Today we find ourselves in a very new political reality. If there was ever a time to gather the strongest voices for immigrant and refugee rights and integration, civil rights and liberties, and social and economic justice and equality, that time is now. In January President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn in after running one of the most anti-immigrant and anti-refugee platforms in history. At the National Immigrant Integration Conference (NIIC), that will be held December 11-13 in Nashville, we've brought together a lineup that includes some of these leading voices to address how we move together.
Check out some of the heavy hitters we're bringing to Music City...
WHAT ARE LAWMAKERS DOING IN THIS NEW POLITICAL REALITY?
Congressman Luis V Gutierrez (IL) is a longtime champion of immigration reform working with legislators on both sides of the house to support measures that improve the lives of immigrant communities.
HOW ARE GROUPS ORGANIZING FOR THE FIGHTS AHEAD?
Cristina Jiménez is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of United We Dream, the largest immigrant youth-led organization in the nation, working to address inequalities faced by immigrant youth and advancing justice for all immigrants.
WHAT ARE THE ROLES OF STATES AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN THE NEW LANDSCAPE?
Nisha Agarwal is the Commissioner of NYC Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs and a leading voice in immigration reform at the local and national level. Commissioner Agarwal led the development of the country's largest municipal identification program and was also instrumental in the creation of Action NYC, providing free, safe immigration legal help to New York's immigrants.
HOW ARE OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES RESPONDING AND PREPARING FOR WHAT'S AHEAD?
Tia Oso is the National Organizer of the Black Alliance for Just Immigration, coordinating the flagship project, the Black Immigration Network -- a national network of over 40 organizations building relationships, developing skills and advancing an agenda for immigrant rights and racial justice.
WHAT WILL BE NEEDED FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY ON REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT ISSUES?
David Miliband is the President and CEO of theInternational Rescue Committee, an organization that has been described by Times columnist Nicholas Kristof as "the gold standard of aid groups working with refugees." In 2015, the IRC and its partners aided 23 million people around the world.
HOW ARE OUR PARTNERS IN OTHER COUNTRIES RESPONDING?
Carlos Sada Solana is the newly appointed Mexican Ambassador to the United States has broad experience protecting the rights of Mexicans in North America.
Join us and 1,000 leaders of the immigrant integration field at NIIC in Nashville. Register for the NIIC 2016. The deadline to book a deeply discounted room at the conference hotel is November 21. Reserve your room today!
The road ahead needs our sharpest, most strategic work ever. Join us, these heavy hitters -- and many more -- to do just that.
Stephanie Teatro, Tennesee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition
Lindsey Harris, Tennesee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition
Tara Raghuveer, National Partnership for New Americans
Cynthia Greenberg, National Immigrant Integration Conference