For a great overview of NIIC 2014, here's what we shared with local and national media: Los Angeles, CA – The National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA) and the Los Angeles Host Organization, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), welcome hundreds of delegates from throughout the United States to the 7th Annual National Immigrant Integration Conference (NIIC 2014) December 14-16, 2014 to be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
The three-day Conference kicks off Sunday, December 14, with one of the largest educational forums in the country to date on Administrative Relief. The Forum highlights President Obama’s Executive Action announcement of November 20, 2014, and includes expert opinions on who qualifies, how to prepare, and how to avoid fraudulent offers. The forum is free of charge and doors open at 8:30 a.m. although seating is limited to 10,000 people.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Leon Rodriguez, who will be coordinating administrative relief efforts for the President, is providing the keynote address during a Monday morning plenary. Five plenaries feature nationally-recognized immigrant rights movement, labor, faith, education, and business leaders such as María Elena Durazo, Dr. Manuel Pastor, and Oscar Chacón, elected officials including the mayors of various major urban centers, and academy award journalists and actors such as Barkhad Abdi, Maria Hinojosa, and Roger Guenveur Smith. For information on each of the plenary speakers, visit http://www.integrationconference.org/schedule/.
Nationally-renowned figures in the immigration reform movement such as Ben Monterroso at Mi Familia Vota, Saket Soni at the National Guestworker Alliance, and Steven Choi at the New York Immigration Coalition will present workshops during one of the more than 30 sessions under 9 tracks available for Conference goers. Track titles include: Strengthening our Nation through Workforce Development, From Naturalization to Citizenship, Education Services and Systems, Affordable Care Act from an Immigrant’s Perspective, and the Economic Opportunity, Inclusion and Stability, amongst others.
For visitors to Los Angeles, the Conference plans a series of gatherings called “Caucuses” for Sunday, December 14. In addition, four “Discover Los Angeles Tours” will offer Conference goers the opportunity to visit East Los Angeles, South Los Angeles, Chinatown, and Little Ethiopia in ways they have likely never seen them before.
Conference goers can also enjoy the New Americans Exposition open every day from 8 am to 6 pm Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6p.m. Monday, and 10 am – 3 pm Tuesday. The Expo is a collection of some of LA’s best small businesses, non-profit organizations, and vendors serving the immigrant community.
Press credentials are required. Please contact Charlie McAteer at cmcateer@weareoneamerica.org for credentialing at least one day before the start of the conference. A press packet and a green room will be available for credential members of the press.
Hope you can join us this weekend!