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AGM Members and Partners
While the topic of immigration can be sensitive, we
cannot ignore our country's history and heritage as a
nation of immigrants. Just like our ancestors, most of
our newcomers today are here to work hard, succeed,
and build a better life.
In Massachusetts, 1 in 7 residents come from a
foreign country. In Boston, the number is 1 in 4. The
foreign-born share of the labor force has doubled
since 1980, to 17 percent and in the Greater Boston
area alone, immigrants account for the ownership of
over 8,000 small businesses.
In this first edition of Issues & Insights for 2008 we
highlight some of the newest campaigns and unique
initiatives that are taking place in our region that
recognize and embrace our changing population.
Learn how some of our area nonprofits are working to
advance our region's workforce, teach the English
language, celebrate cultural diversity, and build
promising partnerships - in hopes that everyone in our
region, regardless of cultural background, achieve
their full potential. Read On...
| The Transformation of Mozart Park |
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A colorful entryway with a sculpture and inlaid stone
inspired by traditional Latin American plazas. A 100-
yard mural designed, developed, and presented by
the neighborhood's youths. These are just two of the
projects that Hyde Square Task Force's young team of
six Community Development Artists (CDAs) is
planning in the transformation of Jamaica Plain's
Mozart Park.
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| The Power of Performance - The Immigrant Theater Group |
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The loneliness of a man struggling to work in America
while his child celebrates a birthday on the other side
of the globe. The frustration of a woman from China
who is refused medical attention because of
difficulties communicating with hospital staff. The
laughter that's shared between two foreign-born
students as one struggles to pronounce "toothpaste".
And the impatience that sometimes comes from
people that cannot take the time to understand what
another person is trying to express.
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| Building New Partnerships: Community Group-Labor Alliances |
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Worker training, immigrant rights, affordable housing,
the living wage - these are just a few of the issues
community organizations in the Massachusetts region
have been working with organized labor to address.
While not particularly easy, these partnerships can
play a fundamental part in making a lasting impact on
goals of economic and social justice.
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| Creating New Opportunities for Internationally Trained Professionals |
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In 2008, the Dorcas Place Adult and Family Learning
Center of Rhode Island plans to introduce
the "Welcome Back Center," an exciting new program
designed to assist internationally-trained
professionals to identifying viable pathways for
returning to work in their field. In its planning stage,
The Welcome Back Center will provide the resources,
training, and information for individuals to get the
credentials they need to begin working in the United
States.
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| Resources and Reports |
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Paying the Price: The Impact of Immigration Raids
on America's Children Released on October 31st,
the Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy
Coalition (MIRA) and the Massachusetts Chapter of
the National Association of Social Workers (NSWMA)
presented a new report by the Urban Institute and the
National Council of La Raza (NCLR), which examines
the impact immigration enforcement actions have had
on the well-being of children of immigrants in the U.S.
The report profiles three communities, including New
Bedford, that have recently experienced large-scale
worksite raids.
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IN THIS ISSUE: Newest campaigns and unique initiatives in our region recognizing and embracing our changing population. |
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