We are mission-driven.
The Interfaith Welcome Coalition is a faith-based movement meeting the changing needs of
asylum-seekers, refugees, and at-risk immigrants in collaboration with others.
Our name says it all.
The Interfaith Welcome Coalition (IWC) formed in San Antonio, Texas, during the summer of
2014 in response to the overwhelming need of unaccompanied children arriving in the United
States from Central America and elsewhere. A broad network of faith communities, grassroots
organizations, and social services came together to provide humanitarian support to migrant
children and families. The work has evolved with changing needs and policies, and now the IWC
is at the forefront of a collaborative, dynamic movement promoting justice for refugees,
asylum-seekers, and other marginalized migrants. Those whom we welcome now include
people from Central and South America, the Caribbean, and West Africa, and our love is as likely
to take the form of advocating for systemic change as it is of providing a backpack to an
immigrant child. We consider it a privilege to be able to walk briefly alongside families and
individuals fleeing violence, persecution, and injustice — and to offer them support that affirms
their humanity and eases their journey. Learn more at www.interfaithwelcomecoalition.org.
We actively oppose discrimination.
The IWC believes that Black lives matter and that no human being is illegal. We honor all kinds
of families and we do not expect our guests to justify their presence. The IWC is an
equal-opportunity employer that follows all applicable laws against discrimination and does not
make hiring or employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion or religious beliefs,
ethnic or national origin, nationality, native language, sex, gender, gender identity or expression,
sexual orientation, disability, age, military or veteran status, marital or family status, or income.
We will consider any applicant who is authorized to work in the United States. While employees
and volunteers must undergo a background check, we will also consider for employment
qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records. The IWC has designed a selection process
that actively mitigates bias, and we welcome feedback from applicants about their experience.
We seek heart workers.
The IWC is a volunteer-driven organization. We have pursued our mission for nine years with a
working Board of Directors and a diverse body of volunteers and partner organizations. We
currently have five employees. Because our work has become more complex over the years, and
also because the pandemic greatly reduced our pool of willing and able volunteers, we seek to
hire several paid Welcoming Associates to provide a reliable, consistent presence in our
downtown ministry. Welcoming Associates will support our mission in downtown San Antonio
4-5 days per week, usually during the afternoon/evening shift. Some tasks include providing
navigation guidance for our guests, stocking and distributing food and supplies, and keeping
records of arrivals. The most important duty, though, is to offer an enthusiastic, dignified
welcome to all migrants passing through our city.
The Welcoming Associates will have crucial responsibilities.
● Greet new arrivals to downtown San Antonio in/around the Greyhound terminal, and
provide the following support:
○ determine our guests’ travel readiness;
○ help facilitate the retrieval and purchasing of tickets;
○ interpret tickets and explain bus transfers in our guests’ itineraries;
○ coordinate transportation for guests who need to go to hotel, shelter, or airport;
○ distribute food and travel supplies based on need; and
○ translate as warranted.
● Collaborate with IWC staff and volunteers as well as with partner organizations by doing
the following:
○ keep accurate records of arrivals and departures;
○ collect data as required for grants and other funding sources;
○ monitor inventory of supplies and restock as needed;
○ communicate needs to IWC leadership; and
○ work as a positive, proactive, flexible teammate.
● Perform other duties as assigned to support IWC’s mission.
Ideal candidates will demonstrate qualities and skills of mission-driven welcoming.
The new Welcoming Associates must:
● be committed to and energized by the IWC’s mission;
● be available from 3:00pm to 8:00pm at least three days per week;
● have a reliable means of arriving to work on time;
● be willing and able to utilize organization and record-keeping systems consistently;
● be culturally competent and invested in building relationships with diverse stakeholders;
● be team-oriented and eager to support IWC volunteers;
● be a ready and willing learner;
● be proficient at the use of standard technology (texting, Slack, Google calendar, etc.);
● be professionally proficient in English; and
● be conversationally proficient in Spanish.
The IWC will support you.
The Welcoming Associates will report to the Coordinating Director, and their work will be
supervised by the Downtown Staff Coordinator. The position is part-time with an expectation of
20-25 hours of work per week, mostly during the afternoon/evening shift. The wage is $16.30
per hour, paid biweekly. The IWC complies with the ADA and will provide reasonable
accommodations as necessary. The IWC is a small non-profit, but we aspire to be an affirming
workplace where an employee can learn and develop and have a positive impact.
Are you in?
Please send a letter of interest and current resume to bilqis79@sbcglobal.net .
