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Strategies for Immigrant Integration

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Strategies for Immigrant Integration

November 20, 2008 by Elizabeth Beachy  
Filed under Civic Participation, Immigration

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A recent report entitled “Investing in Our Communities: Strategies for Immigrant Integration” published by the association Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR), offers six strategic pathways through which immigrants and the receiving community can work together to provide resources and opportunities to leverage the human capital that immigrants bring: Communitywide planning; Language and education; Health, well-being, and economic mobility; Equal treatment and opportunity; Social and cultural interaction; and Civic participation and citizenship.

The report details how these pathways serve both as a tool for facilitating integration and as a means
to assess whether integration is taking place successfully. They interact dynamically, each with the power to reinforce or weaken progress in the other areas. For example, language and education are highly correlated with economic mobility but are also a determining factor in health care access, citizenship and civic participation, and interaction with native-born residents.

Built on extensive research and interviews with foundation, community, business, and government leaders, this multimedia toolkit intends to better inform the development of program, policy, and grantmaking strategies that promote immigrant integration. It also aims to help civil society understand the importance of supporting efforts that incorporate newcomers into the fabric of our society.

Download full report