Fort Wayne Lauded for Immigrant Integration

Recognizing that local governments play a central role in developing and implementing immigrant integration programs, a new report from the National League of Cities (NLC) showcases 20 city programs for promoting social cohesion within the community.

The report, Municipal Innovations in Immigrant Integration: 20 Cities, 20 Good Practices, is produced by NLC’s Municipal Action for Immigrant Integration (MAII) program and focuses on public safety, immigrant outreach, civic engagement and city services.

The 20 city programs featured in the report are:

· Fort Wayne Indiana (Hispanic Immigrant Liaison)
· Austin, Texas (Immigrant Outreach Program)
· Seattle, Washington (Latino Advisory Council)
· El Paso, Texas (Victim Services-Immigration)
· Durham, North Carolina (Mayor’s Hispanic Latino Initiative)
· Louisville, Kentucky (Office of International Affairs)
· Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Mayor’s Commission on African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs)
· Columbus, Ohio (New American Initiative)
· Chattanooga, Tennessee (HANDS Across Chattanooga)
· Skokie, Illinois (Immigrant Services)
· Los Angeles, California (Immigrant Integration Partnership)
· Boulder, Colo. (Immigrant Advisory Committee)
· Santa Clara Co./San Jose, Calif. (Immigrant Relations and Integration Services)
· Littleton, Colorado (Littleton Immigrant Integration Initiative)
· San Francisco, California (Office of Civic Engagement & Immigrant Affairs)
· New York City, New York (Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs)
· Washington, District of Columbia (Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs)
· Princeton, New Jersey (The Princeton Community ID Card)
· Richmond, Virginia (Hispanic Liaison Office)
· Houston, Texas (Mayor’s Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs)

“Immigrants strengthen our communities by bringing cultural and educational resources which help create economic opportunities. Local governments must provide necessary services to ensure a smooth transition for both the immigrants and the communities,” said Ricardo Gambetta (pictured), NLC’s manager for immigrant integration (and former Indianapolis resident). “Through this report, we hope that the 20 programs highlighted can be used as models for other successful integration programs.”

In addition to outlining these programs, the report also makes a number of suggestions for local, state and federal officials in how to better integrate the immigrant community. Examples of these suggestions include developing a nationwide strategy for immigrant integration; cooperating with municipal agencies; addressing local demographics, issues and challenges; establishing mayoral advisory boards and immigrant affairs offices; and recognizing immigrant contributions to the economy.

Compiled after several months of research, on-site visits, policy discussions and consultations with city officials, the programs featured in this report exemplify successful public-private partnerships, advisory initiatives and action-oriented programs to help immigrants successfully acclimate to their new homes.

As part of NLC’s Center for Research and Innovation, MAII promotes civic engagement and naturalization among immigrant communities. MAII is a resource for NLC members, fostering a knowledge-sharing network to help cities learn from the experiences of their counterparts across the country. The MAII project is supported by the Knight Foundation.

For more information on the Municipal Action for Immigrant Integration program, go online.

The National League of Cities is the nation’s oldest and largest organization devoted to strengthening and promoting cities as centers of opportunity, leadership and governance. NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans.

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Naturalization Ceremony Welcomes Public

There's free admission to the Naturalization Ceremony set for 10 a.m. (rain or shine) 2 July at the President Benjamin Harrison Memorial Home, 1230 North Delaware Street, Indianapolis. Federal Judge Sarah Barker will preside over the summer naturalization ceremony for people who have qualified for U.S. citizenship.

The approximately 90 new citizens come from 42 countries, including 18 from India, nine from Mexico, eight from China and five each from Canada and Nigeria.

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Indy Welcomes Refugees from Burma, Somalia

"More than 1,110 refugees are expected to make Indianapolis their home this year, an increase of more than 30 percent from last year." That's the conclusion in a feature on the front page of today's Indianapolis Star. Jason Thomas penned the piece, titled "Wave of refugees resettling in Indianapolis".

You can read it here, until The Star removes the link.

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Immigrant Integration in American Cities

The National League of Cities’ Municipal Action for Immigrant Integration project is launching a new series of policy reports on immigrant integration efforts undertaken in cities and towns across the United States.

The first report in the series, Municipal Innovations in Immigrant Integration, focuses on the Indianapolis model, 2000-2007. NLC staff members Ricardo Gambetta, manager for the Immigrant Integration and Inclusive Communities programs; Aida Ashouri, Municipal Action for Immigrant Integration intern; and Jamie Durana, program associate for the Inclusive Communities program, will present the report. Special guest speaker, former Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson, will provide opening remarks.

The policy report release will be from 6-7 p.m. 25 August, with a reception to immediately follow, at the Marriott East Hotel and Conference Center, 7202 East 21st Street, Indianapolis. Copies of the report will be available. If you plan to attend, send an email by 21 August.

Municipal Action for Immigrant Integration is a new NLC project focused on promoting civic engagement and naturalization among immigrant communities in cities throughout the United States. In addition, the project will establish a knowledge-sharing network across different cities and organizations. MAII aims to be a resource for municipal officials and community-based organizations who seek assistance in addressing immigrant integration challenges in their communities.

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Summertime Naturalization Ceremony

Federal Judge Sarah Evans Barker presides over the annual summer naturalization ceremony for people who have qualified for U.S. citizenship on the south lawn of the President Benjamin Harrison Home, 1230 North Delaware Street, Indianapolis, at 10 a.m. on 2 July. Admission to the ceremony is free, and admission to the house tour is free that day to the new citizens, their families and friends.

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Study Finds Big Shifts in Indiana Immigrant Trends Since 1990

Today's Indiana immigrant likely is Mexican or Asian, under age 40, a blue-collar laborer and not as proficient in English as foreign-born people who came to the United States even 20 years ago, according to a Purdue University study.

"The immigrant population is young, it's growing and it is increasingly diverse," said Brigitte Waldorf, a Purdue agricultural economist and the study's lead researcher. "It used to be most Indiana immigrants were from Europe, but not anymore."

Purdue's study, "Immigrants in Indiana: Where They Live, Who They Are, and What They Do," provides a demographic snapshot of the state's foreign-born population. Findings are based on data from the 1990 and 2000 U.S. Censuses and the 2006 American Community Survey.

The study appears in the current edition of the Purdue Agricultural Economics Report, and can be downloaded here.

The research team, which included agricultural economics graduate students Uris Baldos, Tani Lee and Delphine Simon - each a first- or second-generation immigrant - found that Indiana's immigrant population jumped from 94,263 to 263,607 in the 16-year study period, and that foreign-born people made up about 4 percent of the state's population in 2006.

Researchers also found that Mexicans represented 46 percent and Asians more than 30 percent of Indiana's immigrant population in 2006, and that about 75 percent of the immigrant growth was concentrated in 10 Indiana counties.

The Hoosier state ranked No. 10 nationally in immigrant population growth between 2000 and 2006, said Waldorf, who hails from Germany. That's a dramatic shift from a few decades ago.

"Moving to Indiana is a new choice that immigrants are making. It didn't use to be that way," she said. "For a long while Indiana was at the bottom of the hierarchy of preferred destinations for immigrants."

Changes in immigration laws that encouraged more non-Europeans to come to America and greater job opportunities have attracted more foreign-born people to Indiana, Waldorf said.

"About three in 10 immigrants were employed in the manufacturing sector in 2006, with most of those working in industries related to motor vehicles, equipment and metal processing," she said. "Many immigrants also moved to rural counties and work in agriculture or meat processing plants. A good example is Daviess County, where there is a large immigrant community working for the Perdue Farms turkey processing plant."

Counties with sizeable urban areas and/or universities comprise the largest immigrant populations. The 10 counties with the highest percentage net increase in immigrant population between 1990 and 2000 included Tippecanoe, 8.2 percent; Elkhart, 7.1 percent; Monroe, 5.4 percent; Lake, 5.3 percent; Noble, 4.9 percent; Marion and St. Joseph, 4.6 percent each; Allen and Hamilton, 4 percent each; and Bartholomew, 3.8 percent.

Immigrants made up 71.2 percent of Lake County's total population growth from 1990 to 2000, the state's highest percentage, the study indicated.

Most Indiana immigrants are middle-aged or younger, with nearly 45 percent living in the United States five years or fewer in 2006. As such, many are still dealing with cultural and language challenges, Simon said.

"English proficiency is related to length of stay," Simon said. "In the 2006 data we saw an increase in new immigrants, compared with an older census where immigrants had been here for a longer time. In some cases the newer immigrants haven't totally adjusted to their new home."

The language barrier is the most important issue Indiana must address if the state's immigrant population continues rising, the study said. The study takes no position on the immigration issue itself.

"Language is the key, and every immigration country has recognized that," Waldorf said. "We have to make sure that immigrants can function in their new society, and the prevailing language in this society is English. It's advantageous for immigrants to learn English but it is also advantageous for all of us if everybody has a common language. It breeds understanding and cohesiveness."

"Education plays a big role," Baldos said.

Immigrants who successfully integrate into American society often pursue citizenship, which is beneficial to all, Lee said.

"The longer immigrants stay, the more likely they are to become U.S. citizens," Lee said. "People need to realize that you can be an American citizen and also be an immigrant."

(source)

Indiana's Future Through Multiculturalism

A "world cafe" style workshop is planned from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 22 April to consider "Indiana's Future through Multiculturalism".

On the agenda are discussions of strategies for successful integration into a new life in Indiana and strategies for creating and sustaining welcoming, thriving Hoosier communities for people from all over the globe.

The "Cultures at the Crossroads" workshop will take place in the Gene B. Glick Junior Achievement Education Center, 7453 North Keystone Avenue, Indianapolis.

The workshop is sponsored by the Indiana Humanities Council and the Indiana Multiethnic Committee along with the Sagamore Institute, Indiana Historical Society, Central Indiana Community Foundation and the Institute for Latino Studies at the University of Notre Dame, South Bend.

Cost is $20; registration deadline is 10 April. For information, contact Catherine O'Connor, 800:675-8897 or 317:638-1500, ext. 116.

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Immigration in Bartholomew County

"Immigrants and Immigration in Columbus and Bartholomew County" is the topic for a Civic Discussion Forum at 7 p.m. 23 October in the Custer-Nugent Lecture Hall in the Columbus Learning Center, 4555 Central Avenue, Columbus.

It's hosted by Indiana University-Purdue University in Columbus, in collaboration with various local education and nonprofit partners.

Presentations by Dr. Robert Aponte (pictured, left) and Dr. John E. Bodnar (pictured, right) will be followed by discussion.

Dr. Aponte, chair of the Department of Sociology and Associate Professor of Sociology at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, has researched, published, and taught extensively on a variety of topics related to historic and contemporary Hispanic communities in the Midwest and elsewhere.

Dr. Bodnar, Chancellor’s Professor of History and Director of the Institute for Advanced Study at Indiana University-Bloomington, has researched, published, and taught extensively on the immigration of a variety of European groups to Indiana and the Midwest and on the history of patriotism in America.

Following their presentations will be a discussion moderated by Dr. Douglas G. Gardner, project director of the forum and Coordinator of the History Program.

Two Events in Indy Mark World Refugee Day

"My Home is Your Home: Refugees in Indy" is the theme for a 6-10 p.m. event Friday (20 June) in the Harrison Center for the Arts, 1505 North Delaware Street, Indianapolis.

This year, Indiana expects to welcome more than 900 refugees from Burma alone. These, and other refugees, will be celebrated in a night of food, dancing, fashion, music and storytelling. It's free, and if you would like more information, send an email here.

The following day (21 June), World Refugee Day will be commemorated from 1-5 p.m. in Southport Christian Church, 201 East Epler Avenue, Indianapolis. The afternoon is sponsored by Exodus Refugee Immigration.

Enjoy live music, featuring bands from the Chin and Karen communities, witness the first annual presentation of the Friends of Refugees Award, and experience international cuisine at a pitch-in dinner. For more information, email or call 317:921-0836.

Immigration and Higher Education in Indiana

"Immigration and Higher Education in Indiana," an Ideas in Indiana breakfast discussion sponsored by the Sagamore Institute for Policy Research, is set for 8:15 a.m.-noon 26 June in the Indiana History Center, 450 West Ohio Street, Indianapolis.

Featured SIPR researchers are Dr. John Clark, Justin Heet, Courtney Burkey and Alberto Hernandez.

This “Ideas in Indiana” event will explore the issues addressed by Sagamore’s research on “Immigration and Higher Education,” an 18-month project funded by Lumina Foundation for Education. Sagamore researchers will discuss the findings of their three working papers, offering their assessments of the challenges facing immigrants and their children in obtaining a good education and what the State of Indiana and its educational system will need to do in order to ensure an educated, well-trained workforce for the 21st Century.

They will also offer their thoughts on issues requiring additional research to assist decision-makers in making a difference in the future of the state’s workforce and educational system.

To attend, contact Susan Stinn, 317:472-2053. Please include your name, affiliation, address, email and phone number; deadline is 23 June.

The Poetic Justice of Immigration Law

Prof. Linda Kelly Hill, M. Dale Palmer Professor of Law, Indiana University School of Law - Indianapolis, will speak on "The Poetic Justice of Immigration Law" at 1 p.m. Thursday (27 March) in the Wynne Courtroom of the law school.

Professor Hill joined the faculty in the fall of 2002, teaching family law, immigration law, trusts and estates, and conflict of laws. A former faculty member at St. Thomas University School of Law in Miami, Fla., she has written extensively on issues surrounding immigration law as well as domestic violence and the treatment of domestic violence in immigration law.

For more information, contact Shaun Ingram, 317:278-4789.

"Coming to America" Feature in The Indianapolis Star

Marred only by its selection of three immigrants from one demographic, Dan McFeely of The Indianapolis Star has penned a provocative front page piece on immigration to Indy in today's newspaper.

Check it out here, at least as long as The Star lets the public access the site! (Photo, at right, by The Star's Matt Detrich, shows Juvenal Gamarra, who emigrated from Peru.)

Welcome Mat Yanked from Indiana's Door - NOT!

According to the Associated Press, Indiana "could revoke business licenses of companies that knowingly hire illegal immigrants under a contentious bill that cleared the House yesterday, but the details of the proposal will likely be hashed out in the final weeks of the legislative session.... The issue likely will go to a House-Senate conference committee where Republicans and Democrats will try to hammer out a compromise proposal before the legislative session ends March 14."

UPDATE:
No compromise was reached, so there's no new immigration legislation in Indiana this session.

The Church and Immigration: What Would Jesus Do?

"For an idea of what Jesus would do about illegal immigration, just read the New Testament. Pretty doubtful he’d be talking about evicting the poor and vulnerable. Of course some might say it’s also doubtful Christ would be considered a Christian today. Maybe a diverse panel of religious and political leaders can help make sense of this puzzlement," says Provocate.org.

A community forum from 7-9 p.m. 26 February in Shelton Auditorium, Christian Theological Seminary, 1000 West 42nd Street, Indianapolis, will focus on Immigration policy in Indiana from a faith perspective.

According to Provocate, panel members invited and confirmed to attend include State Senator Mike Delph (R-Carmel); Allen Taylor, Director of Hoosiers for Secure Borders; Rev. Samuel Ruiz, Lutheran Multicultural Mission, Indianapolis, and Father Tom Fox, O.F.M., Hispanic Ministry, Archdiocese of Indianapolis. The panel discussion will be moderated by the Rev. Mmoja Ajabu (pictured), of Light of the World Christian Church, Indianapolis. (Yes, the same Mmoja Ajabu who was once upon a time leader of the Black Panther militia in Indy; how time flies!)

There will be time scheduled for questions and comments from the audience.

The Star Recognizes Immigration to Indiana!

There must have been something in the water at The Indianapolis Star over the weekend: three feature articles about Indy's immigrants in just two days!

The first, yesterday, was on the Chin (an ethnic group from Burma). Today, it's the Chinese (The Star's photo, at left) and the Brazilians!

Who knows what tomorrow will bring....

Purdue and Ivy Tech Tackle Immigration Issues

An informational forum on immigration is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday (19 February) in Room 133 of Ivy Hall at Ivy Tech's Lafayette campus, 3101 South Creasy Lane, Lafayette. The event is sponsored by Purdue's College of Liberal Arts and Ivy Tech's School of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

The speakers and their topics are:

* Susan Curtis, Purdue professor of history and associate dean of interdisciplinary programs and engagement in the College of Liberal Arts, will moderate.

* Adriela Fernandez, associate dean for academic programs in Purdue's College of Liberal Arts. will talk about the economic and social aspects of recent immigration to the area.

* James McCann, Purdue professor of political science, will talk about the political impact of immigration to Indiana in the last three decades.

* David C. Berry, chair of School of Liberal Arts and Sciences and professor of history at Ivy Tech's Lafayette campus, will provide a historical context for the different waves of immigration in the state.

* Ivan Hernandez, director of admissions at Ivy Tech's Lafayette campus, will address immigration's impact on education, specifically on resources and needs.

A question-and-answer session will follow the panel presentation.

We've All Got a Dog in this Fight

A hearing about legislation that would penalize businesses that knowingly hire illegal immigrants begins at 9 a.m. tomorrow before the House Committee on Public Policy in the House chamber at the Statehouse, according to The Indianapolis Business Journal.

The bill, authored by Sen. Mike Delph, R-Carmel, has passed the Senate, and makes it a misdemeanor for transporting, shielding from detection, concealing or harboring an illegal alien for commercial or financial gain.

Businesses found to knowingly hire illegals get a warning following a first offense. A second offense within 10 years could result in a court suspending the business' license for 10 days, and a third offense could result in the court revoking the license. (The photo's from the Indiana Historical Society.)

Is Indiana Like Arizona?

Indiana might be one of the next states to consider legislation that places the burden of screening illegal immigrants on business, according to the Indianapolis Business Journal. At least one such bill is likely to be introduced in the General Assembly, said George Raymond, an Indiana Chamber of Commerce lobbyist specializing in labor relations.

Terri Morris Downs named Executive Director of Immigrant Welcome Center

The Immigrant Welcome Center, a not-for-profit program that connects immigrants to resources and services in Indianapolis, has named Terri Morris Downs as its first Executive Director. The centerpiece to the Immigrant Welcome Center is a volunteer program known as Natural Helpers. The program recruits recent immigrants to share information at a grassroots level on how to access services for basic needs, such as health care, government, transportation and employment. Natural Helpers can be anyone in the neighborhood or community who has demonstrated leadership abilities and a first-hand understanding of the challenges facing those entering a new country and community. The Immigrant Welcome Center currently has 12 Natural Helpers with home countries ranging from Mexico, Ethiopia and Venezuela to Senegal, India and Burma. Through contributions from the Efroymson Fund, a CICF fund; The Clowes Fund, Inc.; and individual donors, the Immigrant Welcome Center provides Natural Helpers with formal training on topics ranging from accessing community resources to supporting immigrants in a crisis or difficult situation. Beginning 2 January, the center will be located at 2236 East Tenth Street, Indianapolis. For more, click here.

Across the Border and Back Again

"Across the Border and Back Again: the History of Emigration and Return Migration in Jalisco, Mexico," is the title of a presentation by Michael Snodgrass (right), associate professor of history, Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis. The free program, from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Friday (14 September) in Cavanaugh Hall 508, Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis, 425 University Boulevard, Indianapolis, is part of the IUPUI 2007-2008 Sabbatical Speaker Series.

The western state of Jalisco is the birthplace of such quintessential and iconic Mexican traditions as mariachi music, tequila, and rodeo cowboys (charros). It also one of the greatest producers of a more controversial and consequential phenomenon: emigrants to the United States. Indeed, since the first great wave of emigrants left in the l920s, Jalisco and its neighboring states in central-western Mexico have sent the majority of migrants north. Learn more about the historical roots of emigration and its contemporary consequences for rural and urban Jalisco.