Speaker Series - San Francisco, CA

On December 13th, AFJ’s West Coast Office and The San Francisco Foundation jointly hosted a Speaker Series event entitled “Voter Engagement in the Immigrant Community: Successes, Challenges and Advocacy Strategies.” 

The event was held in San Francisco and drew an audience of about 50 participants to hear from five distinguished panelists who spoke on their organizations’ experiences around voter engagement activities.  The panelists were: Mari Ryono from Mobilize Immigrant Vote, Roger Kim from Asian Pacific Environmental Network, Mamie Chow from Movement Strategy Center, Lillian Galedo from Filipinos for Affirmative Action, and Nilou Nouri from Bay Area Iranian American Voter Association.  The panel discussion was moderated by Dennis Quirin of The San Francisco Foundation.  Alliance for Justice hosted the panel discussion as part of its nonprofit advocacy work to support efforts by 501(c)(3) groups to encourage advocacy and nonpartisan electoral work within the diverse immigrant and refugee community.

The panelists shared their diverse experiences and strategies in carrying out voter engagement activities, such as through conducting precinct walks, compiling databases of information, creating voter education materials in various languages, and collaborating with local city or county voter registrars.  Several panelists also touched upon the integral connection between community organizing and voter outreach strategies for strengthening the voice of these communities through civic engagement.  The panelists also emphasized the need to continue working in coalitions across diverse immigrant communities, and to learn from the successes of organizations engaged in similar work or who have set up models that can be replicated.

After the panelists each delivered remarks, they responded to questions posed by the audience and the moderator.  Several questions centered on the role of youth and technology in voter engagement, as well as the need for funders to provide greater support for voter engagement work in immigrant communities.  The speakers also discussed the importance in recognizing that voter engagement is just one crucial facet of a multi-pronged approach to empowering the immigrant community and addressing a comprehensive social justice agenda.

AFJ is pleased with the success of the event and looks forward to future collaborations with The San Francisco Foundation, as well as other funders and community-based organizations, to maximize our ability to support the critical work of immigrants rights and advocacy groups around the country.

Address:

Alliance for Justice - West Coast Office
519 17th St. | Ste. 560 | Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: 510-444-6070 | Fax: 510-444-6078