Inspiring Leadership in Immigrant Communities - ILRC

Inspiring Leadership in Immigrant CommunitiesJanuary 2003Chapter 3Setting Up a Leadership or Civic ParticipationTraining Project at Your Organization§ 3.1 IntroductionThere are many considerations that go into setting up a leadership or civic participation trainingprogram at your organization. Before embarking on such a large project, one must be certain thatone’s organization is supportive of the work. Additionally, the immigrant community must bewilling to participate. Obtaining a sufficient amount of funding is always an issue as well. It isimportant to carefully pick who will be trainers in the project as well as which immigrant leaderswill participate. Logistics, such as where and when the training will be, are vital to ensuring asuccessful project. The project must have reasonable and achievable goals and outcomes. Thischapter will explain how to set up a leadership or civic participation training that yourorganization can sponsor.§ 3.2 Convincing Others of the Need for Such WorkThose of us who work with immigrants and refugees want to see them succeed in the UnitedStates. For years immigrants and refugees have been the scapegoats of politicians in the UnitedStates. Many Americans have incorrectly blamed hard working, tax paying immigrants andrefugees for some of the woes of our society. People who work with and care about immigrantsand refugees realize that such blame is mistaken. Immigrants and refugees also realize that suchblame is mistaken. Others in the society use this blame as a way to deny the success ofimmigrants and refugees and make it more difficult for immigrants and refugees to succeed.Thus, immigrants, refugees and advocates realize that for immigrants and refugees to overcomethese obstacles they need to gain power and voice—a term used in this curriculum to meanmaking the ideas and concerns of individuals and their communities heard and respected byAmericans in general, and decision-makers in particular.The future of immigrant and refugee power and voice lies in immigrant and refugee leadershipand civic participation campaigns. Although some organizations provide leadership training,generally the training is focused on middle class or professional native-born activists withimmigrant roots. There is not as much leadership training available for other immigrants andrefugees. The logical organizations to provide such training are the same organizations thathelped the immigrants and refugees settle in the United States, obtain their green cards andcitizenship status, and reunite their families. Immigrants and refugees trust these organizationsmore than other institutions. Yet few of these organizations work on leadership or civicengagement issues because they lack the expertise, resources and even sometimes the inclinationor recognition of the need for such trainings. The result has been that organizations that havedevoted so much of their energy and resources to improving the status and welfare of immigrantsand refugees are missing an exciting and powerful opportunity to help immigrants and refugeesgain the skills they need to make their voices heard and increase their power in American3-1