2007 Highlights

Overview

GCIR had an active year in 2007. We provided extensive information services, kept pace with the national debate on immigration reform measures, and designed programs that were timely and relevant to the field and to the interests of grantmakers. At an organizational level, we implemented a new three-year strategic plan, began planning for our 2008 Convening in Chicago, expanded our staff to include a research and communications director, and launched a new web site. Building on the success of our Immigrant Integration Toolkit, we also began working with funders in California and New Hampshire to strengthen the immigrant integration infrastructure in their respective states.

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Summary of 2007 Programs

In keeping with our strategic plan, many of our 2007 programs focused on pressing policy matters and on immigrant integration issues, particularly in new immigrant destinations. These programs, in which an estimated 1,150 funders participated, included three regional, five statewide, twelve national programs, and two international programs.

Regional Programs

The Changing Face of the Southeast, April 2007, Atlanta, Georgia.
Immigrant Rights and Immigrant Integration, December 2007, Los Angeles, California.
Joint Affinity Group Leadership Recognition, December 2007, Los Angeles, California.

Statewide Programs

Building a Stronger Minnesota: Strategies for Immigrant/Refugee Integration, February 2007, St. Cloud, Minnesota.
Strategy Sessions: California Immigrant Integration Policy, March and June 2007, San Francisco, California.
Strategies for Immigrant Integration, May 2007, Phoenix, Arizona.
The Changing Face of New Hampshire: The Role of Foundations in Promoting Immigrant Integration, October 2007, New Hampshire.

National Programs

Immigrant Work Group at JAG Unity Summit, February 2007, Los Angeles, California.
Teleconference on National Immigration Policy, March 2007.
Teleconference on Workplace Raids, April 2007.
Three-Part Program: (1) How a Living Wage Can Be a Pathway Out of Poverty, (2) Living Wage Reception, (3) Waging a Living -- Dinner and Screening, Council on Foundations Annual Conference, April 2007, Seattle, Washington.
Stand by Your Grant: Effective Communications to Support Immigrant/Refugee Funding, Council on Foundations Annual Conference, April 2007, Seattle, Washington.
Immigration and Immigrant Integration: Crosscutting Issues for Philanthropy, Council on Foundations Annual Conference, May 2007, Seattle, Washington.
The Role of Community Foundations in Immigration and Immigrant Integration, Fall Community Foundation Conference, September 2007, San Francisco, California.
Strengthening Our Communities: The Promise of Immigrant Integration, Fall Community Foundation Conference, September 2007, San Francisco, California.
Immigration Policy Workshop, Neighborhood Funders Group Annual Conference, October 2007, Cleveland, Ohio.
Immigrant Integration Breakfast Roundtable -- Independent Sector, October 2007, Los Angeles, California.
National Policy Briefing, November 2007, Teleconference.
Immigration and Immigrant Integration: The Los Angeles Experience, December 2007, Los Angeles.

International Programs

Funder Delegation to Latin American Migrant Community Summit, May 2007, Morelia, Mexico.
Migrant Choices: Strategies for Foundations on Diversity, Migration, and Integration, October 2007, Dublin, Ireland.

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Information Resources

GCIR published two issues of New Americans, two issues of Perspectives, two special reports, and launched a completely retooled and comprehensive new web site.

Expanding Immigrant and Refugee Funding in Minnesota: What Foundations and Nonprofits Can Do examines the patterns, trends, and gaps in the philanthropic support of immigrants and refugees among Minnesota foundations. 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.
Bridging the Language Gap: Public and Private Sector Strategies for Communicating with Limited English-Speaking Individuals is a two-part report. The first part, published in October 2007, provides an overview of emerging language assistance policies and practices in the private and public sectors. It describes the motivating factors behind the recent surge of new programs, specific promising practices and policies, and the challenges that businesses and public agencies face in trying to eliminate language barriers. A follow-up publication will be released in spring 2008 and will examine these issues in greater detail as well as analyze promising practices in specific sectors, such as social services, emergency preparedness, and public education.
The summer 2007 issue of New Americans, explores the role philanthropy can play to help the 37 million immigrants and refugees in the United States become full members of our society. The articles make a compelling case that the discussion and planning on immigrant integration must occur now to avoid chaos later. There is a review of Deporting Our Souls, a new book that examines both sides of recent immigration reform proposals, a preview of GCIR's 2008 National Convening, and a close-up look at an empowering and inspiring workers center.
The winter 2008 volume of New Americans analyzes recent trends affecting refugees and asylees and provides comments from experts in the field on what funders can anticipate in the coming years. In a related article, the impact of gender on refugee and asylee claims is explored. The magazine also includes snapshot profiles of refugees and asylees, and insightful articles on transnationalism and building a binational labor justice movement.
The spring 2007 issue of Perspectives, Growing Attacks on Immigrants Have Real Implications for Black America, was written by Eric Ward, national field director for the Center for New Community. He draws on his personal experience to explain how recent anti-immigrant legislation will negatively impact the ability for some African-Americans to receive public benefits and to exercise their fundamental right to vote.
The fall 2007 issue of Perspectives titled Crossing Borders, Crossing Barriers is the fourth in a series on immigration and race. In this excerpted version of the Crossing Borders, Crossing Barriers report, published by the Western States Center, Kalpana Krishnamurthy, director of the Research and Action for Change and Equity (RACE) Program, describes a program that brings diverse communities together to create mutual understanding and foster growth empowerment.

In addition, we kept our members and other grantmakers apprised of the latest news and reports through ten issues of our general e-newsletter, which included two health e-newsletters and two education e-newsletters.

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