Economic Innovations in Citizenship

Date: Sunday, September 23rd, 2012
Time: 3:30pm – 5:00 pm

Nationwide ground breaking programs are arising to cover the aspirations/financial limitations of potentially millions of citizenship-eligible immigrants. Research has shown that a primary barrier to completing the naturalization process is the high cost of naturalization fees and the inabilities for low-income immigrants to pay these fees. This cross-conference session will highlight two different innovative program models that will share their perspectives and experiences in removing economic obstacles to U.S. citizenship for legal permanent residents. These programs are a result of collaborative partnerships between public, private, and non-profit entities. Leading practitioners in the field will unite for an informative panel based-discussion to showcase the best economic innovations in assisting New Americans complete the citizenship process.

Opening Remarks

• Randel K. Johnson, Senior Vice President, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Presenters

• Robert A. Annibale, Global Director of Microfinance, Citigroup
• George Escobar, Director of Health and Human Services, CASA de Maryland
• Fatima Shama, Commissioner, New York City’s Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs

Question and Answer

• Sheldon Caplis, Regional Director of Community Relations / Citi

Innovative Research on Government’s Role in Integration

Date:     Sunday, Sept. 23rd, 2012
Time:     3:30pm – 5:00 pm

Everyday universities, researchers, non-profit organizations, and government institutions produce new research unveiling the   complexities of the integration process.  In this cross-conference session the most exciting new research in the field of immigrant integration will be presented and examined.  Audience members will be prompted in thought-provoking conversations exploring the social, policy, and national implications of innovative research addressing how local and national governments can better serve immigrants in the integration process.  In this forum presenters will discuss new research highlighting the impact of racial/ religious profiling, the status of Washington DC’s Language Access Act of 2004, and measuring how California’s urban to rural localities are incorporating their newcomers.

Presenters

• Deepa Iyer, Executive Director of South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT)
• Dr. Manuel Pastor, Co-Director of the USC's Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration
• Jayesh Rathod, Assistant Professor of Law, American University

Moderator

• Nisha Agarwal, Deputy Director, Center for Popular Democracy

Pathways to the Dream: Ensuring that Adult Education and Community College Programs Meet the Needs of Immigrants and their Children

Date:    Monday, September 24, 2012
Time:    5:00 pm – 6:00pm

Pathways to the Dream will provide a fast-moving cross-sector conversation on a range of topics facing immigrant youth and adults and their ability to access adult education and community college programs that help them gain the language skills and education and training they need to succeed in the workforce.  The session will take a hard look at the difficulties currently facing these systems, and the urgent need to support funding and reforms that will allow them to better meet the needs of first- and second-generation immigrants, including young adults who must meet the education requirements for DACA protection or future DREAM legislation.

Featuring

• Brenda Dann-Messier, Assistant Secretary for the Office of Vocational and Adult Education, U.S. Department of Education

Participants (Q & A)

• Lawrence Benito, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
• Brad Stewart, Vice-President and Provost, Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus of Montgomery College

Moderator

• Margie McHugh, Migration Policy Institute