Support for Immigrant Organizers and other Organizers of Color

The core of CSIO’s work in this area is the Organizers of Color Initiative (OCI). The OCI was created in response to a foundation sponsored-report (which CSIO helped to research) on the barriers to the recruitment and retention of organizers of color in the greater Boston area. CSIO worked via interviews, focus groups and larger meetings with immigrant leaders to develop a comprehensive plan for addressing those barriers including peer learning, networking, mentoring, on-site support and organizational development components. Due to cutbacks at the sponsoring foundation, only the peer learning and networking activities have been funded. The OCI is about to conclude its third year of monthly peer learning and networking sessions. An active core of 25-30 organizers of color (from the African American and immigrant communities) participate in most sessions and an additional 15-20 attend one or more of the sessions. The sessions are designed based on participant input and with the leadership of a participant Advisory Group. Topics have included: the role of the organizer, multi-cultural organizing, models of organizing, power analysis, and popular education, among others.

In addition to activities related to the OCI, CSIO offers immigrant organizers one-on-one (including on-site) support when necessary. CSIO provides organizers the space to strategize about key challenges in their organizations and in the organizing work itself. In 2006-07, we offered this kind of support to organizers from over a dozen organizations working in immigrant communities. CSIO also shares information regarding campaigns, policy updates, training opportunities, resources, etc. related to immigrant organizing via a list serve of approximately 250 organizers, organizations, leaders in immigrant and other communities of color, and their allies.