Yune Aroni is the PJC’s Administrative Coordinator.
Phone: (410) 625-9409
Email
Role: Development Associate
Team: Development
Location: Baltimore, MD
Status: National Organization of Legal Services Workers Bargaining Unit
February 2026
Be a critical member in a team of dedicated social justice advocates! The Public Justice Center seeks a Development Associate to raise resources and to inform and engage the growing community of partners working to change systems to build a more just society. This new position is an excellent opportunity for a motivated, detail-oriented professional looking to grow their skills in fundraising and communications while advancing the PJC’s core mission and strengthening the PJC’s national impact in support of the National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel.
The Public Justice Center (PJC)
The Public Justice Center pursues systemic change to build a just society. The PJC uses legal advocacy tools to pursue social justice, economic and racial equity, and fundamental human rights for people who are struggling to provide for their basic needs. The PJC is a non-profit civil rights law firm that provides advice and representation to clients with low incomes, advocates before legislatures and government agencies, and collaborates with community and advocacy organizations. Founded in 1985, the PJC is a leader in public interest law reform in Maryland and nationally. For more about the PJC, visit our website: www.publicjustice.org.
The Position and Core Duties
The Development Associate will play a critical role in increasing the PJC’s capacity to advocate for systemic change nationally. The Development Associate reports to the Director of Development and works closely with members of three PJC teams—NCCRC, development, and communications—to raise more than $1 million annually from foundations, individuals, and law firms and to implement multi-channel communications. **Please note the Public Justice Center has recognized a new collective bargaining unit that is now under development. This role will be a member of the unit.
Fundraising (60%)
The Development Associate will work with the Director of Development, NCCRC Managing Attorney, and others to:
- Maintain a calendar of deadlines for proposals and reports for project-specific funding.
- Identify, research, and prioritize funding prospects based on alignment with the PJC’s mission and project needs.
- Facilitate cultivation and stewardship of funders by the Executive Director, Director of Development, and other team members.
- Write and submit proposals and reports for project-specific funding.
- Support implementation of a strategy to solicit donations for project-specific funding.
- Track cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of prospects and donors in the EveryAction database.
Communications (25%)
The Development Associate will work with the NCCRC Managing Attorney, communications team, and others to:
- Assist with implementation of the project team communications plan.
- Edit, design, and distribute external national communications related to right to counsel, such as e-newsletters and press releases.
- Update and maintain content on the PJC’s website and online resources for assigned project teams.
- Provide communications support for assigned webinars, trainings, and conferences.
- Contribute content to the annual report based on the work of assigned teams.
- Monitor news and other sources—national and local— for the latest advancements in relevant work.
- Support posting to social media accounts and engagement with followers.
Other (15%)
- Maintain accurate records of donors, advocates, and allies in the EveryAction database.
- Provide administrative support for gift processing, fundraising appeals, and donor stewardship, as needed.
- Actively participate in development and project team meetings, all-staff meetings, and organization-wide initiatives, including our race equity work.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Desired Skills and Experience
Successful candidates will likely have one or more of the following qualifications:
- 3+ years of relevant experience, preferably in a legal services or social justice-related nonprofit.
- Associate’s degree or additional relevant experience preferred.
In addition, the following qualifications are valued for this position. Applicants should also identify other related or supplementary skills and experiences.
- Passion for social justice and commitment to the mission of the Public Justice Center.
- Exceptional writer and editor, with the ability to translate complex legal information into clear, accessible language for diverse audiences; to adapt writing style to different mediums and audiences; and to tell a compelling story.
- Excellent organizational/project management skills and the ability to manage tight deadlines and multiple projects concurrently.
- Experience with donor management software (EveryAction preferred), prospect research tools, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), Google (Docs, Sheets, and Slides), Adobe, and meeting and productivity tools (Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Slack).
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with others within and outside the PJC.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy, confidentiality, fundraising ethics, and a learning culture.
- Spanish/English bilingual (or Spanish proficiency) in written translation is a plus.
Compensation
This is a full-time, exempt position and may require more than 40 hours in a workweek, including the potential for evening and weekend work. This position is based in Baltimore with the option to work remotely two to three days per week and may require some travel. The target salary for the Development Associate is from $50,000 to $65,000 and is contingent on experience. A language bonus of $3,000/year is given to Spanish/English proficient staff.
An excellent cafeteria benefit package is also provided. This package offers health, dental, vision, disability and life insurance, and retirement options. A cafeteria benefits package gives employees flexibility to choose how to direct their benefits. For example, this package can cover 100% of employee healthcare premiums; an employee can choose to direct those funds towards retirement if they already have health insurance or can have remaining funds added to the employee’s taxable salary. PJC employees receive at least 20 days of paid leave, with increases based on length of tenure, 12 paid holidays, and 15 days of sick leave annually. In addition, the PJC closes for two paid rest weeks each year in June and December.
Applications
To apply, please submit (1) a cover letter explaining your interest, (2) a resume, (3) the names, telephone numbers, and email addresses of three references, and (4) two writing samples (preferably of a grant report or proposal), including a short explanation of your specific contribution to each writing sample. Apply at https://bit.ly/PJCDevelopmentAssociate
The desired start date for this position is April 6, 2026. Applications will be accepted and interviews conducted on a rolling basis until the position is filled, but for priority consideration, please apply by February 23.
Physical/Mental Demands and Office Environment
The physical/mental demands described in this job announcement are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The Public Justice Center is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer that encourages all interested persons to apply regardless of race, color, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, creed, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, age, religion, genetic information, physical or mental disability, marital status, or any other legally protected status. We strongly encourage Black, Latine, Indigenous, and other applicants of color, people with disabilities, and other people historically underrepresented in the practice of law to apply.
About the Summer Internship Program
The Public Justice Center (PJC) is offering two (2) law clerk/legal internship opportunities to law students during the summer of 2026. PJC has projects working in multiple areas of law:
- Workplace Justice. The Workplace Justice Project conducts wage-theft litigation on behalf of low-wage workers and worker-related policy advocacy.
- Education Stability. The Education Stability Project advocates for students facing unlawful suspension or expulsion, and other forms of school pushout.
- Health and Benefits Equity. The Health and Benefits Equity Project works to protect and expand Medicaid and other public benefits.
- Human Right to Housing. The Human Right to Housing Project protects and expands tenants’ right to safe, habitable, affordable, non-discriminatory housing.
- National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel. The National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel assists local advocates around the country with litigation and legislation to expand the civil right to counsel.
- Appellate Advocacy. The Appellate Advocacy Project advances law reform through appeals and amicus briefs.
For more information on each project team works visit our website: https://www.publicjustice.org/en/what-we-do/
Office and Schedule
- PJC is a hybrid work office with employees working remotely at times and in the office at times.
- Legal interns typically work a 40-hour work week during normal business hours, Monday through Friday.
- Legal interns are encouraged to seek funding from their schools or other sources. If funding is unavailable, legal interns may be eligible to receive a stipend up to $8,000 for their work during the Summer.
Hiring Criteria
We are looking for interns who:
- Are committed to working toward racial equity and economic justice and willing to learn and contribute to our mission.
- Demonstrate a background and/or interest in one or more of the following: public interest law/poverty law, domestic or international human rights law, housing law, and community organizing or community economic development.
- Possess legal research and writing skills, attention to detail, the ability to manage multiple responsibilities, and the ability to work with a class- and race-diverse constituency.
- Spanish proficiency or fluency is favored but not required.
Applications
Applications for summer internships should be submitted as soon as possible to be assured of consideration, but applications will be accepted until January 19 and interviews conducted between January 23-30. To apply, submit by email the following documents to internships@publicjustice.org.
- Cover letter (including a statement regarding your understanding of and commitment to race equity)
- Resume
- A legal writing sample
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Equal Opportunity: The Public Justice Center is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer that encourages all interested persons to apply regardless of race, color, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, creed, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, age, religion, genetic information, physical or mental disability, marital status, or any other legally protected status. We strongly encourage Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and other applicants of color, people with disabilities, and other people historically underrepresented in the practice of law to apply.
Physical/Mental Demands and Office Environment: The physical/mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The harm and cruelty are never-ending. Every day seems to bring a new assault on our communities from the federal government.
Pulling health care coverage from millions of people.
Eviscerating safety net programs that keep families fed and afloat in difficult times.
Dismantling agencies, like the U.S. Department of Education, that keep an eye on the protection of civil and human rights.
Eroding the rights of transgender people.
The damage goes on, as officials roll out more and more ways to undermine people’s livelihoods, education, health, safety, and identities. And we know the impact is being felt most acutely across Black and brown communities.
Now is not the time to back down or turn away from our neighbors. We must stand strong and protect people’s rights in Maryland as rights are rolled back at the federal level.
Will you join us? Your monthly gift or one-time gift will fuel our collective fight to dismantle oppressive and racist systems and build pathways to justice.
Whether we’re advocating in the courts or the state legislature or government agencies, the PJC and allies are taking action on a number of fronts.
Protecting healthcare and the safety net
In the wake of federal actions, we’re defending Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to minimize the impact on Marylanders. Across the state, hundreds of thousands of people are projected to lose health coverage and food assistance. Recent changes to federal law severely cut SNAP and Medicaid funding, create harsh and ineffective new work requirements in both programs, and restricts eligibility for most immigrants.
This puts Maryland in the difficult position of finding millions more in state funding and reducing the support that the safety net provides to individuals and families in crisis. As we head into the Maryland legislative session, we’ll oppose state cuts and restrictions that would limit people’s eligibility.
Defending trans rights
As federal policies take away the rights of transgender people, we’re advocating to protect gender-affirming care in Maryland.
We’re working to increase the number of healthcare providers who provide gender-affirming care and accept Medicaid. This is especially important as a growing number of people come to Maryland for care because of fear of prosecution in another state.
And we’ll remain vigilant to counter any potential attempts to reduce state funding for gender-affirming care as the state grapples with the federal Medicaid cuts.
Advocating for the right to housing
We’re defending the rights of people experiencing homelessness and those in danger of losing their homes. An executive order encourages officials to criminalize people who are unhoused, shut down the places where they live, and put people in mental health facilities against their will. We advocate for real solutions: eviction prevention; affordable, accessible permanent housing; and supportive services.
We’re also pushing back against a multi-state agenda that aims to strip legitimate tenants of their rights by wrongly branding them as squatters. We will combat this legislation in Maryland, which would make it easier to evict someone without due process.
Holding the line at home is urgent. Together with community members, fellow advocates, and people like you, we will take on the challenges as they arise.
And we must go farther. Your gift will keep us moving forward as we fight for a just and equitable future where everyone has what they need to thrive. Well-paying jobs. Safe homes. Supportive schools. Quality education and healthcare. Dignity and respect.
Thank you for your steadfast commitment to building such a world.
Thank you for your steadfast support of the Public Justice Center! We are proud to share our annual report for FY 2025. Together with clients, community members, partners, donors, volunteers, and staff, we’re advancing justice and racial equity at a time when hard-won rights are under attack. Check out the report to learn about progress on advocacy to protect and expand the rights of Marylanders and people across the country.
The accomplishments reflected in the report are a testament to you and your commitment to our work. Thank you for joining us in the fight.
Our annual report has features that make it easy to explore and share:
- Jump straight to key sections of the report from the table of contents and use the home button to navigate back.
- Find exactly what you’re looking for with the search tool.
- Explore additional PJC resources by following the links to reports, videos, news coverage, and more.
- Share our annual report to your social media pages with one click, or get a link to share it by email.
Katelyn Flowers is a dedicated and community-driven professional who serves as the new Executive Assistant to Dr. Khalilah M. Harris at the Public Justice Center. A graduate of Hampton University, she earned her honors degree in Business Entrepreneurship, graduating summa cum laude this past May. Katelyn is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the National Council of Negro Women, and serves as a mentor partner in Better Than Yesterday Mentoring Inc. She is also the founder of The Living Line, an organization dedicated to helping individuals navigate new policy changes and community needs. Her work reflects a deep commitment to social justice, equity, and human rights. She is passionate about using her organizational and leadership skills to support advocacy efforts that advance equality and dignity for Black and brown communities.
Phone: (410) 625-9409 x246
Email
Sarah Miller (she/her) is the 2025-2026 Francis D. Murnaghan, Jr. Appellate Advocacy Fellow. She supports the Appellate Advocacy Project by identifying and litigating cases that fight systemic racism and poverty. Seeking to protect and advance civil rights, Sarah represents both parties and amici curiae in state and federal appellate courts. Sarah is particularly interested in the fields of employment law, like helping those with Title VII claims, and reproductive and gender justice.
Prior to her fellowship, Sarah clerked for the Honorable Laura S. Ripken on the Appellate Court of Maryland.
Sarah earned a J.D. from University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law where she worked as a student attorney in the Gender, Prison, and Trauma Clinic and was the Manuscripts Editor of the University of Maryland Law Journal of Race, Religion, Gender and Class. She earned a B.S.W., magna cum laude from the Florida State University. Before law school, Sarah was a social worker for kids and families who had state-funded healthcare and needed mental, emotional, and behavioral health services.
Sarah enjoys long-distance running, spending time outside with her dog Riley, and live music.
(410) 625-9409 x222
Email
she/her
Jahira joined the PJC in September 2025 as a paralegal for the Workplace Justice Project. She has a lot of experience working with vulnerable populations. Prior to joining the PJC, she was a paralegal with an international non-profit where she worked on helping unaccompanied children navigate the complex immigration process. In addition, she has worked as a Judiciary Clerk in the Domestic Violence Unit of the District Court of Maryland in Baltimore City (Eastside District Court) working directly with the public and victims of domestic violence. Jahira is a student at the University of Baltimore, majoring in legal studies and is excited to expand her skill set to help protect and expand workers’ rights.
Phone: (410) 625-9409
Email
Elaineh Paulino serves as a Paralegal for the Human Right to Housing Project at the Public Justice Center. She joined the organization in August 2025 through a year-long service program with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. Elaineh earned her degree in Criminology and Peace and Justice from Villanova University.
Elaineh has previously interned with the Domestic Abuse Project of Delaware County, where she assisted clients in filing Protection from Abuse orders, and with the Pennsylvania Prison Society, where she helped to provide support to incarcerated individuals.
She looks forward to deepening her understanding of Baltimore City and Maryland housing law, supporting PJC clients in securing safe and equitable housing, and advancing tenants’ rights.
In her spare time, Elaineh is either studying for the LSAT, binge-watching movies, or exploring new food spots!
Phone: (410) 625-9409 x235
Email
she/her
Dr. Khalilah M. Harris joins Public Justice Center as Executive Director after over two decades in policy and justice. She recently served as Executive Vice President of Program Strategy at the Center for Policing Equity and as a campaign advisor for a mayoral campaign in New York City. Dr. Harris brings a unique perspective to her work from an extensive career fighting to expand access to opportunity through a racial equity lens. Over the course of her career she has organized and been an advocate on a range of issues including access to quality K-12 public education, economic development, policing reform, women’s rights, Black maternal health and building an inclusive workforce. Native to Brooklyn, New York and nurtured by Baltimore, Maryland, Khalilah is also a proud mother to three amazing children and daughter to Costa Rican and Jamaican immigrants – all of which grounds her work and shapes her global perspective.
Dr. Harris serves as a Commissioner on the inaugural Community Reinvestment and Reparations Commission for Baltimore City and was recently elected Vice Chair for grantmaking. She is also an appointee to Maryland’s Police Training and Standards Commission and president of the board of the Charm City Pearls Foundation, Inc. Dr. Harris previously served as the first Deputy Director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African-Americans in the Obama administration and later served in the Biden administration as chief of staff at the US Office of Personnel Management. Between the two administrations she served as managing director of the K-12 education policy team at the Center for American Progress. Khalilah has been a contributor on news networks such as Black News Channel, MSNBC, and, The Real News. She’s published research and opinion pieces and been sought after as a reputable and knowledgeable source in a variety of news outlets including the Washington Post, Education Week, The 74 Million, the Baltimore Sun, the Hill and others.
Dr. Harris is a proud alumna of Morgan State University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in political science. She obtained her law degree from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and later earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership and Organizational Development from the University of Pennsylvania. Khalilah is licensed to practice law in the state of Maryland and serves in support of a number of local and national civic organizations including as a life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Phone: (410) 625-9409
Email
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