate and grow the
stewardship of multiple sources of revenue to ensure the long-term
sustainability of the ILCM budget; including active leadership with individuals,
law firms, foundations, and government grants and contracts.
• Work closely with the development team in ongoing individual donor
solicitation, cultivation, and stewardship efforts with a focus on deepening
donor commitment by engaging donors in the mission.

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 • Oversee fundraising initiatives including the development of effective
strategies for identifying, pursuing, and maintaining good relations with
funders, such as foundations, corporations, and government agencies.
• Strategically pursue funding consistent with ILCM’s mission and priorities.

Strategy and Board Relations

• Engage and inspire staff members, board members, clients, and other
stakeholders in development and implementation of the organizational mission.
• Work with the Board of Directors to carry out ILCM’s mission and goals,
including:
1. Lead ongoing planning efforts and implement of an articulated and
cohesive strategic vision across each of the five ILCM locations in support of
the mission and goals;
2. Creatively work with the Board of Directors so its members actively
contribute to the success of ILCM;
3. Advise the Board of Directors on policy matters, implement Board policies,
and attend Board meetings;
4. Perform other duties as the Board may from time-to-time describe;
5. Participate as an ex-officio member of all Board committees;
6. Implement policies, directives, priorities, and budgets established by the
Board of Directors.
• Participate in ongoing training and development opportunities.

External Relations Communication

• Serve as the public face and ambassador for ILCM, carrying out a leadership
role in local, state, and national legal networks, client community
organizations, and other legal services and program-related organizations.
• Oversee public relations activities for the organization, e.g., communicate and
establish contacts and maintain positive relationships with the courts, bar
associations, the private bar, governmental agencies, community
organizations, immigrant communities, organizations and leaders, and funders.
• Contribute to an effective communications strategy with the ILCM
communications team to continually enhance ILCM’s profile in immigrant
communities, philanthropic and legal communities, and with local, state, and
national policymakers.

Leadership
• Provide visionary and inspirational leadership to the staff at ILCM.

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 • Coach, develop, and grow staff and teams in support of the organizational
mission.
• Create and maintain a shared culture of team work and shared commitment,
and ensure that the culture of the organization is one of professionalism,
transparency, integrity, inclusiveness, equity, openness, and support for
clients, fellow staff, board members, volunteers and supporters.
• Hire, supervise, evaluate, and meet regularly with the management team to
provide direction, advice and oversight as appropriate-ensuring quality and
sustainability of services including:
1. Ensure high-quality, responsive legal representation for clients and
communities.
2. Review requests to participate in appeals, to file complex litigation, or to
engage in legislative or administrative advocacy.
3. Ensure sustainable and responsive pro bono programming and most
efficient and effective use of pro bono attorney resources.
4. Ensure timely financial reporting in accordance with GAAP (generally
accepted accounting principles); strong internal controls to mitigate the risk
of fraud; and compliance with funder expectations and contractual and
grant requirements.
5. Support recommendations for the budgeting and allocation of fiscal
resources by the Board; and the implementation of budget and fiscal
policies adopted by the Board.
6. Ensure compliance with all applicable laws; the Minnesota Code of
Professional Responsibility; the Legal Services Advisory Committee, policies,
regulations, and instructions; and other risk management areas.

Management Responsibilities
The Executive Director reports to the ILCM board of directors and directly supervises
the following positions: Associate Director, Legal Director, Pro Bono Director, Policy
Advocate, and Annual Giving Officer. The Executive Director provides executive
leadership and strategic direction to all ILCM staff.

QUALIFICATIONS
• A passion for working with immigrant communities and direct experience
providing services to immigrant and refugee communities. Demonstrated interest
in serving the low-income immigrant and refugee community and experience
working with persons of diverse economic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds.
• Legal or related educational background, (preferably a Juris Doctorate degree and
member in good standing with a state bar with the ability to be admitted to the
State Bar of Minnesota.)
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• Significant experience in a senior management position in a related type of
organization, preferably a legal services or legal advocacy program within the
nonprofit sector.
• Management experience including leadership of a multi-departmental organization
made up of skilled professionals.
• Financial oversight and reporting, and budget development.
• A successful track record in fundraising, resource development, and grant writing.
• Bilingual English and Spanish, Hmong, or Somali preferred.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated background and commitment to advocacy in support of improving
opportunities for immigrants and protecting the rights/remedies of eligible clients.
• Skill in examining and re-engineering operations and procedures, formulating
policy, and developing and implementing new strategies and procedures.
• Skill in budget preparation and fiscal management.
• Knowledge of organizational structure, workflow, and operating procedures, and
an ability to endorse and manage organizational change.
• Experience and skill communicating with a Board of Directors.
• Experience working with external stakeholders including elected officials,
community members, partner organizations, and media contacts.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to inspire the trust and confidence
of the organization, public, and client communities.

Leadership Traits
• Passion for building a team environment, and supporting a collaborative work
culture across disciplines and office locations.
• Encouraging professional development of staff, and supporting staff in obtaining
and enhancing their skills to perform the organization’s work.
• Conveys a visionary style that brings people together to support the mission.
• Displays the characteristics of integrity, courage, intelligence, creativity, energy,
and humor equal to the challenges of this position.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The compensation package for this position is competitive and includes

participation in the organization’s benefits plan.

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 BALLINGER|LEAFBLAD WELCOMES YOU TO CONTACT US
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
PRESENTING THE TWIN CITIES OF MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL

Marcia Ballinger, PhD Lars Leafblad, MBA

Co-Founder/Principal Co-Founder/Principal
651-341-4840 612-598-7547
marcia@ballingerleafblad.com lars@ballingerleafblad.com

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PRESENTING THE TWIN CITIES OF MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL
When the Twin Cities hosted the
Super Bowl in 2018, it cast an
international light on what the
organizing committee dubbed “The
Bold North.” It also gave the world an
up-close and personal view of what
those of us who live here already
knew. Minnesota Nice is for real.
The Twin Cities of Saint Paul and
Minneapolis are a unique blend of
small town and major cosmopolitan
hub. Both urban cores boast a
thriving business atmosphere. Saint
Paul, as the state capitol, is home to
state government and has a more
historical vibe. Minneapolis is the
larger and more commercial of the
two cities. Outside of the central
downtowns, however, both cities
have many distinct neighborhoods,
and residents identify more with
their individual communities than
with the larger city as a whole. And
the best news is housing in most of
our friendly neighborhoods is
affordable and welcoming.
The Twin Cities lives up to its Bold
North tagline in every way. Residents
enjoy four very distinct seasons,
none of which will let you down.
According to the website WalletHub,
Minneapolis ranks 12th in America for
cities with the most green space. Both
cities share a common root of being
river towns, and the great outdoors is
a major attraction for residents and
visitors alike. In addition to the mighty
Mississippi River, there are more than
900 lakes in the metro area and
surrounding suburbs, upwards of 300
parks, and miles of biking and walking
trails.
Nearly every weekend in the summer
there are several outdoor events for
participants and spectators—
triathlons, biking races, running races,
boat races, water skiing competitions,
cultural celebrations, golf
tournaments, and more.
The summer highlight for many
Minnesotans is the Minnesota State
Fair. One of the largest of its kind in
the country, ours is a world-class
showcase of Minnesota’s best in
agriculture, industry, arts and
entertainment.
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Held on a 320-acre parcel located
between St. Paul and Minneapolis, it
is a self- supported organization and
has been held on the Minnesota State
Fairgrounds every year since 1885.
As summer turns to fall, the region
puts on a breathtaking autumn
show that draws visitors from miles
around. While fall is a fleeting
spectacle, the active lifestyle of
Minnesotans doesn't go dormant
during the winter either. Being
hardy in every way, we take
advantage the miles of cross-
country skiing trails, downhill ski
areas, ice skating, snowmobiling,
sledding, and ice fishing.
In recent years Minneapolis and St.
Paul have become two of the most
diverse cities in America. Almost six
percent of the population identifies
as LGBTQ, with many Twin Cities’
organizations in arts, politics,
culture, advocacy and religious
sectors serving the community.
Minnesota’s Somali community is one
of the largest in the United States. St.
Paul is the heart of Minnesota’s
Hmong community as well, and is
home to the largest urban
concentration of Hmong residents in
the country. It is by design that we’ve
embraced such ethnic uniqueness.
Our multi-cultural communities
present us with diversity in the
workplace, a strong workforce and an
added bonus of getting to know the
world, and coming to understand
different cultures on a more intimate
scale right here at home.
One of the best places to get a taste of
our many blended cultures is Midtown
Global Market on Lake Street in
Minneapolis. Midtown Global Market
is a welcoming indoor market and
meeting place featuring an abundance
of ethnic dishes, gifts and groceries,
from Mexican and Middle Eastern to
Vietnamese, Indian, Swedish and
Italian.
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Many Hmong and Vietnamese
restaurants and shops are located in
the Frogtown neighborhood as well,
on and around University and
Lexington avenues. Hmongtown
Marketplace on Como Avenue and
Hmong Village on Johnson Parkway
on St. Paul’s East Side feature a wide
variety of traditional foods, clothing,
fabrics and crafts, as well as farmers
markets.
There are countless arts and culture
offerings in the Twin Cities. The
Grammy Award-winning Minnesota
Orchestra has a reputation as one of
the top orchestras in the world. The
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra is also
regarded as one of the finest
chamber orchestras in the world.
Since the early 1960s, the Guthrie
Theater has staged outstanding
shows from the classical to the
modern. Popular national shows and
performers also tour through the
Twin Cities year-round at stages in
both Minneapolis and Saint Paul, and
at the University of Minnesota.
If you are a theatre-goer in the Twin
Cities you’ll never have a dull
moment. According to the Western
States Arts Federation, Minneapolis
ranks as the fifth- most “creatively
vital” city in the country, right after
D.C., LA, NYC and Boston. The
Penumbra Theatre in St. Paul is the
country’s oldest African American
theater.
We boast more than 40 venues with a
variety that even the most seasoned
thespian would notice.
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There are the magnificent musicals
that play on the State, Orpheum, and
Pantages stages and lots of local
talent making a statement on stages
such as the Southern Theater, New
Century, and Illusion. Hamilton, Les
Miserables and West Side Story are a
few examples of productions that
have played here. Theater is also a
large component of life in Saint Paul.
The gorgeous 1000-seat Fitzgerald
Theatre acts as Minnesota Public
Radio’s largest broadcast studio.
Staged productions commission
authors, artists and radio hosts to
create programming for the public
radio community. The Fitzgerald
Theater is St. Paul’s oldest theater
and celebrated its 100th anniversary
in 2010.
The Ordway Center for the Performing
Arts has been recognized as one of
America’s leading not-for-profit
performing arts centers, and is home to
a wide variety of performances
throughout the year providing the
finest in musical theater, music, dance,
and vocal artists in its Music Theater
and Concert Hall. In addition, each year
the Ordway presents its Flint Hills
Family Festival, serving more than
50,000 children and adults through its
Ordway Education programs.
Dance companies such as James Sewell
Ballet, Minnesota Dance Theatre,
Ragamala, Zenon Dance Company and
TU Dance perform at an array of
venues including the renovated Cowles
Center.
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For the museum-goer, there are more
than 60 museums in the metro area.
The Science Museum of Minnesota
and the Minnesota Children's
Museum are interactive learning
facilities and fun experiences for the
entire family. The African American
Heritage Museum and Gallery and the
Minnesota History Center are
museum for all ages with permanent
and changing exhibits, lectures and
events.

The Minneapolis Institute of Arts has

a collection of more than 100,000
pieces. The Walker Art Center has
been called “possibly the best
contemporary art museum in the
U.S.” by Newsweek, and has over
11,000 pieces. The University of Minnesota Twins, and USBank Stadium, a
Minnesota's Weisman Art Museum is brand new, enclosed stadium where the
also a contemporary art destination. Minnesota Vikings host their NFL games.
Additionally, the stadium hosts early
The Somali Museum of Minnesota on season college baseball games of the
East Lake Street features hundreds University of Minnesota Golden Gophers.
of traditional Somali artworks and
artifacts as well as educational Popular music abounds, from the
programs. Grammy-winning Sounds of Blackness
to Atmosphere. Outdoor concerts and
For those who prefer activity of the festivals such as the Basilica Block Party
spectator variety, the Twin Cities is and Rock the Garden are a common
home to the Minnesota Twins, and popular activity. After all, artists
Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Wild from Bob Dylan to Prince have called
and the Minnesota Timberwolves. the Twin Cities home.
We are also the home of the four-
time WNBA Champion Minnesota
Lynx and the Minnesota United
soccer team. We host in some of the
best sporting facilities in the county,
including Target Field, home of the
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The Twin Cities offer award-winning
restaurants (several chefs have been
regional James Beard Award winners).
In addition to the popular Mall of
America, there are plenty of unique
shopping districts in both cities and in
the suburbs.
Beyond sports, the great outdoors,
entertainment, and culture, perhaps
the biggest attraction for the Twin
Cities is the lifestyle. Forbes hailed
Saint Paul and Minneapolis as one of
the nation's healthiest metros and
USA Today named Saint Paul as North
America's “Most Romantic City.”
Minneapolis/St. Paul is also proud to
have a world-class international airport.
In fact, the Airports Council
International named MSP the 2017 Best
Airport in North America in its size
category, with more than 25 million
passengers a year.
Networking groups in technology,
manufacturing, healthcare and
education support their professions.
Active Chambers of commerce further
business interests and First Fridays
Twin Cities celebrates African American
excellence.
The Twin Cities is a vibrant, richly diverse
Midwestern community where
Minnesota Nice is alive and well. We are
the perfect blend of small town/big city
and our residents pride themselves on
their warm and welcoming ways. There
is a reason Business Insider ranked
Minneapolis/St. Paul number nine on its
Top 50 Places to Live in America. We
really are all that and more!
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