State and Local Initiatives
They say all politics is local, right? While most of the debate about immigration focuses on congressional action (or inaction), local communities across the country are the ones who feel the value of immigration most tangibly. Now active in more than 50 communities – more than 80 percent of which are in conservative states – the NAE State & Local team works with policymakers, business, and civic leaders to promote policies and programs that help create jobs and drive economic growth. You can explore more of our work on the state and local level here.
Executive Director Says Immigration Policy Must Respond to Undocumented Immigrants “Case By Case”
“When I came to Jardín we had $20,000 in the bank and we were losing $20,000 a month,” recalls Audrey Hartley, the executive director of the New Mexico nonprofit Jardín de los Niños, which provides parenting education and childcare for low income and homeless families. But Hartley, who arrived at… Read More
Why Would We Turn Away Someone Who Wants to Contribute?’ Asks Central Valley Lawyer
Although prominent Hispanic lawyer Mario U. Zamora left his hometown of Lindsay, California, to attend law school, his desire to serve the close-knit community brought him back to the Golden State’s Central Valley. Today, he is a partner at the law firm Griswold LaSalle Cobb Dowd and Gin,… Read More
Immigration Makes Boise a More Exciting Place to Live, Says Idaho NGO Founders
More than 25 years ago, Laura and Nick Armstrong moved to Java, Indonesia. A big motivation was their Christian faith. “We wanted to work with marginalized people,” Laura explains. “We wanted to reach out to those who are in need.” Laura, who has a background in education, taught abroad. Nick,… Read More
Working with Immigrants Convinced One Law Student About the Need for Immigration Reform
Annie Zangari didn’t have particularly strong views on immigration growing up in the predominately white town of Northampton, Pa. But after completing her first year at Villanova University law school, the 23-year-old joined the school’s immigration clinic in May 2013. And she has come to believe that the public perceptions… Read More
Being an Immigrant Makes Adele Dorfner Roth the Perfect Person to Bring International Trade to Ohio
Adele Dorfner Roth shows exactly how a diverse city government can help spur economic growth. She came to the United States from Brazil as a small child when her father, an engineer, was hired by Mohawn, the Akron-based tire company. “He’s a huge risk taker,” Roth says. “Like most immigrants,… Read More
President/CEO of Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Calls Immigration Reform “Critical” to Local Economy
Since he joined the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in 2013 as President and CEO, Mark Madrid has seen the city’s Hispanic community have a tremendous economic impact. But he’s also witnessed a lot of lost opportunities. “Austin is an academic hub,” he says. “But the limited supply of… Read More
Positive Economic Impact of Immigration is Well Documented, Says Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President
Rick Ortiz has been president and CEO of the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce since 2012. He’s proud of the support the chamber provides to Latino small business owners and the assistance it gives to low-income residents of the community. But he’s especially proud that the chamber’s members have… Read More
This Japanese Immigrant Helps Immigrant Businesses Contribute $170 Million to the St. Louis Economy Yearly
During her 38 years as president and CEO of the International Institute of St. Louis, Anna Crosslin has seen how immigrants and refugees have made significant contributions to the city with the right support. The Institute serves 7,500 immigrants and refugees from more than 80 countries, providing language and citizenship… Read More
Demand for Bilingual Workers Increasing in Maryland
As employers strive to increase their competitiveness in the global economy, they are increasingly seeking candidates who have the language skills necessary to communicate with a diverse customer base, and with operations and competitors overseas. New analysis of Burning Glass data explores the growing demand for bilingual talent in Maryland… Read More
Sustainability Chief Sees Immigration as a Way to Revitalize American Cities
On a recent trade mission to the Canary Islands, Todd Adams was reminded of how valuable a diverse workforce can be. As the chief of sustainability and innovation at Visibility Marketing, a Cleveland-based company that offers management solutions and strategic planning for companies in the clean energy sector, Adams had… Read More
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