September 28, 2011

Immigrant Integration Movement Comes to Seattle

OneAmerica and the National Partnership for New Americans, together with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, are hosting the largest yet National Immigrant Integration Conference (NIIC 2011) in Seattle from October 24-26. Nearly 600 leading experts, activists, educators, and government officials from around the world will be sharing best practices on integrating immigrants at the Seattle conference – the first time it has come to the West Coast.

While many conferences offer talking heads and predictable panel discussions, NIIC 2011 promises a vibrant mix of special events, interactive sessions, and peer-to-peer workshops that invite participants into deep and lively discussions on immigrant integration.

NIIC 2011 participants from all along the political spectrum and multiple sectors are coming to Seattle to design a new future for America that includes immigrants through sharing best practices, discussing key challenges, and developing effective strategies.

WHAT: The 4th annual National Immigrant Integration Conference
WHEN: Monday, October 24 – Wednesday, October 26
WHERE: The Westin Seattle 

NIIC 2011 is the signature event of the National Partnership for New Americans, a collaboration of the twelve largest statewide immigrant rights organizations. The Partnership aims to advance the integration and active citizenship of immigrants to achieve a vibrant, just, and welcoming democracy for all.

NIIC 2011 Highlights

• Naturalization Ceremony, presided over by Director Alejandro Mayorkas, U.S. Customs & Immigration Services, and Opening Reception  
• Special event with acclaimed film maker and Emmy-winning MacArthur “genius” fellow Stanley Nelson who will screen clips from his award-winning documentary Freedom Riders and join a dialogue between civil rights activists and participants in the immigrant rights' movement. Nelson will be joined by Ron Sims, national DREAM leader Gaby Pacheco, Seattle CORE founder Joan Singler, Executive Director of the New Orleans Workers’ Center for Racial Justice Saket Soni, and author and activist and Eric Liu
• Over 40 sessions on topics including promoting citizenship, using technology to increase English classes, harnessing the power of the immigrant vote, overcoming barriers to health and education, creating a media watch dog for the immigrant rights movement, and building bridges with host communities, law enforcement, and the LGBT community
• Compelling plenaries including one highlighting immigrant integration across the globe with experts from New Zealand, Germany, and Canada and another on how to engage everyday Americans on immigration issues, featuring Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff and prominent evangelical, labor, progressive, and African American leaders

Media Credentials

For more information or to get media credentials for free access to all of NIIC 2011, contact Charlie McAteer, OneAmerica Communications Director, 206-452-8402, charlie@weareoneamerica.org

About OneAmerica

OneAmerica, formerly Hate Free Zone, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that advances the fundamental principles of democracy and justice by building power within immigrant communities.

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