Get to know one of the eight National Immigrant Empowerment Project, or NIEP, community organizers that are advocating alongside members of their community and empowering the immigrant community to take the lead in creating long-lasting, positive changes in their cities.

Alejandro Ortiz
American Friends Service Committee
(soon to be Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice)
Des Moines, Iowa

Why do you enjoy working with the immigrant and refugee community?

Much of our infrastructure exists in a way that is not accessible for many in our immigrant and refugee communities. These individuals often have to advocate for themselves or find others to advocate for them just to be treated as human beings. I’ve had the honor of growing up surrounded by immigrants and refugees, and I have seen that these communities are very driven and overwhelmingly friendly. Unfortunately, they often face many barriers when working to get their voices heard and acknowledged.

What inspired you to enter this field of work?

Before joining the team, I was helping individuals prepare for the citizenship test. While doing this, I quickly learned how many in these communities love to learn about what they can do for themselves and others, they just haven’t had someone there to help guide them in the right direction. I also saw how my family and many workers in immigrant and refugee communities were being ignored during the virus. These workers don’t have a voice or an infrastructure to organize.

In your opinion, what benefits does integration offer your community?

What strategies have you found most impactful when promoting integration? Accessing resources in Iowa can be complicated for just about anyone. Unfortunately, Iowa often lacks translation/interpreting services, thus creating even more barriers. What could be helpful for migrant communities is having multilingual institutions that can assist and advocate for individuals.

Immigrants and refugees also face healthcare, economic and social barriers, so it is our responsibility as a community to mitigate those obstacles and create a community where people can find true equity.

How have community organizing efforts impacted your community?

We have been able to get local and national attention to the issues immigrant and refugee workers are facing due to COVID-19; I believe this has created public pressure for these plants to make policy changes.

In what ways have immigrants and refugees been involved in grassroots organizing?

Any work that advocates for immigrant and refugee rights should center the voices of those communities and, particularly, those most vulnerable. This means that even if the individuals cannot partake in the specific action, decisions and messaging should prioritize the opinions of those being impacted. In my work helping food processing workers, I have met and spoken to workers asking them directly what actions they believe should be taken.

How has the immigrant community been empowered in your community?

Why is it beneficial for them to feel empowered? Uplifting and empowering immigrant communities is a crucial component in establishing a more equitable community. How someone chooses to express their culture and integrate into their communities will not be the same for each individual, our role as allies and advocates is to listen and learn from these individuals and use our privileges to elevate those words.

Can you briefly explain your project and what changes you are hoping to see over the next few years?

What do you hope communities across the country will learn from the National Immigrant Empowerment Project (NIEP), your project specifically? A large component of my project will focus on empowering immigrant and refugee workers. This means engaging in dialogue and providing avenues for workers to communicate with one another. Often these communities face obstacles that create an environment where workers are afraid to speak up. By helping create these conversations, we can begin to elevate the voices of the workers.

In the next few years, I hope that immigrant and refugee workers will feel empowered and have multiple avenues to voice concerns. I hope our communities embrace these voices as integral to the decision-making process because what we see now is a culture where decisions that impact migrant communities are made behind closed doors.

In March, monthly staff lunches at Just Neighbors in Annandale, Va. started looking different for the tightknit team. Like hundreds of other nonprofits, Just Neighbors was forced to transition its work to a remote platform to help combat COVID-19. As they settled into their newfound routines, they decided to host virtual lunches in lieu of eating lunch together, in-person. This was a big change for the agency, “it was common for staff to eat lunch together and often,” said Executive Director Erin McKenney. 

As the weeks turned into months, unfortunately staff had to miss some lunches due to conflicting schedules. Staff attorneys and assistants had to seize any moment a client was available to video chat or switch out, one of the many hats they wear, to support their children during virtual learning. Yet staff enjoyed attending the lunches whenever they could. McKenney knew her staff were not the only ones juggling multiple tasks. What started as a unique and creative way to foster inter-staff connectivity during these challenging times, became a broadened invitation to the community. Despite the inability to meet in-person, Just Neighbors found a way to continue building connections. 

The virtual lunches occur every couple of weeks, so it is common to get a variety of community members each time. While clients are invited — volunteers, funders and board members are the usual attendees. During the hour, participants engage in casual conversation and receive updates on various topics. While McKenney prepares a list of topics to discuss, conversations tend to flow freely.

I had the opportunity to join Just Neighbors for one of their July lunches, right after they merged with the DC-MD Justice for Our Neighbors office, or DC-MD JFON. Both organizations are part of the National Justice for Our Neighbors’ network. I was welcomed with smiles, and the conversations began without missing a beat. 

The first question focused on the recent merger. McKenney explained the process and their excitement to join forces with DC-MD JFON to serve the greater Washington Metropolitan area. This led to staff sharing their experiences in balancing work and life within the comfort of their homes. The staff attorneys released a sigh of relief knowing that others were also experiencing similar challenges. McKenny went on to explain the importance of their work, needed now more than ever, with new guidelines and policy changes implemented by the Trump administration. Board members in attendance expressed their appreciation and heartfelt thanks. Afterward, one of the volunteers took the opportunity to ask for a case update that she previously worked on. Receiving good news, she threw her hands in the air and cheered with joy. “People have a craving to stay engaged during these times and these lunches are one way we can continue to do that,” said McKenney.

Inspired by the Virginia program, National JFON held a virtual lunch, registering up to 100 participants for the first event. With so many participants, it was challenging for staff and attendees to engage in a more personable matter, explained Executive Director Rob Rutland-Brown. When they hosted their second virtual event, they capped it at 25 registrants to ensure that everyone had the opportunity to participate in the conversation. I was able to attend one of these virtual lunches with National JFON and had a very similar experience. New, smiling faces greeted me as the conversations flowed so effortlessly.

The dedication of staff and volunteers at Just Neighbors and Justice for Our Neighbors brought me great happiness, especially during a time when one might begin to feel burned out and pessimistic of the future for immigration law. Yet, regardless of circumstances, it is important to celebrate all kinds of victories, no matter how minor. Any agency’s work to promote immigrant integration cannot be accomplished if staff do not feel connected to each other and their community. 

CLINIC applauds Just Neighbors and JFON National for their creative efforts to remain engaged and committed to their communities. Share with us how you are engaging with your community during COVID-19.