Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees - GCIR

This article details the steps taken by PICO affiliate North Valley Sponsoring Committee in 2001 to help immigrants become citizens in Northern California.  Following their success, their program was emulated in Los Angeles.  It is now being adapted again in five Bay Area counties in California where seven PICO affiliates are joining forces to train 350 volunteers, mobilize 45,000 people, help 5,000 legal permanent residents apply for citizenship, and provide advanced leadership training to 500.  What all three campaigns have in common is this one overarching goal: to help immigrants integrate and be effective in addressing local policy issues.