American Immigrant Policy Portal

Newsletter

May/2016

In This Issue

Leading Cultural and Linguistic Competence (for agencies involved in supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities), Georgetown University, Webinar, May 20, 2016, 2:00-3:30 pm EDT

Sanctuary Cities - Challenges and Opportunities, Cities of Migration, Webinar, May 24, 2016, 10-11 am EDT

Museums in Times of Migration and Mobility, University of Malmo, Malmo, Sweden, May 25-26, 2016

Building United Communities: Integration Strategies from Faith Organizations, Immigrant Learning Center, Webinar, June 2, 2016, 1:00-2:30 pm EDT

Empower: Council for Global Immigration 2016 Symposium, Washington, DC, June 18-22, 2016

Intercultural Competence Around the Board Table, DiverseCity on Board, Webinar, June 28, 2016

International Metropolis Conference, International Metropolis Project, Nagoya, Japan, October 24-28, 2016

8th Annual Interdisciplinary Conference on Human Trafficking, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, October 6-8, 2016

Research to Inform

Policy and Practice on

Migration-Related Issues

Policy-related reports, studies, and information about the challenge and promise of immigrant integration.
Materials organized by collection topic.
Click on headlines for abstracts and links.

Featured Research

Paper critiques the "skills gap" thesis in workforce education and urges the reintroduction of a social justice perspective in adult education

This paper by Erik Jacobson, Associate Professor of Education at Montclair State University, questions the reigning orthodoxy in the workforce development field, as reflected in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) passed by Congress on a bipartisan basis in 2014. WIOA posits the existence of a "skills gap" between the hiring requirements of employers and the supply of qualified workers to meet those requirements. Not only does the author marshal evidence to challenge this assumption, he also questions whether the purpose of adult education should be solely to meet the needs of employers. Jacobson cites the "disproportionate growth in low-skill, low-wage work that started in the 1990s," a decrease in

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New Public Policy Research and Reports

Economic Development, Employment, and Labor Issues
Study examines the factors associated with occupational injury or illness among immigrant day laborers

Report finds that immigrants founded half of all billion dollar startup companies in the United States

Study analyzes the current and potential state and local tax contributions of undocumented immigrants

Paper urges a more inclusive, immigrant-focused approach to workforce development in New York City

Immigration reform essential to the viability of the health care sector in the Midwest, according to new report from the Chicago Council on Global Affairs

Adult Education

Paper argues that investments in ESOL classes will contribute to the overall economic health of New York City and State

Education (Pre-K to 12)

MPI study finds that the children of refugees in the U.S. are "in the main, integrating successfully and achieving self-sufficiency"

Intergroup Relations

2015 American Values Atlas finds that 62 percent of Americans favor a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants

Local Government
Partnership for a New American Economy publishes "snapshots" of immigrant contributions to local economies in Salt Lake City, Cincinnati, Columbus, Denver, and Toledo

State-Specific Studies

MPI report examines the challenges faced by refugee parents in accessing high quality childcare in Massachusetts and recommends steps to improve the situation

Global Perspectives
Report from MPI Europe urges governments to open up new migration channels for refugees to address "a displacement crisis of historic proportions"

New Videos uploaded to the Portal YouTube Channel

Promising Practice: University of North Florida students reach out to local refugees

David Lubell, Executive Director of Welcoming America, delivers a TED talk in Berlin, Germany, on "Migration - Why We Need to Talk to Strangers"

Latest Commentary

A selection of
recent Blogs and OpEds
from immigration researchers and major opinion leaders

Richard Reeves, Esquire
Walter Ewing, American Immigration Council
Martin O'Malley, Huffington Post

Richard M. Perloff, Cleveland Plain-Dealer
Wendy Feliz, American Immigration Council
James Zogby, The National

The Portal is a project of Diversity Dynamics, LLC, in association with the Center for International Social Work, School of Social Work, Rutgers University, and the Immigrant Learning Center, Inc., Public Education Institute, Malden, MA. Please send content suggestions for the Portal, including events of interest, to: mail@usdiversitydynamiccs.com. No endorsements implied for research, opinions, resources or events featured on the Portal.