Welcome to New England Justice for Our Neighbors, providing free, expert legal aid to low-income asylum seekers, unaccompanied minors, and victims of violence.

Our Board is actively moving away from an early-stage working Board; at this point, we still have three members who function as unpaid staff in addition to their role as Board members. However, we are now moving to the next stage of Board development, in which Board members bring their skills and energies to the table to address higher-level issues and assist with the organization's growth by growing our network and recognition. In addition to seeking new members with specific areas of expertise, we are also hoping to add Board members with direct, lived experience with the types of immigration cases we represent. Board-related goals for the near term include succession planning, more robust Board involvement in Board-appropriate activities, and recruiting Board members with the passion, skills, experience, and interests needed to help us succeed as we grow.

Members of the Board of this small but growing organization support New England Justice for Our Neighbors' programs, ED, and growth in various ways.  Activities include monthly Board meetings, ambassadorship, and supporting fundraising activities, usually totaling not more than 5 hours per month.  Some Board members also perform additional ongoing functions - such as this one - which add a few more hours (again, not more than 5) to the monthly total. 

The Treasurer works with the ED to prepare monthly and annual financial reports and budgets, arrange for and support the annual audit, track and reimburse expenses, and run payroll.  Over the course of this year, some of these duties are expected to move to staff or contractors. This role requires knowledge of Excel, attention to detail, and an understanding of a simple financial statement.  Time commitment is not more than 5 hours/month in addition to regular Board duties.

Board meetings are held monthly over Zoom, with one in-person meeting each year.  We do not currently have Board committees but aspire to create them.  

Attend Board meetings, including one in-person meeting per year
Participate in at least one Board committee, once formed. In the interim, assist the ED on a project over the course of the year.
Volunteer for in-person NEJFON events (so far, one per year)
Publicize fundraising efforts and report to ED for recordkeeping
Participate in thanking donors
Serve as an ambassador for and educator about NEJFON
Spread the word about NEJFON in order to grow our newsletter subscribers, social media followers, volunteers and donors

New England Justice for Our Neighbors (New England JFON) is an 11-year-old immigration legal services organization serving most of Massachusetts. Our clients include asylum seekers, unaccompanied minors, and victims of violence.  We currently provide free legal consults and legal representation to approximately 250 low-income clients each year through a combination of legal advice consults and the full representation of immigration cases.  Clients meet with attorneys either at one of our legal clinics or remotely.

Over the past two years, following the hiring of our first Executive Director, we have improved our processes and infrastructure; brought fundraising, marketing, and other elements of the organization to the next level; and embarked on a strategic planning process.  The organization has made much progress, and we are now poised for significant growth.  This will be supported by the recruitment of several new Board members, who will have a real opportunity to shape our future.

New England Justice for Our Neighbors welcomes immigrants by providing free, expert legal services to low-income immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. We also engage in advocacy for immigrant justice and offer education to communities of faith and the public.