2019 Highlights - Thank you for a wonderful year!

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December 2019: In this issue...

Featured Member: International Service Center (ISC)
ICYMI - Highlights from 2019
Save the Date: 2020 Immigrant & Refugee Rights Convening
Upcoming Events

Featured Member: International Service Center (ISC)

The International Service Center (ISC) is a community based organization that promotes, supports and implements educational, cultural, social, and economic programs to serve the disadvantaged and underprivileged people, to enable them to become self supporting and productive members of our pluralistic society. The ISC also fosters the spirit of mutual understanding and mutual assistance among people of different cultural and language backgrounds. Follow ISC on Facebook.

ICYMI - Highlights from 2019

2019 was a busy year for PICC and our member organizations! Here are few highlights from the past year.

Advocacy

In June 2019, PICC members chose three issue priorities and two prioty campaigns to guide PICC's work into 2021: Education Justice, Enforcement Resistance, Federal Immigration Policy, Driving PA Forward, and Shut Down Berks.

Tuition Equity

PICC brought together member and partner organizations and immigrant youth in 2019 to establish a campaign structure, goals, and strategy to pass tuition equity legislation in Pennsylvania.

Welcoming Schools

PICC released the first ever Welcoming Schools Report in April, outlining the experiences of immigrant and refugee students in schools, and conducted over 20 workshops with students and parents presenting information on how to pass welcoming policies in schools, access to higher education, and know your rights for young people.

State Police Policy

After coordinated advocacy by a group of PICC members and partners the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) enacted a limited policy curtailing some interactions with ICE. Although the policy was a huge step forward, it was incomplete, so advocacy will continue to strengthen and expand the policy.

Administrative Actions

Beginning in 2017, this administration has steadily rolled out a series of regulatory and policy changes that make it more difficult to navigate an already complicated immigration system. PICC created a toolkit to track these regulatory proposals and provide links to resources and ways to take action.

In partnership with Community Legal Services of Philadelphia, PICC supported education and advocacy on the new Public Charge rule. 2019 efforts included numerous education sessions with professional associations, community groups, and public agencies; providing mini-grants to 6 community-based groups to support local education efforts; and hosting multiple webinars with legal experts on the final rule.

New Deal for New Americans Act

On October 30th, members of Congress introduced the "New Deal for New Americans Act of 2019" - a bill put togehther by members of the National Partnership for New Americans. This bill pushes back against the anti-immigrnat policies of this administration, and presents a proactive, solutions-focused immigrant and refugee integration proposal that will help build a more welcoming and inclusive society, eliminate roadblocks to citizenship for many, protect due process, and grow our shared prosperity.

Campaign to Shut Down Berks

PICC continued to actively support the campaign to Shut Down Berks. Highlights from 2019 include: Monthly call-in days, generating hundreds of calls to the Governor, Governor Wolf issued his first public statement directly stating he supported closing the Berks Detention Center, The Pennsylvania Auditor General released a report recommending the Berks detention center be closed

Capacity Building

-- In 2019, PICC held 6 Community Navigator Trainings in Pittsburgh, Doylestown, Scranton, and Lewisburg, and trained over 100 new Community Navigators.

-- PICC hosted monthly #StoptheHate webinars on a variety of topics like: Public Charge, DED Extension, Southeast Asian Deportation Crisis, and the Campaign for Domestic Workers Bill of Rights. Over 125 individuals participated in webinars over the year.

-- 2019 Statewide Convening: Close to 150 community leaders, advocates and allies attended the 2019 Convening, participating in workshops on Access to College and Tuition Equity; Preparing for the 2020 Census; Creating Immigrant Bail Funds; Engaging Immigrant Voters; and Tips for Lobbying and Advocacy for 501c3 Nonprofits. After a day of learning and sharing, participants visited the Capitol to talk to legislators. They visited over 80 state senators and representatives, asking them to prioritize pro-immigrant and refugee legislation, vote no on anti-immigrant and refugee legislation, and to prioritize funding for an accurate 2020 Census and public education in the year’s budget.

Youth Organizing Project

In August, 2019, immigrant and refugee youth and children of immigrants came together to learn about organizing, leadership development, education justice, wellness and community building. The event brought together 35 young people between 14-24 years old from cities across Pennsylvania. Participants also represented the following countries: Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Pakistan, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Nepal, and the US. Youth leaders focused on centering community knowledge and strengths by creating workshops that allowed participants to share their own expertise, experiences and resources with each other.

Over the past year, PICC also developed a youth membership structure to bring youth leaders in to the organization’s decision-making processes, including establishing youth seats on PICC's Board of Directors.

Civic Engagement

PICC coordinates a year-round non-partisan voter registration program to ensure that all new citizens are given the opportunity to register to vote, and then given the information they need to exercise their newly obtained right to vote.

In 2019, PICC registered over 7,248 new citizens to vote and called 3,446 new voters to provide information about polling locations before the 2019 Primary and General elections.

PA is Ready!

PICC conducted a 3-year evaluation in 2019 to better understand the impact of the PA is Ready! participatory grantmaking model and collaborative projects. Findings from the evaluation include: 29 organizations received $746,000 in grants, Community members accessed information 8,000 times, Projects assisted in completing 746 applications and conducted 3,000 comprehensive legal screenings

In response to the evaluation, PA is Ready! network partners created a framework to guide collaborative work and grantmaking priorities for 2020-2025.

Save the Date: 2020 Immigrant & Refugee Rights Convening

Person holding sign saying "No Muslum Ban"

We are excited to invite you to PICC's fifth annual

Immigrant and Refugee Rights Convening!

June 6-8, 2020
Hilton Harrisburg, Harrisburg, PA

Join immigrant leaders, advocates, and allies from across Pennsylvania for workshops, networking, and opportunities to meet with legislators about issues important to immigrant and refugee communities. Stay tuned for registration details and sponsorship opportunities.

Upcoming Events

Free DACA Renewal Workshop

Tuesday, January 7, 5-8pm
308 E. King St., Lancaster PA

Do you need to renew your DACA? Church World Service-Lancaster is hosting this FREE workshop with attorneys who can help you complete the renewal application.

Please bring: Work permit and passport, Previous DACA application and notices, Check or money order for $495 application fee.

Free snacks and a movie while you wait!

January Youth Call (PICC)

Wednesday, January 8th, 7:30 - 8:30pm

These calls give youth ages 13-25 the opportunity to learn about important topics, connect with peers and organize activities to promote immigrant and refugee rights.

Topics and training themes are chosen by our youth membership. Please register to get access to the call-in information.

Register Today!

Please Donate to PICC!

PICC depends upon your support. Please donate to PICC today to support our advocacy and organizing work to mobilize the immigrant vote, build immigrant leaders, campaign for pro-immigrant policies at the local, state and federal levels, and support the effective implementation of pro-immigrant public policies.

Donate to PICC