Full Citizenship: From Reducing Barriers to Naturalization to Full Civic Participation

Nearly 9 million people are eligible to naturalize but less than 10% naturalize each year. Is citizenship a privilege limited to wealthy immigrants? How can we reduce barriers? What is being done to ensure that the over 13 million naturalized immigrants become both voters and active citizens? Participants will explore long-term relationship building strategies used by organizations to engage the people they serve and ensure that naturalization becomes a portal for full civic participation. Speakers:

• Andrew Friedman, Co-Executive Director, Center for Popular Democracy -- Andrew came to CPD after 15 years building Make the Road New York into the leading democratically run, immigrant-led community organization in New York State. Since co-founding Make the Road in 1997, Andrew helped grow the organization from a small, volunteer-run effort to an $8 million organization with over 11,000 members, 100 staff, and four community-based centers in New York City and Long Island. Andrew helped oversee all aspects of Make the Road’s work, including the organizing, legal services, adult literacy, workforce development, operations and finance department. He has worked as an adjunct professor in New York University School of Law’s Clinical Program, NYU’s Wagner School for Public Service and the New School for Social Research, and serves on the Board of Directors of Make the Road New York, and the Make the Road Action Fund. Andrew is a magna cum laude graduate of Columbia College and a cum laude graduate of the New York University School of Law.
• Marika Dias, Managing Attorney, Make the Road New York -- Marika Dias is the Managing Attorney at Make the Road New York, where she also coordinates the immigration legal services and LGBTQ legal support. Marika maintains an active caseload of immigration cases, predominantly working with immigrant youth in Staten Island, with individuals in removal proceedings, and with undocumented individuals in the criminal justice system. Marika provides legal support to Make the Road’s organizing work in the areas of immigration, policing and LGBTQ rights.
• Diana Colin, Director of Civic Engagement, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA) -- Diana Colin is the Civic Engagement Director at CHIRLA. Diana and her family immigrated to the United States from Mexico D.F. when she was two years old. Diana began her work at CHIRLA as a student volunteer in 2009, and was hired on as a campaign organizer in 2013. She graduated from California State University Fullerton in 2011 with a major in Political Science.
• Dr. Manuel Pastor, Co-Director, Dornslife-Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration, USC --- Dr. Manuel Pastor is a Professor of Sociology and American Studies & Ethnicity at the University of Southern California. He currently directs the USC Program for Environmental and Regional Equity (PERE) and the Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration (CSII). Pastor’s research focuses on movement building and the economic, environmental and social conditions facing low-income communities. He has written several books and speaks nationally on issues including demographic change, economic inequality, and community empowerment. In 2012, the Liberty Hill Foundation awarded Pastor the Wally Marks Changemaker of the Year for social justice research partnerships.
• Aparna Shah, Executive Director, Mobilize the Immigrant Vote -- Aparna Shah has worked for social change and expanded democracy with immigrant and low-income communities for over 20 years. Under her leadership, Mobilize the Immigrant Vote has organized five annual statewide campaigns directly reaching 150,000+ immigrant and New American voters, built the long-term infrastructure and capacity of grassroots immigrant organizations across the state to run electoral and issue campaigns, and established a sister organization, the MIV Action Fund. She was born in Manila, grew up in Mumbai, and now lives with her family in Oakland, CA.
• Evan Bacalao, Senior Civic Engagement Director, National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials -- Evan Bacalao oversees the Harry P. Pachón Civic Engagement program, which operates out of the organization’s Houston, Los Angeles, Orlando, and New York offices; in addition to full-time staff in San Antonio, San Diego, and Washington D.C. Under Evan’s leadership, the program has assisted more than 20,000 legal permanent residents apply for U.S. citizenship, directly helped over 100,000 voters with voting questions, mobilized half a million Latinos to vote, re-granted $2 million to local Latino-serving non-profit civic engagement efforts, and touched millions more through mass-media and cutting-edge online outreach campaigns.

Ignite innovation! From Technology to New Partners in Naturalization

The field of naturalization is bubbling with innovation and excitement. Across the nation community organizations, legal service providers, credit unions, faith communities, municipalities, businesses, organized labor, and tech innovators are creating new models to help facilitate the naturalization of the nearly 9 million immigrants eligible to naturalize. Participants will learn about the latest tools, resources, partnerships, and best practices that can be implemented in their own communities to enhance their programs and expand their services. Moderator:

• Melissa Rodgers, Director of Programs, New American’s Campaign -- Melissa Rodgers is the Director of Programs at the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) and the Project Director of the New Americans Campaign (NAC), a national initiative for which the ILRC serves as the lead agency, which brings together national and local organizations in partnership with a funder collaborative to increase naturalization among eligible lawful permanent residents. Melissa has held leadership positions at Blue Shield of California Foundation, the Child Care Law Center, the UC Berkeley School of Law Center on Health, Economic & Family Security, and the Health Consumer Center at the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County. Melissa has an EdM and JD from Harvard.

Speakers:

• Mathew Burnett, Immigrant Advocate Network -- Matthew is director of the Immigration Advocates Network (IAN), a collaborative effort of leading immigrants' rights organizations that develops innovative programs and technology to increase access to justice for low-income immigrants and strengthen the capacity of organizations serving them. Before joining IAN, Matthew represented immigrants at East Bay Sanctuary Covenant and Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, and served as law clerk to Justice Z.M. Yacoob of the Constitutional Court of South Africa. He received his B.A. cum laude from the University of Washington, where he was a Mary Gates Scholar and elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and his J.D. cum laude from Seattle University School of Law. In 2013 Matthew was named to the Fastcase 50, which honors the law's "most courageous innovators, techies, visionaries, & leaders." Under his leadership, IAN has received multiple awards, including a Webby Award for Best Law Site in 2013 and the ABA’s 2014 Keane Award for Excellence in eLawyering.
• Laura Patching, Acting Chief of the Office of Citizenship, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services -- Laura Patching is the Acting Chief of the Office of Citizenship, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). In this capacity she leads federal initiatives to promote the rights, responsibilities and importance of U.S. citizenship. In 2001, Patching joined the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) and helped manage INS’ transition to USCIS after the passage of the Homeland Security Act of 2002. She has been part of the Office of Citizenship since it was created in 2003.
• Shanna Huey, Nashville Mayors Office of New Americans -- Shanna Singh Hughey is a senior advisor to Nashville Mayor Karl Dean and the director of the Mayor’s Office of New Americans. Previously, Shanna was nominations counsel on Chairman Patrick Leahy's (D-VT) staff of the Senate Judiciary Committee, where she worked extensively on the Supreme Court confirmations of Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan. Shanna has also worked as an associate in the Washington, DC office of O'Melveny and Myers and as press secretary to Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). Shanna earned her B.A. with high distinction from The University of Michigan and her J.D. with honors from The George Washington University.
• Vanessa Sandoval, Program Director, Services, Immigrant Rights, and Education Network, CA -- Vanessa Sandoval joined SIREN as the Director of the Policy Advocacy program where she has worked vigorously to promote comprehensive immigration reform, and protect immigrant rights on a local, state, and national level. Vanessa earned her juris doctorate from Golden Gate University, School of law and has continuted to serve the immigrant community as the Director of Immigration Legal Services. Vanessa is passionate about creating and preserving policies and laws that protect and empower the immigrant community.
• George Escobar, Director of Health and Human Service, CASA de Maryland -- Mr. Escobar oversees the majority of CASA’s social service programming which includes legal assistance, naturalization support, financial literacy, case management, health navigation and health education initiatives. Programs within George’s portfolio are charged with providing services that address disparities, reunite families separated by unjust immigration policies and place community members in a stable situation, setting them up for success and introducing them to CASA’s power building and leadership development opportunities so CASA members can participate in collective actions meant to create positive social change and address the root causes impacting the circumstances in which they find themselves.
• Mohan Kanugo, Director of Engagement, Mission Asset Fund, San Francisco -- Mohan Kanungo is the Director of Engagement at Mission Asset Fund. Mohan joined MAF in 2013 to lead programs that financially empower youth. Since then, his role has expanded to explore potential partners for MAF’s social-loan programs across the country. Mohan's experience with labor, law and non-profit management, have addressed various aspects of financial and social inclusion impacting veterans, immigrants, survivors of domestic violence and low-income families.
• Jennie Murray, Director of Integration Programs, National Immigration Forum, Washington D.C. -- Jennie Murray is currently the Director of Integration Programs at the National Immigration Forum. At the Forum Jennie leads the integration initiative, New American Workforce, which is a national program that brings citizenship services to the worksite; linking legal service providers with the private sector. This program not only brings integration services to the worksite but also serves as a catalyst for encouraging the private sector to identify the vast importance of their foreign-born workforce as well as aiding them to support these employees.
• Eduardo Pena, Assistant to the Director, United Food and Commercial Workers International Union -- During the last 16 years at the UFCW, Eduardo has dedicated his efforts to improve the working conditions of workers across the U.S. and has been involved in some of the largest labor fights for food industry workers in the last decade. He is currently oversees the implementation of the UFCW’s Union Citizen Action Network (UCAN) program. Some of Eduardo’s work was highlighted in the documentary Food, Inc., as well as in many national publications.
• Krystina Francois, KMD Consultant Group- Catholic Legal Services Miami -- Krystina is multi-lingual, multi-cultural and globally minded capacity builder, as a result of life experiences in New York, Haiti and Miami. Krystina served as a Public Ally, an AmeriCorps fellowship which places young leaders with local nonprofits to reach efficiency and scale, during which time she founded and managed Florida New Americans, the Florida Immigrant Coalition's naturalization and immigrant integration initiative. In 2014, she founded KMD Consultant Group where she continues her work through capacity building consulting for businesses and organizations like Catholic Legal Services of Miami.
• Christine Chen, Staff Attorney, Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Los Angeles -- Christine Chen is a Staff Attorney for Asian Americans Advancing Justice - LA's Citizenship Project, where she provides assistance, outreach, and legal representation to immigrants applying for naturalization and DACA. Previously, Christine has provided services to domestic violence survivors as well as helping immigrant victims of crimes apply for various forms of immigration relief including T-visas, U-visas, and asylum.

Standing Up Naturalization in Your City: What does it take?

This session will explore how multiple sectors can develop and implement a successful coordinated naturalization program. Panelists will discuss models for the contributions of municipalities, business, and CBO’ s to advance citizenship efforts. What is the necessary funding and where can it come from? What is necessary to create effective partnerships with immigrant organizations? Practitioners at all levels can explore improving their efficiencies with new stakeholders to create greater capacity for naturalization in their cities. Speakers:

• Alaa Mukahhal, Program Manager, National Partnership for New Americans -- Alaa Mukahhal is a Kuwaiti born Palestinian raised on Chicago’s southside. She has organized undocumented communities before joining the National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA). In her capacity as the Citizenship Project Manager at NPNA, Alaa has worked with the twelve core members of NPNA to set up citizenship programs across the U.S. that have assisted over 25,000 immigrants to become U.S. citizens.
• Nisha Agarwal, Commissioner, NYC Mayors Office of Immigrant Affairs -- Nisha Agarwal is an accomplished public interest lawyer and a leading voice in immigration reform at the local and national level. She brings to the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs an entrepreneurial drive and a proven record of enacting pro-immigrant legislation in New York City and New York State. Agarwal received her B.A. summa cum laude from Harvard College and her J.D. from Harvard Law School. She currently lives in Brooklyn.
• Stephanie Teatro, Co-Executive Director, Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition -- Stephanie Teatro is the Co-Director of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC), a statewide, immigrant and refugee-led collaboration whose mission is to empower immigrants and refugees throughout Tennessee to develop a unified voice, defend their rights, and create an atmosphere in which they are recognized as positive contributors to the state. Stephanie leads TIRRC's programs to build the capacity of grassroots immigrant leaders to speak for themselves, to engage fully in the civic process, and to advocate for policies that make it easier for everyone to fully participate in public life. Stephanie serves on the board of the National Partnership for New Americans, is a member of the Memphis Mayor's Multicultural Coalition, and sits on the Nashville Mayor's New Americans Advisory Council.
• Kelly M. Fay Rodríguez, Assistant to the Executive Vice President, AFL-CIO -- Kelly Rodríguez works in the office of EVP Tefere Gebre on citizenship, immigration and civic engagement issues for the Federation. She holds a J.D. from CUNY School of Law, where she was a Haywood Burns Civil & Human Rights Fellow. She previously worked at the NYS AG's Office and SEIU Local 32BJ.
• Jamie Alderslade is Director of Policy, Research and Communications in the Community Development division at Citi. Citi Community Development lead’s Citi’s commitment to achieve economic empowerment and growth for underserved individuals, families and communities by expanding access to financial products and services, and building sustainable business solutions and innovative partnerships. Our focus areas include: commercial and philanthropic funding; innovative financial products and services; and collaborations with institutions that expand access to financial products and services for low-income and underserved communities. Earlier this year, Citi was proud to be named as the founding corporate partner of Cities for Citizenship, Cities for Citizenship is a major national initiative aimed at increasing citizenship among eligible U.S. permanent residents and encouraging cities across the country to invest in citizenship programs. It is chaired by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, with support from the Center for Popular Democracy and the National Partnership for New Americans.

Poetry, Music, and Visual Arts Hands-on Workshop

In this session, participants will have a hands-on experience of co-creating art— visual art/poetry/music—coordinated by leading practitioners in these fields. Only the music breakout session is capped at 30 participants. 

Speakers:

• Steven Liang is a filmmaker who directs social issue films with the hope of engaging and entertaining a millennial audience. His films, which all feature diverse characters, have screened in film festivals nationally. He cares deeply about immigration, race, and sexuality; and believes films have the power to create social change. Steven is a graduate student at UCLA Film School, and film consultant at Pomona College.
• Francisco Alarcon, Director of the Spanish for Native Speakers Program at the University of California at Davis, poet -- Francisco X. Alarcón, Chicano, poet and educator, is the author of 13 books of poetry for adults and 6 bilingual poetry books for children. His most recent books are: Borderless Butterflies / Mariposas sin fronteras (Poetic Matrix Press) and Canto hondo / Deep Song (University of Arizona Press). He is the founder of the Facebook, Poets Responding to SB 1070. He teaches at the UC Davis.
• Julio Salgado, artist -- Julio Salgado is the co-founder of DreamersAdrift.com and events and project coordinator at CultureStrike. His status as an undocumented, queer activist has fueled the contents of his illustrations, which depict key individuals and moments of the DREAM Act movement. Undocumented students and allies across the country have used Salgado’s artwork to call attention to the youth-led movement.
• Raul Pacheco  -- Raul Pacheco is a founding member of Los Angeles' 3 time Grammy winning Ozomatli. Ozomatli's current record is entitled "Place in The Sun" and celebrates their 20 year career. He is currently music writer and producer for the theatrical presentation Dreaming Sin Fronteras which presents immigration stories from Dreamers across the country.

Arts and Culture Toolbox: A Workshop to Help Harness the Power of Arts and Culture

In this workshop, participants will gain tools and strategies for harnessing the power of arts and culture, which they can take back with them into their movements and organizations. Diane Espaldon will share tips for how to set goals for arts and culture projects and how to measure impact. Will, and Ivan will present Social Media 101; how to tell your own story and why it matters. Mik Moore will share insights on web videos for social change, and the use of humor in video. Speakers:

• Favianna Rodriguez, CultureStrike -- Favianna Rodriguez is a transnational interdisciplinary artist and cultural organizer on a mission to create profound and lasting social change in the world. Her art and collaborative projects address migration, global politics, economic injustice, patriarchy, and interdependence. Favianna lectures globally on the power of art, cultural organizing and technology to inspire social change, and leads art workshops at schools around the country. Favianna is the Executive Director of CultureStrike, a national arts organization that engages artists, writers and performers in migrant rights, and in 2009, she co-foundedPresente.org, a national online organizing network dedicated to the political empowerment of Latino communities.
• Diane Espaldon, Arts and Culture Consultant -- Diane Espaldon is a strategy consultant with over 20 years of experience in the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors, particularly in arts, culture, and social change. Diane has designed and managed multi-year, multi-strategy funding initiatives to strengthen targeted nonprofit fields. She also provides strategic guidance, board/staff retreat facilitation, leadership coaching, and organizational and program assessments. Now based in Los Angeles, Diane was born in the Philippines and grew up in Guam. She has a B.A. in Government from Harvard University and an M.A. from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs.
• Ivan Ceja, co-creator of Undocumedia.org -- Ivan Ceja was born in Michoacan, Mexico and his parents brought him to California when he was nine months old. He is a D.A.C.A. beneficiary pursuing an engineering degree. Ivan's advocacy for immigrant rights began with organizing students to advocate for legislation that would benefit the immigrant community. Today, his efforts emphasize the sharing of information through social media, via Undocumedia, and creating content that is clear and concise.
• Will Coley, AquiferMedia -- Will Coley is a social media strategist, independent radio producer, videographer and trainer with experience in a variety of social change campaigns including CultureStrike. He has been an advocate and organizer with immigrants and refugees in Charlotte, New York/Newark, and Los Angeles, as well as in Zimbabwe and Great Britain. Through Aquifer Media, Will now designs social media strategies and digital storytelling for funders, national nonprofit networks and local nonprofits. A native of North Carolina, Will lived in Los Angeles for several years but recently relocated to Queens, NY.
• Mik Moore -- Mik Moore is recognized as one of the leading digital media campaign strategists in the United States, combining a deep understanding of public policy with years of experience as a writer, editor, and public speaker. He is known for developing and implementing innovative efforts to harness the power of online media to create social change. His award-winning web-videos include The Great Schlep with Sarah Silverman and Wake the Fuck Up! with Samuel L. Jackson. Mik is the founder and principal of Moore + Associates, a strategic communications firm based in New York City that specializes developing collaborations between comics and causes to create game-changing public voice campaigns.

Winning hearts and minds through cultural strategies

Political shifts around immigration won’t happen until cultural shifts happen. This track will showcase the power of arts and culture strategies to help people see that art is more than just aesthetically pleasing—it is powerful and requires attention. We will showcase three case studies of artists and activists working on immigrant themes. Moderator: 

• Maria Hinojosa, President and CEO, Futuro Media Group -- Maria Hinojosa is an award-winning news anchor and reporter who covers America’s untold stories and highlights today’s critical issues. In 2010, Hinojosa created the Futuro Media Group, an independent nonprofit organization producing multimedia journalism that explores and gives a critical voice to the diversity of the American experience. As the anchor and Executive Producer of NPR’s only Latino news and culture show Latino USA, and host and Executive Producer for the upcoming PBS show America By The Numbers with Maria Hinojosa, both produced by Futuro Media, she has informed millions about the changing cultural and political landscape in America and abroad.

Panelists:

• Favianna Rodriguez, CultureStrike -- Favianna Rodriguez is a transnational interdisciplinary artist and cultural organizer on a mission to create profound and lasting social change in the world. Her art and collaborative projects address migration, global politics, economic injustice, patriarchy, and interdependence. Favianna lectures globally on the power of art, cultural organizing and technology to inspire social change, and leads art workshops at schools around the country. Favianna is the Executive Director of CultureStrike, a national arts organization that engages artists, writers and performers in migrant rights, and in 2009, she co-foundedPresente.org, a national online organizing network dedicated to the political empowerment of Latino communities.
• Andrea Cristina Mercado, Campaign Director, National Domestic Worker Alliance; Co-Chair of We Belong Together: Women for Commonsense Immigration Reform -- Andrea Cristina Mercado is the daughter of South American immigrants, the mother of two young girls, and the Campaign Director at the National Domestic Worker Alliance.  She is the Co-Chair of We Belong Together: Women for Commonsense Immigration Reform. Andrea was an organizer at Mujeres Unidas y Activas (MUA), a grassroots Latina immigrant women’s organization in the San Francisco Bay Area, for eight years. At MUA she led the California Domestic Worker Coalition, which successfully passed a statewide Domestic Worker Bill of Rights into law and co-founded the National Domestic Workers Alliance.
• Alex Rivera, Digital media artist + filmmaker -- Alex Rivera is a filmmaker who, for the past fifteen years, has been telling new, urgent, and visually adventurous Latino stories. His first feature film, Sleep Dealer, a science-fiction feature set on the U.S./Mexico border, won multiple awards at the Sundance Film Festival and the Berlin International Film Festival, was screened as part of ‘New Directors / New Films’ at the Museum of Modern Art and Lincoln Center, and had a commercial release in the U.S, France, Japan, and other countries around the world. Alex is a Sundance Fellow, Rockefeller Fellow, USA Artist Fellow, Creative Capital grantee and was named one of Variety Magazine’s “10 Directors to Watch.” His recent collaborations have included work with Manu Chao, Maria Hinojosa and La Santa Cecilia. Alex studied at Hampshire College and lives in Los Angeles.
• Pablo Alvarado, Executive Director, NDLON

Mental Health Disparities and Challenges in Immigrant Communities

Migration is often a traumatic experience, yet many cultures stigmatize mental health and make any topics of emotional well-being taboo. Panelists will describe what the research says about mental health in immigrants, refugees and unaccompanied minors. Mental health professionals and organizational leaders will describe how communities are currently serving immigrants with mental and behavioral healthcare needs. Panelists will describe opportunities to improve mental health care access for immigrant families. Speakers:

• Senait Admassu, African Communities Public Health Coalition, Los Angeles -- Ms. Admassu is the founder of the African Communities Public Health Coalition (ACPHC), a Los Angeles based nonprofit organization. This organization was birthed from her passion for and understanding of the complexities of her underserved African communities. Ms. Admassu is extensively recognized for her expertise in community social mobilizing and culturally appropriate facilitation of trainings. In addition to providing community-based workshops and trainings to African Immigrants, Ms. Admassu assisted the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) African/ African America (AAA) Under Represented Ethnic Population (UREP) subcommittee in assessing mental health service provision in the African Communities. Ms. Admassu currently serves on the LACDMH AAA-UREP subcommittee as a cultural broker.
• Imelda Plascencia, Project Coordinator of Health Initiatives, Dream Resource Center, UCLA Labor Center -- Imelda Plascencia is the Project Coordinator of Health Initiatives at the Dream Resource Center of the UCLA Labor Center; addressing the lack of access and health resources for undocumented communities. For the past ten years, Imelda has organized with the immigrant rights movement as a Queer Undocumented activist. Her work centers on health justice and health access for immigrant communities, and intersectional organizing for LGBTQ immigrants. Imelda has previously coordinated Queer Dream Summer, a national summer internship program for UndocuQueer immigrant youth, and is a co-founder of IDEAS at Mt. SAC, the Queer Undocumented Youth Collective and the CIRCLE Project; initiatives that intentionally address intersectional immigrant issues. Imelda is a lead researcher on the study Undocumented and Uninsured.
• Gustavo Loera, EdD, Mental Health Research Consultant, Center for Reducing Health Disparities, U.C. Davis, School of Medicine -- Dr. Gustavo Loera's research centers on grassroots community and educational capacity-building. In particularly, reducing behavioral health disparities using a community-based participatory research approach aimed at prevention and early intervention. His work with schools in California builds on the importance of a diverse health and mental health workforce as a critical factor in improving equity and access to quality health care. Recently he’s been collaborating with UC Davis Center for Reducing Health Disparities on conducting research that addresses mental health disparities for historically underserved communities.
• John Durall, Amanecer Community Counseling Service, Mental Health Therapist, Los Angeles -- John Durall is a mental health therapist at Amanecer Community Counseling Service in Los Angeles. He is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with more than 30 years of experience working with youth, adults, and families. In the mid-1980s, he counseled individuals and families fleeing the civil war in El Salvador. Now he is working with a new generation escaping strife in Central America, providing individual and group therapy to teens and young people arriving in the United States as unaccompanied and undocumented minors.
• Dr. Tedla Wolde-Giorgis, Office of the Minister, Ministry of Health Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA & Advisor, African Communities Public Health Coalition -- Dr. Tedla Wolde-Giorgis is an advisor on mental health with the Ethiopian Ministry of Health and a senior consultant and one of the founders of the African Communities Public Health Coalition in Los Angeles. Previously, he served as head of the Multicultural Services Division (MSD) in the department of mental health of the District of Columbia. In this position, he was responsible for overseeing the development and provision of mental health services to the ethnic and linguistic minority communities of the District of Columbia. A recognized expert on the mental health of diaspora groups, Dr. Giorgis has trained over 350 case managers in 10 US Cities for the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement.
• Tessie Borden, Communications Director, CARECEN Los Angeles -- Tessie Borden joined CARECEN Los Angeles this year as Director of Communications in response to the unaccompanied minors emergency. She is also in charge of coordinating advocacy efforts around this issue, determining how to reach out to lawmakers and helping craft policy initiatives. Tessie has been in the nonprofit arena for seven years. Before that, she spent almost 20 years as a journalist covering immigration issues for newspapers across the country. She was a foreign correspondent in Mexico City for the Arizona Republic newspaper from 2000 to 2004. She has a Bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Houston and is finishing a Master’s degree in Latin American Studies at Cal State LA.

Serving undocumented non-citizens and others left out of the ACA

Undocumented non-citizens are barred from coverage under the ACA, but some states are using state-only funding to provide coverage to this population. This panel will discuss some of the current strategies around the country to serve undocumented non-citizens. Panelists will describe state and local initiatives that provide crucial health care to these individuals. Where the state isn’t providing funding, representatives from safety net systems will describe how they are filling this gap in coverage. Speakers:

• Claudia Calhoon, Health Advocacy Senior Specialist, New York Immigration Coalition -- Claudia Calhoon joined the NYIC in 2014 as Health Advocacy Senior Specialist. She is responsible for program development and management of NYIC’s advocacy to ensure health access for all immigrant communities in New York. Claudia has led program development and operations in a diverse array of public health and non-profit settings including the Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture, the Open Society Foundations and as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cuenca, Ecuador
• Tangerine Brigham, Director of Office of Managed Care, Los Angeles County Dept. of Health Services -- Tangerine M. Brigham is Deputy Director of Managed Care Services for the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (LACDHS) and oversees its management services organization and health program for the uninsured, My Health LA. Prior to joining LACDHS, Ms. Brigham served as a Deputy Director of Health with the San Francisco Department of Public Health and Director of the Healthy San Francisco Program, and oversaw development and implementation of San Francisco’s former Low Income Health Program. She previously served as Community Health Program Officer for The San Francisco Foundation, Chief of Staff-Administrative Services for L.A. Care Health Plan, Director of the Corporation for Supportive Housing’s California program, Director of Policy & Planning and Budget Manager for the San Francisco Department of Public Health, and Policy Analyst for the San Francisco Department of Social Services. She received her Master of Public Policy degree from the University of California at Berkeley and her Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of California at Los Angeles.
• Rebecca Pleitez, Senior Programs and Patients Services Director, Clinica Romero, Los Angeles -- Rebecca is the Senior Programs and Patient Services Director at Clinica Monseñor Oscar A. Romero where she is responsible for developing and executing strategic programming and patient services. She serves as a lead administrator working with cross-functional teams and program directors to offer care with respect and dignity to people with limited or no health insurance, without exclusion. Previously, Rebecca worked for National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, the National Council of La Raza/California State University Long Beach Center for Latino Community Health, Evaluation, and Leadership Training, AltaMed Health Services Corporation, and the County of San Bernardino Department of Public Health. Her work on cervical cancer and Latinas was published in the Harvard Journal of Hispanic Policy entitled, Latinas and Cervical Cancer, a Preventable Disease.
• Marlene Zurack, Senior Vice President & Finance Chief Financial Officer, New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation -- Marlene Zurack is Senior Vice President of Finance and Managed Care, Corporate Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), and a Corporate Officer at HHC. As CFO, Ms. Zurack has charge and custody of and responsibility for all HHC funds and securities. Specifically, she has oversight of all treasury, financial planning and analysis, accounting, debt financing, investor relations, revenue cycle management operations, and budgeting functions. In addition, Ms. Zurack is responsible for managed care contracting and operations.
• Mariela Estrada, Brighton Park Neighborhood Council, Chicago

I’m insured, now what? Health literacy for New Americans

Becoming health insurance literate is difficult for anyone who hasn’t had insurance in the past but can be especially difficult for new immigrants who aren’t used to the American health care system with deductibles, co-pays, networks, etc. Panels will speak about best practices around the country for helping immigrant families navigate the system, use their new insurance coverage and stay insured. They will also discuss what health literacy tools/resources work best for different immigrant populations. Speakers:

• Bonnie Kwon, ACA Program Manager, Asian & Pacific Islander Health Forum -- Bonnie Kwon, JD, is the ACA program manager for the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF). Prior to working at APIAHF, Bonnie served as the program director for the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United where she oversaw workers’ rights education and outreach campaigns to promote healthy workspaces, increase minimum wages, paid sick days and antidiscrimination. She also founded the Restaurant Opportunities Center of Washington DC affiliate. Bonnie has also worked with immigrant women and their families at legal aid organizations.
• Alicia Fernandez, MD: UCSF School of Medicine, Professor -- Alicia Fernandez, M.D., is a Professor of Clinical Medicine at UCSF and an attending physician in the General Medical Clinic and the Medical Wards at San Francisco General Hospital. Her research primarily focuses on health and health care disparities, and she is particularly interested in vulnerable populations, Latino health, immigrant health, and language barriers.
• Paul Costigan: Vice President Program Development & Quality Assurance, International Institute (St. Louis) -- Paul Costigan, MA has worked at the International Institute of St. Louis since 1999. Currently he serves as Director of Program Development & Quality Assurance which is responsible for ensuring compliance with grants, developing procedures, providing funder reports, programmatic grant writing and conducting staff training. He is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, having served in Slovakia from 1995-1997.
• Julie Silas, Senior Policy Analyst, Consumer's Union -- Julie Silas, JD, is a Senior Policy Analyst at the West Coast Office of Consumers Union, the advocacy and policy division of Consumer Reports. Ms. Silas is a lawyer and researcher with more than twenty years’ experience in health advocacy. She works on health care policy development with Covered California and the Department of Health Care Services (CA Medicaid), particularly on eligibility and enrollment, standard benefit design, and the consumer experience.
• Steven Larson, MD: Executive Director, Puentes de Salud -- Steven Larson, MD, is a cofounder and the Executive Director of Puentes de Salud and assistant dean for Global Health Programs and an associate professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Over the past 20 years, Dr. Larson has developed an extensive working knowledge of the health care issues facing immigrant populations in the United States. In 2003, recognizing the rapid growth of an urbanized, undocumented Latino population, Dr. Larson and his colleagues initiated work to establish Puentes de Salud.
• Hector De La Torre is the Executive Director of the Transamerica Center for Health Studies, a nonprofit focused on helping consumers and businesses navigate the health care landscape. De La Torre was chosen to lead this new initiative because of his private and public sector experience, particularly his leadership role on health care and advocating for consumers and businesses. Among his accomplishments as an elected official were expanding access to doctors in underserved communities, consumer protections against retroactive cancellation of health insurance, and supporting facilities improvements at Children’s Hospitals. De La Torre is also a member of the Board of Trustees at Occidental College in Los Angeles and serves on the California Air Resources Board (CARB) as a gubernatorial appointee. De La Torre served as a State Assemblymember for California’s 50th District from 2004-2010. Prior to that, he was Mayor and Councilmember in his hometown of South Gate. De La Torre was also a Manager at the County of Los Angeles Superior Court and served as Manager at Southern California Edison. Previous to those positions, he was Assistant/Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary at the U.S. Department of Labor. De La Torre has a bachelor’s degree in Diplomacy and World Affairs from Occidental College and attended the Elliot School of International Affairs at The George Washington University.

The Affordable Care Act from an Immigrant’s Perspective

This panel will reflect on year one of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and discuss what to expect in year two for eligible immigrant families. This panel will explore what navigator groups have done to prepare for the second open enrollment period and for the upcoming tax filing season. The panel will also discuss unresolved issues from the first open enrollment period, and what advocates are doing to improve access to HealthCare.gov in the future. Speakers:

• Sonal Ambegaokar, NHeLP – LA, Senior Attorney -- Sonal Ambegaokar is a Senior Attorney in NHeLP’s Los Angeles office, where her work focuses on access to affordable health care for low-income consumers. She conducts policy analysis and advocacy at the federal and state levels and provides technical assistance and trainings to ensure implementation of the Affordable Care Act benefits everyone.
• Luvia Quinones, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Health Policy Director -- Luvia Quinones serves as the Health Policy Director at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR). In this role, Luvia oversees the In Person Counselor Program, the Immigrant Health Care Access Initiative and in collaboration with ICIRR's members develops ICIRR's health policy agenda with a special focus in access to health care and on health care reform. Luvia has a Master in Public Policy (MPP) from the University of Chicago and a BA in International Studies from DePaul University.
• Doreena Wang, Asian Americans Advancing Health Justice (Los Angeles), Project Director: Health Access Project -- Doreena Wong is the Project Director for Advancing Justice - LA’s Health Access Project, which works to protect and promote access to health care programs for vulnerable populations, including immigrants and limited-English proficient individuals, and monitors health care reform implementation issues that affect Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Native Hawaiians. Prior to Advancing Justice - LA, Wong spent 11 years as a Senior Staff Attorney at the National Health Law Program (NHeLP), a national public interest law firm, where she specialized in health care issues affecting immigrants and limited English speakers. Wong is also a well-known social justice advocate who has helped to found several Asian American lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights group, including API Equality-LA, which she currently co-chairs. Wong graduated from New York University School of Law.
• Angel Padilla, National Immigration Law Center, Health Policy Analyst -- Angel Padilla leads NILC’s federal immigrant health policy agenda. Prior to joining NILC in February 2014, he was an immigration policy consultant at National Council of La Raza. Before that, he was a legislative assistant for Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (D-IL), advising on issues related to health care and the Affordable Care Act, among others. Mr. Padilla holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master’s degree from Princeton University, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.
• Sonya Schwartz, Georgetown University Center For Children and Families, Research Fellow -- Sonya Schwartz joined the Center for Children and Families in July of 2013 to work with advocates at the state level to improve access to health coverage for low-income children and families. At CCF, she also monitors and analyzes policies related to health reform implementation, immigrant families' access to coverage, Medicaid, CHIP, health insurance marketplaces, the basic health programs and more. Sonya has worked to expand access to health care and nutrition benefits for low-income populations such as immigrants and people living with HIV and AIDS for more than 15 years, and helped pass the District of Columbia's pioneering language access law in 2004. She holds a JD from the UCLA School of Law Program in public interest law and policy, and a BA in political science and Italian from Middlebury College.

Parent Engagement: Addressing Gaps Facing Immigrant and ELL Students and Their Families

Parent knowledge and engagement are essential to young children’s school readiness, K-12 education success and achievement of postsecondary education and career goals. Yet existing parent engagement policies often overlook the barriers experienced by immigrant and LEP parents and children. This session will focus on critical challenges facing immigrant family advocates working to unleash immigrant and refugee parents’ energy and concern for their children’s education success, pointing to promising policies and practices effective in working with diverse families. Moderator:

• Rosie Arroyo is Program Officer at the California Community Foundation (CCF), where she manages programs, initiatives and outreach for the Civic Engagement Department. She joined CCF in October 2007 as a Joan Palevsky Fellow for the foundation’s El Monte Community Building Initiative, and was board-community relations liaison. Previously, Arroyo was program director at the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund. Ms. Arroyo holds a bachelor’s in Mexican-American studies from California State University, Los Angeles. She is currently pursuing an MPA from California State University, Northridge.

Speakers:

• Maki Park, Policy Analyst, Migration Policy Institute, Washington D.C. -- Maki Park is a Policy Analyst and Program Coordinator at the Migration Policy Institute’s National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy, where she works on domestic and comparative issues affecting children of immigrants in early childhood and K-12 education. Previously, Ms. Park worked as Director of Outreach and Program Manager at WorldTeach, based at Harvard's Center for International Development where she oversaw recruiting and admissions operations and managed the organization's program in Guyana. She holds a master's in international education policy from Harvard University's Graduate School of Education, and earned her bachelor's degree with a double major in French and government with a concentration in international relations from Cornell University.
• Max Ahmed, Senior Education Advocacy Associate, New York Immigration Coalition -- Mubashar (Max) Ahmed is the Senior Education Advocacy Associate with the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC). His advocacy and policy work in the Education Program has been shaped by the collaboration of NYIC’s 200 member groups which engage with immigrant parents and students. Recently, Max has helped advocate for NYC’s $18M initiative to support eligible populations to apply for DACA by enrolling in educational/career programs. He also works on parent access and engagement issues through providing College Access Workshops for immigrant parents as well as Consulate ID Events, a unique multi-national approach to community integration.
• Joanna Brown, Parent Engagement Institute and Education Director, Logan Square Neighborhood Association, Chicago -- Joanna Brown is the Director of the Parent Engagement Institute which provides training and mentoring to non-profit organizations who wish to replicate the 20-year-old Parent Mentor program of the Logan Square Neighborhood Association. The Parent Mentor program is a holistic approach to immigrant integration. Parent Mentors, typically low-income Latina and other immigrants, tutor struggling students daily for a year in their children's school. Through practice, workshops and mutual support, many become school and community leaders, and even teachers. In the past 4 years the program has expanded to more than 20 organizations and 80 schools.
• Sandra Gutierrez, Abriendo Puertas -- Sandra Gutierrez is the Founder and National Director of Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors. Ms. Gutierrez led the development of Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors-the nation’s first evidence-based, comprehensive training program for Latino parents with children 0 to 5. Prior to her work with Abriendo Puertas / Opening Doors, Ms. Gutierrez developed a series of training programs to support children and families involved in the child welfare system for Parents Action for Children. She brings over forty years of experience with legal, children’s advocacy and community service organizations. Ms. Gutierrez graduated from UCLA with Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and in Latina American Studies. Her multi-faceted career has included founding the first service organization to assist Central American Refugees, developing health education programs for the United Farm Workers of America and leading campaigns to promote the benefits of preschool to the Latino community. In addition, for seven years, she served as a founding member and State Commissioner for First 5 California where she established the Advisory Committee on Equity. Ms. Gutierrez serves as an Advisory Board member for the Too Small To Fail Initiative. In March 2014, Ms. Gutierrez was named by the White House as a César E. Chávez Champion of Change.

Improving High School Outcomes for Immigrant and Refugee Youth: Pressure Points for Advocates

Immigrant and ELL students face many challenges at the high school level, with rigorous curriculum demands and the clock ticking for completion of high school exit exams. This session will highlight common challenges facing newcomers, long-term ELLs, and other immigrant and refugee students in the high school grades and provide opportunities for participants to explore key pressure points community advocates can take advantage of to support their success. Moderator:

• Sarah Hooker, Policy Analyst, Migration Policy Institute -- Sarah Hooker is a Policy Analyst at MPI’s National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy, where she focuses on research and policy analysis related to education, workforce development, and language acquisition. She manages MPI’s field-based research on efforts to promote the high school completion, postsecondary success, and economic advancement of English Language Learners (ELLs) and immigrant youth. Prior to joining MPI, Ms. Hooker worked with the American Youth Policy Forum on issues and policies related to college- and career readiness, education access, and success for students from under-represented groups. She holds a master’s degree from the University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration and a bachelor of the arts degree in Latin American studies from Pomona College in Claremont, CA.

Speakers:

• Shelly Spiegel-Coleman, Executive Director, Californians Together -- Shelly Spiegel-Coleman, the Executive Director of Californians Together, leads a coalition of 25 statewide professional, parent, and civil-rights organizations focused on improving schooling for English learners. Spiegel-Coleman was Senior Project Director for the Multilingual Academic Support Unit for the Los Angeles County Office of Education. She previously served as a member of the English Learner Advisory Committee to the California State Board of Education and has served as a member of California State Superintendent Tom Torlakson's transition team, as well as the Public School Accountability Act Advisory Committee, English Language Development Standards Project, and the California Curriculum and Supplemental Materials Commission.
• Roxana Norouzi, Senior Education Policy Manager, OneAmerica -- Roxana Norouzi has over 12 years of experience in advocacy and social justice work with immigrant and refugee populations. Currently, she leads the education strategy for OneAmerica, Washington State's largest immigrant rights organization, where she focuses on closing the opportunity gap through local and state policies and programs that support integration of immigrant children and families. In 2010, after earning her Masters in Social Work, Roxana was awarded the University of Washington's Bonderman Fellowship which allowed her to travel to 20 countries exploring post-conflict regions, migration trends, and identity. Roxana is fluent in Farsi (Persian) and her experience as a first generation American informs her passion and commitment to justice and immigrant rights.
• Hilda Maldonado, Director, Multilingual and Multicultural Education Department, Los Angeles Unified School District -- An educator for 23 years in LAUSD Hilda Maldonado began her career as a bilingual teacher at Murchison ES teaching a combination fifth and sixth grade bilingual class on an emergency teaching credential. She is one of 6 children and arrived in the United States as a 12 year old in the late 70s with a dream of learning English and improving her family’s economic situation. Hilda has worked as a bilingual teacher, a bilingual coordinator, an advisor in the Language Acquisition Branch, an Assistant Principal in Special Education, has transformed schools as a Principal and is now a Director of the Multilingual and Multicultural Education Department for Los Angeles Unified School District.

From In-State Tuition to College Completion: College Access and Success for Immigrant Youth

While the past several years have seen considerable progress in the fight for tuition equity and financial aid for Dreamers, there are still many hurdles to postsecondary success facing students from immigrant families. Immigrant students are more likely to be nontraditional college students—they enroll at older ages, often attend school part time, and balance competing work and family responsibilities. This session will explore strategies and institutional innovations that promote postsecondary success for immigrant youth. Moderator:

• Teresita Wisell, Executive Director, Community College Consortium for Immigrant Education

Speakers:

• Kathy Gin, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Educators for Fair Consideration
• Jose Arreola, Training and Community Relations Manager, Educators for Fair Consideration
• Joy Smucker, Highline College, Transition Success Center
• Jazmin Segura, Educators for Fair Consideration
• Tehani Collazo, CASA de Maryland
• Angela Chen, UCLA Bruin Resource Center

Entrepreneurship as a Component of Integration in Welcoming Cities

Places pursuing immigrant integration initiatives recognize the positive impact immigrant-owned small businesses can have in revitalizing and strengthening communities. Efforts often include supporting the sustainable development of firms, connection to capital, educating owners on U.S. business norms and laws, and fostering network-building among immigrant owners. In this session, panelists will discuss research on immigrant integration and entrepreneurship and share best practices, providing their perspectives on challenges and opportunities learned from experiences in their own communities. Moderator: 

• Paul McDaniel, Research Fellow at the American Immigration Council, Washington D.C. -- Paul McDaniel is the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Fellow at the American Immigration Council in Washington, D.C. Prior to his work at The Council, Paul was a researcher at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte where he worked on community-based research with the Department of Family Medicine at Carolinas Medical Center, Levine Museum of the New South, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, Crossroads Charlotte, and the Latin American Coalition. His research focuses on immigrant settlement and integration in new immigrant gateways and destinations, immigrant access to education and healthcare, immigrant entrepreneurship, and community receptivity. Paul holds a Ph.D. in Geography and Urban Regional Analysis from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Panelists: 

• Linda Lopez, Chief, Office of Immigrant Affairs, Los Angeles Mayor’s Office -- Dr. Linda Lopez was appointed by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti as the new Chief ofthe Office of Immigrant Affairs in September of 2014. The Office serves many functions for immigrants in the city (1) coordination of city services and departments (2) convening with organizations and agencies around immigration integration issues and (3) tracking and advocating for sound immigration policies at the federal, state and local level and its implementation. Prior to her appointment by Mayor Garcetti, Dr. Lopez was an Associate Dean for Diversity and Strategic Initiatives in USC Dornsife College and formerly a Program Officer at the National Science Foundation in Washington DC. She is an expert in public policy and received her Master Degree and PhD at USC in Political Science. She has published in several peer-reviewed journals on public policy issues affecting racial and ethnic communities and voting participation. Dr. Lopez was born in Los Angles to parents who immigrated from Ecuador.
• Isela Gracian, VP of Operations, East LA Community Corporation -- A graduate of UC Davis, Isela joined ELACC in 2004 as a Program Coordinator and has served as Director of Community Organizing and Associate Director prior to her current role as Vice President of Operations. Isela directly oversees ELACC’s operations in Tenant Services, Fund Development and Communications, Community Organizing, and office administration. She manages and facilitates the organization’s strategic and operational planning efforts. She provides strategic policy making support to the Community Organizing Department’s numerous campaigns, coalition-building and leadership development efforts.
• Suhas Kulkarni, Director, Louisville Mayor’s Office of Globalization, including RISE (Refugees and Immigrants Succeeding in Entrepreneurship) -- Suhas Kulkarni is Mayor Fischer’s Director of the Office for Globalization at Metro Louisville. In his present role he is charged with making Louisville an international city -culturally and economically. He is an immigrant entrepreneur starting with a neighborhood grocery and expanding to international trade and information technology. Among the many programs he founded is RISE (Refugees and Immigrants Succeeding in Entrepreneurship) a collaborative dedicated to helping immigrants start and succeed in business. Mr. Kulkarni is a past President of the Board of Directors of the Asia Institute, Crane House, and the past Chair of Vogt Awards selection committee, which supports development of innovative entrepreneurial concepts. He is currently the Chair of the Indian Professional Council and on the board of the World Affairs Council, Venture Connectors,World Trade Center and on the advisory board of Jewish Family and Career Services.
• George S. Wright, Midwest Director of Citi Community Development -- Currently, George serves as Director of Community Relations forCitibank’s Global Consumer Group. In his role he is responsible for Community Development for the Midwest Region which includes 17 states in the U.S. and Canada. George rejoined Citi in July of 2007. Previous to Citi, George served as Director of Emerging Markets at Washington Mutual. In his role, he was responsible for Home Loans sales to the emerging market consumers. George joined WaMu in December of 2005. Previously, George was Senior Vice President for CRA / Fair Lending & Customer Care at GMAC Bank. George was responsible for implementation, monitoring / compliance and sales as it relates to all areas of Community Reinvestment and Customer Service. He was responsible for GMAC Bank’s local assessment area goals and a $6 Billion National CRA commitment, exceeding goal in a 2 year timeframe. George was also responsible for all branch banking, national ATM deployment / management and the Bank’s customer service call centers, both domestic and international.George began his career at Citicorp / Citibank in Illinois as a Loan Originator and was trained on all Bank sales-related products. He was later asked to take on the responsibilities of the National Sales Trainer at Citicorp Mortgage where he developed training programs and trained mortgage and bank employees on cross sales, while focusing on the credit insurance business. George then moved to Branch Banking at Citibank where he managed all sales activities for the second largest branch bank in Illinois. George then moved into the position of CRA and Fair Lending National Marketing Manager where he worked with all Citibank entities from a CRA / Fair Lending marketing perspective. George’s last role at Citibank was as Community Investment Officer for the central region, where he managed all aspects of CRA / Fair Lending.

Building Economic Power for Immigrant Workers: Union Organizing, Apprenticeships and Collective Bargaining

Labor organizing, apprenticeship programs and collective bargaining have long been key tools to improve economic conditions and opportunities for workers. Unions serve as important mechanisms for immigrant inclusion into our society and help building economic power through collective voice. In many fields, labor-led apprenticeship programs are the primary means through which workers build the skills and qualifications needed to access safe and well-regulated employment. Panelists from unions, worker centers and academia will discuss the trajectory of labor unions as spaces for immigrant inclusion and improved economic mobility, as well as how collective action and new forms of organizing and bargaining can serve and protect the economic interests of immigrant workers in the absence of public policies of integration. Moderator: 

• Arturo Mendoza, Field Campaign Director, AFL-CIO National Organizing Department – Works with the Building Trades Unions in the Southwest U.S. on strategic organizing campaigns to organize recent immigrant construction workers.  Began career with the United Farm Workers Union as organizer for 14 years followed by several years as staff representative with the National Education Association.

Speakers:

• Victor Narro, UCLA Labor Center, Project Director -- At the UCLA Labor Center Victor Narro directs leadership programs immigrant workers, strategy and campaign support for worker centers and unions, and student internships. He is a professor for the Labor and Workplace Studies Program; adjunct faculty at UCLA School of Urban Planning; and Lecturer in Law at UCLA Law School; and he has co-authored several scholarly studies.
• David Gornewicz, Ironworkers Association IWINTL, Assistant Director of Organizing (Assoc. Membership, Apprenticeship) -- Member of the Iron Workers Local Union 272 Miami, FL since 1980 where he served as Apprenticeship Director, Organizer, President and Director of Organizing. Became International staff in 2006 and currently Assistant Director of Organizing. Served on Catholic Charities Legal Services Board of Directors (Miami, FL) from 1999 - 2006.
• Rosemarie Molina, CLEAN Carwash Campaign Strategic Director - At CLEAN Rosemarie develops comprehensive strategies that steer a coalition effort partnering with the United Steelworkers to support carwash workers organizing to improve conditions in their workplaces and in their communities in Los Angeles.
• Lorena Lopez, UNITE HERE Local 11 -- Lorena Lopez is an organizing director for hotel workers’ union UNITE HERE Local 11. In the past 14 years she has successfully helped thousands of Southern California hotel workers from Santa Monica to Costa Mesa demand respect and better working conditions by organizing a union.

Immigration and the States: Advancing State Policy Priorities in Immigration

Several states have created dedicated offices to advance state immigration policy priorities in such areas as economic development, citizenship promotion, and talented workforce recruitment. The Pew Charitable Trusts will lead a discussion among representatives from these offices to hear examples of how they are achieving various state-policy aims regarding immigration. The panel will highlight the roles they play in advancing immigrant integration, and areas where state engagement is important for any future federal immigration reform. Panelists:

• Adam Hunter, Director, Immigration and the States, The Pew Charitable Trusts -- Adam Hunter directs The Pew Charitable Trusts’ immigration and the states project, examining the intersection of federal, state, and local immigration laws and policies and their impact on all levels of government. Before joining Pew, Hunter was the acting chief of staff at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Department of Homeland Security, which administers immigration benefits and related activities for the U.S. government. In an earlier capacity at USCIS, he managed citizenship and immigrant integration policy research, interagency initiatives, and international engagement. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in German and European studies from Vanderbilt University and a master’s degree in public policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

• Jorge Montalvo, Director, New York Office for New Americans -- Jorge Montalvo serves in New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s administration as the top policy advisor to the New York Secretary of State and Director of the New York State Office for New Americans. He has distinguished himself as one of the most entrepreneurial thinkers in public service. He employs his training as a chemist to take a “systems-based approach to make change and open opportunities for hard-working people.” Among some of his many accomplishments, Montalvo developed the State’s Opportunity Agenda to ensure those living in poverty were included in the state’s economic revitalization, helped merge the State’s consumer protection and occupation licensing agencies and created the Empire State Fellows program - an innovative approach to attracting and training cross-sector leaders for public service.

• Karen Phillippi, Deputy Director, Michigan Office for New Americans -- Karen Phillippi is the Deputy Director of the Michigan Office for New Americans in the Executive Office of Governor Rick Snyder. She began her more than 20 years of work in immigration law by serving as the Immigration and State Department Specialist for U.S. Senator Don Riegle. She is very passionate about immigration and has served on a variety of boards and committees related to the issue including serving as Board Chair for Global Detroit; Chairperson for the Global Michigan initiative; and serving on the advisory boards for the Global Talent Retention Initiative; Welcome Mat Detroit; and, Welcoming Michigan. Karen is very active in promoting the benefits that immigrants have on the economy, and making Michigan a more immigrant-friendly state.

• Marcony Almeida-Barros, Acting Executive Director, Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants -- Marcony Almeida-Barros serves since July 2014 as the Acting Executive Director for the Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants, having joined ORI in January 2013 as its Chief of Staff. Prior to ORI, he was the Director of Organizing and Deputy Director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA) where he worked primarily in the area of comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level, assisted with the management of the agency’s policies and procedures, performed outreach, advocacy and communications on legislative efforts, as well as immigration trainings for interested stakeholders. In 2003, the Mayor’s Office of New Bostonians presented him with the New Bostonian of the Year Award for his significant contribution to improve the lives of the immigrant and refugee communities in the city of Boston. Mr. Almeida-Barros received a Bachelor’s of Arts in Journalism at Universidade Católica de Pernambuco in Recife, Brazil, and a Master’s of Science in Corporate and Organizational Communications, with concentration in leadership, from Northeastern University in Boston.

• Teresa Reyes, Director, Illinois Office of New Americans -- Teresa Reyes is the Director of the Illinois Governor’s Office of New Americans where she ensures human rights protections and access to justice for immigrants through various programs, policies, and public education. GONA has been unique in building on the foundation of the strengths of New Americans in order to promote stronger immigrant integration throughout Illinois. Prior to joining the Governor’s Office, she served as District Director for Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez of Illinois’ Fourth Congressional District, where she managed congressional casework, was responsible for community outreach, acted as a liaison for local community groups and national organizations. The daughter of Mexican immigrant parents, Ms. Reyes is a first generation college graduate and was born and raised in the far South East Side of Chicago.

Building Financial Capability in Immigrant and Refugee Communities

As a follow-up to a popular NIIC 2013 session, this best practice-based panel will provide more practical examples of holistically-developed “nuts and bolts” being used to increase the financial capability of immigrants and refugees as they move towards citizenship and/or enter the financial mainstream. The panel will include successful models from the field and discuss challenges facing financial inclusion. Presenters will detail tools, products, program design, and innovative implementation strategies of their local asset-building programs. Moderator:

• Cynthia Arreola, Senior Program Manager, NALCAB -- As Senior Federal Grants Manager, Cynthia is responsible for managing NALCAB’s federal grants for performance and compliance, ensuring strong internal systems and driving high quality implementation. She works with senior staff on administrating funding from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s OneCPD Program, Fair Housing Initiative Program and Neighborhood Stabilization Program II and provides supplementary support on technical assistance and resource development projects as needed. Cynthia, bilingual, received her BBA in International Business Management from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a Bilingual Business Certification from her studies in Mexico and Argentina.

Panelists:

• Mattias Kraemer, Deputy Director of Asset Building Programs, Mission Economic Development Agency, San Francisco -- As Deputy Director of Asset Building Programs at Mission Economic Development Agency in San Francisco (MEDA), Mattias Kraemer’s responsibilities include management of diverse multi-platform projects including CFSI’s Credit Building through VITA, FINRA Foundation’s Financial Capability in San Francisco Hotels, UWBA’s SparkPoint San Francisco Plaza Adelante, and the national hackathon’s winning smart phone app - MEDA Pulse. Internally, responsibilities include program design and support, curriculum development, capacity building and agency wide financial capability performance management. A Chileno double national, Mattias holds an M.A in Cultural Anthropology from the Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, as well as a B.F.A. from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

• Chancee Martorell, Executive DirectorThai Town Community Development Center, Los Angeles -- Born in Thailand and raised in Los Angeles, Martorell studied political science and public law at UCLA where she received her B.A. and her M.A. in Urban Planning with a specialization in Urban Regional Development/Third World Development. She also studied Humanities at Chiang Mai University in Northern Thailand in 1988. Engaged in social activism for the past 28 years, Martorell is currently the Executive Director of the Thai Community Development Center, a non-profit organization she founded in 1994 in an effort to improve the lives of Thai immigrants through services that promote cultural adjustment and economic self-sufficiency.

• Isabel Rubio, Executive Director, Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama, Birmingham -- Isabel Watkins Rubio is a second generation Latina born and raised in post-civil rights era Mississippi. A social worker by training, Ms. Rubio was led to found the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama in 1999 as she observed the rapidly growing Hispanic population in Alabama. Remembering Birmingham and Alabama's place in the Civil Rights Movement, Ms. Rubio believes that lessons learned from that struggle will help Hispanics in Alabama and the broader community integrate in a more peaceful and intentional manner.

• Hee Joo Yoon, Executive Director, Korean Resource Center -- Hee Joo Yoon is the executive director of the Korean Resource Center. Prior to leading KRC, Hee Joo has been the KRC program director since 2005, after volunteering at KRC for thirteen years. She has been instrumental in developing and strengthening the organization’s programs and services which now include the areas of health access, civic engagement, youth leadership development, immigration legal services, and financial empowerment. Hee Joo was recently honored by the White House as Champion of Change for her leadership in launching and managing an impactful, culturally competent housing and foreclosure prevention program.