This publication by Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR) and Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP) highlights some of the issues, challenges, and concerns facing Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim and South Asian communities in the United States that have been greatly impacted by societal anger and severe government actions since the tragic events of September 11th.
The Art of Community illustrates how weaving art and culture into program initiatives can lay the foundation for newcomers and the receiving society to find common ground and work together to build vibrant communities in which everyone has a stake. It offers strategies, lessons, and insights to inform foundation giving at the intersection of arts and community services.
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Including art as part of the process of immigrant integration is discussed on the Americans for the Arts audio blog by Amy Skillman, the Institute for Cultural Partnership's vice president and director of arts and heritage program, and Laura Marcus, independent consultant and folklorist. Listen to the podcast here.
This funders' guide provides a road map for building and strengthening immigrant civic integration infrastructure in local communities to assist the more than 8.5 million lawful permanent residents presently eligible to become citizens, the 2.8 million who will soon gain eligibility, and the estimated 12 million undocumented newcomers who may be able to apply for legal status and citizenship should Congress adopt federal immigration reform in the future. The guide delineates steps to identify community needs, resources, and opportunities; describes high-quality, ESL programs and strategies for improving instruction; offers an overview of the citizenship application process and recommends strategies for supporting naturalization-related efforts; and demonstrates how collaboration among funders can increase the availability of quality ESL instruction, legal services, and naturalization assistance.
Cross-cultural and interfaith alliances are key components of the PICO experience. However, as microcosms of society, cross-sector tensions can seep into their member congregations, stirring debate and creating moments of frustration. This article explores the steps some PICO affiliates in California have taken to help its member congregations build trust between disparate groups.
This is a stand-alone booklet form for the executive summary of Investing in Our Communities: Strategies for Immigrant Integration. It summarizes the historical context for immigration, discusses contemporary imperatives, and presents a set of funding recommendations. It also includes the Immigrant Integration Framework and briefly explains its six pathways. The seven-page booklet was printed to introduce immigrant integration concepts and make them more accessible to new audiences without overwhelming them with the depth and breadth of information in the 254-page toolkit.
This report examines the patterns, trends, and gaps in the philanthropic support of immigrants and refugees among Minnesota foundations. Recent demographic trends make immigration a front-burner issue for the state. During the 1990s alone, Minnesota's foreign-born population doubled. The resettlement of thousands of refugees from Southeast Asia, Africa, and the former Soviet Union -- combined with increased migration from Latin America -- have made the state a major player in the immigration landscape and compelled regional foundations to consider how they could best serve new populations in both urban and rural communities. The report provides a history of giving, outlines current and emerging funding trends, and provides recommendations for foundations as well as immigrant- and refugee-serving organizations.
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Informed by the experience of the Fund for Immigrants and Refugees, this article provides insight into effective collaborative grantmaking and important lessons learned.
Our researchers interviewed a broad cross-section of immigrant leaders, advocates, and policymakers and have produced this report summarizing their findings. The report briefly describes the circumstances that produced the large immigrant marches and offers concrete funding recommendations for supporting immigrant communities under different scenarios. A key theme that runs throughout this report is the need for funders to provide increased support at this pivotal moment, while coordinating their efforts to maximize impact and avoid duplication.
Human trafficking is a global issue, with nearly 27 million people being held in forced labor around the world, including the United States. This article outlines the issue of human trafficking and looks at ways that funders can have an impact.
The New Americans Executive Order was created to outline immigrant integration strategies that are helpful to communities in the state of Illinois and beyond. Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, the son of immigrant parents, hopes the initiative will make the American dream accessible for more families and create an example to help build stronger communities around the country.
This publication highlights a selection of top-quality documentary films that illuminate the immigrant experience and issues of integration such as English acquisition, education, employment, health, economic contributions, family cohesion, and Transnationalism. This new resource was curated by Active Voice in partnership with Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees and Grantmakers in Film & Electronic Media. For a hard copy of this report please contact GCIR.
This chapter from GCIR's Investing in Our Communities: Strategies for Immigrant Integration provides a historical perspective from which to view the issue of immigration in the United States.
This chapter from GCIR’s Investing in Our Communities: Strategies for Immigrant Integration defines immigrant integration and explores the benefits of integration to communities.
This chapter from GCIR’s Investing in Our Communities: Strategies for Immigrant Integration outlines the importance of intentional communitywide planning and focuses on promising practices around the nation.
This chapter from GCIR’s Investing in Our Communities: Strategies for Immigrant Integration explains the challenges of language access for immigrants and looks at the role that foundations can play.
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