NEW YORK IMMIGRATION COALITION INC

Each year, our Board and staff engage in a robust process to determine concrete organizational goals that allow us to advance our mission. Our 2021 organizational goals are to: Respond to the economic impacts of COVID-19 on immigrant communities (including small businesses and workers) and support immigrant-serving nonprofits to be sustainable and responsive. As New York City and State begin to shift attention from essential services and relief during the pandemic, it is critical that we embrace the important work and roles played by immigrant New Yorkers by achieving economic recovery in ways that meet the needs of all New Yorkers and allow them to survive and thrive, regardless of immigration status. The NYIC recognizes that recovery and building lasting resiliency for immigrants and immigrant-serving organizations takes a bold and holistic approach that reaches individuals and families, including undocumented individuals who are not eligible for any of the most basic government relief benefits; immigrant entrepreneurs and small business owners who are struggling to stay afloat; and immigrant-serving organizations and service providers, who are increasingly stretched thin in their efforts to meet the unprecedented and overwhelming amount of needs. The intensifying and evolving service needs of our community will be a key priority over the next year. To address these needs, the NYIC is fundraising for and rolling out a program that builds economic recovery and resiliency for immigrants and the organizations that serve them, many of whom are facing unprecedented challenges and struggling to endure the impacts of the pandemic. Execute a policy response to the outcome of the 2020 elections through local, state and federal campaigns. We anticipate that there will likely be major shifts in policy in a new congress and potentially in a new administration in 2021. There will either be a major new investment in immigrant integration efforts, or conversely an increase in oppressive and repressive immigration policies. In either situation, this is the time to double down on organizing, policy, and advocacy; to lead boldly on the immigrant rights agenda and push forward an inclusive vision; and fight to end disparities and win lasting change. Build local immigrant political power and engage significantly in 2021 primary elections in New York City. As an advocacy and policy organization with grassroots strategies to build political power, we are continuing and also pivoting our robust civic engagement portfolio during COVID-19 to give voice to new citizens and the historically disenfranchised. Additionally, by leveraging the upcoming 2021 primary elections to move the needle on immigration issues, we will create a political environment that is welcoming and pro-immigrant in New York City.

Advocacy and Policy Analysis: The NYIC advocates for laws and policies to improve the lives of immigrants and all New Yorkers, particularly those that live in lower income communities. As a coalition of diverse organizations that serve immigrants, we have our ear to the ground receiving real-time information about emerging needs, emergencies, and victories at the same time that we have the ear of top stakeholders and policymakers on the local, state, and federal levels. For three decades we have synthesized a grass-tops and grass-roots approach to win meaningful change for immigrants in our state. In recent years we've also seen the tremendous impact of regional expansion with staff members based in Buffalo, Syracuse, Westchester, Long Island, and NYC. This new presence has improved information sharing, rapid response efforts, and every one of our advocacy campaigns. Additionally, the NYIC strengthens our membership network through a centralized system for re-granting funding, monthly member calls, providing volunteers and paraprofessional support, and more. By building the resilience of our members and partners located throughout New York State, we will ensure that we push forward with our shared long-term vision for an immigrant-friendly New York as well as rapidly respond to emerging needs and immediate threats facing New York's immigrants in a sustainable and strategic way. Development of Immigrant Leadership: The NYIC leverages the political power of immigrant communities by engaging in voter outreach and mobilization for key local, state, and federal elections. The NYIC cultivates a new generation of immigrant civic leaders and community organizers by offering fellowships and several leadership programs. Community Education: The NYIC provides multilingual informational materials on immigration law, citizenship requirements, school registration, healthcare access, and voting rights. The NYIC also works with ethnic and mainstream media to relay important and often time-sensitive updates to immigrant communities. Training/Technical Assistance: The NYIC offers workshops and presentations on immigration law and other issues that affect immigrants on a daily basis. The NYIC also provides guidance to community groups, advocates, and legal providers on how to better serve their constituents.

The NYIC has spent the last several years investing in our organizational future. Among the first changes mandated by our strategic plan was an organization-wide restructuring process in 2017. We now have cohesive staff teams focused on advocacy, policy, community education, and service coordination, which work seamlessly together toward our mission. While our staff has grown, our expertise has skyrocketed, as we continue to hire seasoned experts in the field to fill new positions. Significantly, we restructured our Board of Directors as well. In the last two years, our Board composition has intentionally shifted from primarily member organization leaders to include more individuals with expertise on governance and fundraising, financial and administrative practices, building systems, and more. The NYIC's Board of Directors is comprised of 7 individuals and 14 leaders from organizations serving immigrant and low-income communities, 18 of which are people of color. Recognizing the immense impact that member organizations' leaders have had on our advocacy and policy work, we also created a separate body where these representatives can more effectively discuss such issues and shape our advocacy priorities and strategy: the Immigrant Leaders Council (ILC). The creation and design of the ILC was informed by the NYIC's 30-plus years of experience on the front lines of policy and advocacy work for immigrant rights, providing dynamic, grassroots leadership training for immigrant leaders and organizers. Through the ILC, the NYIC provides tailored training, mentoring, support, and technical assistance for emerging immigrant leaders; and fosters a veritable brain trust to strengthen the immigrant rights movement. The ILC plays a central advisory and decision-making role in determining the NYIC's policy and advocacy priorities and agenda, in partnership with the NYIC Board of Directors, as well. Notably, in the last several years, the NYIC has also expanded our presence throughout the state in order to better support and coordinate member organizations. Currently, we have an established presence in Long Island, the Hudson Valley, Central New York, and Western New York. Drawing on our expanded presence in key regions and partnerships with regional member organizations, the NYIC continues to make significant progress on our statewide strategy, most recently achieving driver's licenses for all and other immigrant-friendly legislation, and protecting New York's immigrant communities from federal-level attacks.

Through the breadth and depth of our campaigns, the NYIC has achieved meaningful change for immigrants in our state, as evidenced by our historic wins in 2019, and the tremendous positive impact on the quality of life of immigrants New Yorkers. Drawing on our expanded presence in key regions and partnerships with regional member organizations, we achieved Green Light NY, driver's licenses for all, regardless of immigration status; $20 million from the City and $40 million from the State for Census 2020 outreach and education; and the DREAM Act (the extension of state-funded financial aid to undocumented students). On the national level, we led a campaign to ensure that a question about citizenship status, which would have been disastrous for immigrants and for our democracy, would not be added to the Census. Guided by our history of movement building, the NYIC remains at the forefront of advocacy for immigrants and the most marginalized communities during the current multi-layered and unprecedented health and economic crisis. We have uniquely adapted our advocacy and policy work to best support the immigrants on the frontlines of the COVID-19 response. We also believe that this current moment stands as a pivotal moment for New York State, and the country as a whole. During the past several months, the NYIC has successfully pivoted its agenda, emerging from the turmoil with several significant victories. As we face an extended period of economic, human and nonprofit recovery, we see a unique opportunity to seize the moment ahead to build support for immigration issues nationally, and also ensure that we come out on the other side of this crisis closer to justice and opportunity for all. The NYIC will elevate a nascent effort to ensure that immigrants are fully included and supported in broader, system-wide efforts at economic development and recovery. By providing support for immigrant communities to ride out the economic storm and be fully part of the economic recovery to follow, the NYIC can make a major impact in strengthening our immigrant communities.