Summary of Request:
[...], the only statewide umbrella coalition of immigrants’ rights, justice and social service organizations, seeks funding to continue its capacity building, a process that has successfully begun and much-expanded in [...] with help from an initial grant from […]. This process will crystallize in [...] through enhanced and more focused work of our […] Coordinator and a new, much-needed […] Organizer, the goal of which is to reach out to impacted immigrant community on one hand and “people in power” on the other. The ultimate goal of this continuing process is to organize and recruit new members and volunteers from across the state, enhance the program committees and projects, and provide more streamlined advocacy, policy analysis, education and training on issues, problems and prospects affecting immigrants. In addition to working with its member organizations and grassroots groups to address the issues directly, [...] will also keep developing and strengthening a statewide coalition of diverse groups and individuals, and a proactive media and outreach program to build bridges between newly emerging immigrant communities, progressive advocates and organizations, journalists and [...]’s state and local governments.
We are Ready for Implementation
[...] now has a clear sense of its capacity building needs and is ready to implement its plans. Below are the answers to your questions. A detailed description of our present and future work plan follows.
· Which aspects of your organization’s capacity most contribute to its programmatic effectiveness now?
Networking with a
multitude of organizations and constituent groups has been the most noteworthy
component of our capacity building. Coordination of the various program and
project areas at [...] with help from the member- and non-member groups has
taken active shape. Simultaneously, our legislative outreaching efforts on the
various issues (such as ...) have grown manifold. Upon invitation by
[...]’s newly elected governor’s transition team, we have recently submitted a
policy paper on the state’s immigrants’ issues. One of our top priorities is to
have the new governor create a statewide Office of […] Affairs, following an
exemplary model from […] (see enclosed literature).
· Which aspects of your organization’s capacity are the biggest barriers to its effectiveness now?
The above accomplishment
has created urgency for us to expand our grassroots organizing activities. We
strongly feel that in order to reach out to the hundreds of potential advocates
and activists, a full-time organizer is essential. The efficacy of our capacity
building is greatly hindered due to the lack of an organizer on the ground whose
role would be to recruit and motivate new members and volunteers from the
immigrant- and civil rights and justice communities, sometimes around specific
issues (example – at a recently-held, street-corner press conference with
[...], this need was more strongly felt: we need to hold such events more
frequently and at many different places across the state, reassuring and
recruiting activists). The […] Coordinator, with this base-building help, would
be able to coordinate the various facets of our work – both in the [...] areas –
and move the issues forward in a much expanded and accelerated way. This will
also help [...] track and communicate the desired results more
efficiently.
· Who will provide the internal leadership for your capacity-building process?
[...]’s Executive
Director, with periodic and relevant advisement from the Board, will provide the
internal leadership and help create a pragmatic and efficient delineation of
duties and responsibilities between the various components of the work. The
[...] Coordinator, however, will be supervising the day-to-day functioning of
the [...] Organizer. The leadership also creates and distributes important
work outside program committees, such as fundraising, and liaison with other
state-level and national organizations, a process that has already begun.
· How you will build participation and commitment (“buy-in”) from your staff, Board and membership for capacity building?
If we envision
a [...] structure at [...], the membership forms the [...] and the
“on-the-ground” information builds out of the base. The staff gather in the
information, filter it through intra-organization meetings (staff- and committee
meetings), and formulate and implement action plans. The Board of Trustees is
informed of major decisions and policy changes (some Board members are also
actively involved with the various committee work), where they “buy in” the
action plans. The membership base, committees and Board members all are invited
to various meetings and events (including [...]’s annual general membership
meeting) and provided opportunity to create and revise goals and plans of
action. A democratic and thoughtful process is developed and carried out.
· What kind(s) of technical assistance, if any, would be of greatest help as you implement your plan?
Research, policy
analysis and working with elected officials are of paramount importance to the
work of the [...]. We have already developed our ability to monitor government
policies (both state and federal) and conduct advocacy around those policies.
The work is flourishing and the new Organizer can assist the [...] on it, by
bringing in feedback from the impacted communities.
· What are the specific and verifiable first-year goals for your capacity building plan?
We hope that with
creation of the synergy between the [...] and Organizer, we’ll be able to have
at least a […] percent increase in our dues-paying membership in the next
year. We’re also actively recruiting new Board members and our recently-held
annual general membership meeting (December, 2005) voted to increase the number
of Board members from 15 to 21. A Board recruitment committee has been formed
and new criteria have been set to create new energy, ethnic and racial diversity
and expertise (such as policy, media, and fundraising).
Problem or Need Addressed by Proposed Activity:
[...] has the […]-highest number of immigrants in U.S., as well as some of the nation’s most diverse and densely populated communities. However, there is not much coordinated effort among organizations in working with or assisting immigrant communities on a broad range of economic, social and political issues. This effort is greatly needed to address the development and impact of many state and local laws and policies that are targeted towards, or disproportionately affect, the rights and dignity of immigrants. [...], the state’s only umbrella organization for immigrants’ rights and justice advocates, with its newly structured program areas and reclaimed reputation and support, plans to expand its ongoing work to recruit members, and provide members and emerging grassroots movements with organizing and coalition-building strategies, advocacy and policy analysis, and resource support on key issues. This, in turn, will foster integration and engagement in local communities and bring immigrant voices to the forefront of political participation and public advocacy in [...]. Our goal is that within the next two years, [...]’s efforts to put together policies based on active coordination with statewide groups will create a climate of renewed solidarity, energy and enthusiasm. Through a generous grant from […], we’ve been able to create an enormous amount of energy and enthusiasm in the rights and justice community in [...]. The year [...] is crucial.
Objective:
[...] closely identifies with [...]’s mission to promote immigrants’ human & civil rights and liberties and civic integration. We believe that our goal is to realize immigrants’ full participation in and contribution to our society, and know that promoting fairness, human rights and justice fits well with the future vitality of American democracy. It is for this reason our work to build a vibrant, statewide coalition of immigrant- and pro-immigrant groups to highlight immigrants’ issues is so important. Our new coalition, under the leadership of [...] and key groups and active [...]ing and moderation of our new [...] Coordinator, also fulfills the much-needed objective to put the issues of immigrant rights and justice on the forefront of [...]’s political landscape. This work began in [...]. With continued support from [...], we can build on it in [...] and the years to come. We are excited about it.
[...] has turned around and rebuilt its base across [...]. We have developed new energy and relationships with many, diverse, progressive partners in the state. The message of reassurance, hope and solidarity has been our greatest success over the past grant year.
The year [...] would be crucial for [...]’s goal to strengthen its coalition and work on the serious, pressing problems immigrant communities are faced with. Current advocacy and policy landscape in the state is changing frequently with the passing of new, anti-immigrant laws and measures, both locally and nationally. At the same time, positive [...]-building has yielded fruitful results and both state and local lawmakers and the rights community have expressed happiness and interest in our relentless efforts. A healthy number of newspaper articles championing our work brought testimony of it; conversely, relentless publication of anti-immigrant messages in response to our points of view de facto proved our regained strength and successful action plans. A list of media reports and editorials is enclosed here.
The election of an “immigrant-friendly” governor [...] in November, [...] and our successful efforts to reach out to his transition team have increased our enthusiasm. Upon the transition team’s request, [...] has submitted to it an elaborate position paper on [...]’s immigrant’s issues and problems. A copy is enclosed with this grant proposal.
Our upcoming […] statewide conference (see enclosed flyer in English and Spanish, and the conference itinerary) will witness high energy and solidarity of advocates and policymakers coming from various parts of the state.
Upon this backdrop, in the coming year, we plan to do the following:
· Reach out and invite old and new coalition partners to renew dialogues on specific issues and problems based on grassroots and advocates’ experience and information
· Reach out to state and national policymakers, legislators and pro-immigrant politicians and begin conversations to address the issues and problems
· Identify key issues to work on collaboratively around [...]’s new program and activity areas (examples provided)
· Come up with action plans leading to advocacy and policy change (a recently-held, […] County, press conference to express solidarity with day laborers – in pre-emptive response to anti-immigrant demonstrations the following day – has been noticed both by the press and policymakers; hopefully, pro-day laborer, anti-hate policies would emerge in Trenton in the near future)
· Use the mainstream and ethnic media to promote newly designed policy and advocacy materials
· Be pro-active, envision the near-future scenario on key issues, and take action
Detailed Problem Statement and Budget:
