TRACKING THE IMMIGRATION DEBATE

While there was much to celebrate across the region in November of 2006, the rhetoric around the issue of immigration was some of the worst scapegoating and demonization in recent memory. That rhetoric continues to shape the dialogue and debate around policies affecting immigrants and refugees in our states.

Western States Center intern Kayla Gleason tracked a number of candidate races in our states where the issue of immigration became a hot point. In her report you will find information presented on eleven races in the region. The report also provides some analysis of how this debate feeds in to the framing of legislative campaigns, both those currently under way, and those that have recently closed.

Click here to download the report

ORGANIZING ACROSS CULTURES FOR IMMIGRANT & REFUGEE JUSTICE

Western States Center has just completed the final session of the Western Institute for Organizing and Leadership Development for Immigrants and Refugees (WILDIR). The Program’s impact was vividly captured in participants' testimonials during the graduation ceremony. Two of the 15 first generation immigrant leaders spoke about their first encounter and their more recent ones—and just how much had changed over the course of their work this past year.

"When I was riding the train from Seattle to Portland for our first training session, I sat across from Toan Nguyen,” said Mohamed Roble, a Somali refugee. “Although we live in the same city and we both work with refugees, I didn’t know Toan. He works with the Vietnamese community and I work with Africans."

The two met through WILDIR and began networking with one another in Seattle. They found that, despite cultural and linguistic differences, their communities were facing similar struggles. “When we were waiting at the station for our second training session, we were talking so much that we missed the train!" Click here to read more.

CSTI is the premier movement-building event for Western progressives, with three full days of intensive training and networking for social justice organizers. The event is designed for leaders and staff of organizations who are working to address civil rights, immigration, gender justice, women's leadership, electoral power and other critical struggles facing our communities. Click here for more about CSTI 2007!

Also taking place at CSTI:
CAPACITY BUILDING INSTITUTE for Women & Trans People of Color Led Organizations
Thursday, August 2
Organizational Applications Required

Raíces, a Spanish word meaning roots, refers to the deep roots that connect rural Latinos/as to their communities. This connection, combined with the strength of the Latino culture and history, has the potential to empower communities to address challenges and work together to sustain a vibrant future. 

Western States Center's new Raíces Project organizes rural Latinos/as while building alliances with their neighbors—non-Latino community members and institutions—recognizing, reinforcing and renewing a community's economic, social and cultural strengths and assets. A four-year partnership between the Center and Northwest Area Foundation, the University of Iowa and the Main Street Project, Raíces aims to increase rural Latino communities’ capacity to organize and take on poverty-reduction work.

By enhancing leadership skills, on-the-ground connections and cultural competence, Raíces will foster the long-term collaborations among organizations and community members necessary for lasting, and deeply rooted, social change. Click here to download a Raíces Project brochure

TOOL OF THE MONTH
Meeting Wizard

Like most of you, we would rather be out in the field organizing the masses—not spending our time arranging meetings. However, Western Sates Center's field staff needs to meet regularly to plan our strategies for change. We have found that the online tool Meeting Wizard is an excellent way to help us arrange and schedule meetings and other events when we’re busy. It’s free and only requires that your meeting invitees have access to e-mail and the Internet.

Click here to try Meeting Wizard

BLOGS OF THE MONTH

Call us geeks, but we love political blogs—and that's short for web logs, in case you don't speak nerd. This month we highlight two of our favorites.

Talking Points Memo and TPM Café

Joshua Micah Marshall (right) started publishing Talking Points Memo, a political blog, in November 2000 during the disputed Florida election recount. The site has been in continuous publication ever since. It has a monthly readership of well over half a million readers and is frequently noted in publications across the United States. A companion site, TPM Café, provides an interactive forum for commentary, discussion, collaborative journalism and activism.

Sometimes you just have to laugh. Crooks and Liars was founded by blogger John Amato, who has a wicked sense of humor and a penchant for online video. Missed a recent episode of the Colbert Report? Chances are that you’ll find it—as well as lots of original content—on Crooks and Liars.

Talking Points Memo and TPM Café

Crooks and Liars