Building Lasting Change in Immigrant Communities through Collaboration: A Funder Briefing

Our opening session will discuss the creation of HILSC during a period of immigration policy changes nearly a decade ago. It will be followed by a presentation by the Migration Policy Institutes on changes to national immgiration law and policy under the Biden Administration, and a discussion on the impact on Houston’s diverse communities. HILSC Executive Director and Staff will contextualize the history of HILSC in convening, incubating and launching programs to address needs resulting from policy changes. The session will conclude with a discussion on the collaborative efforts HILSC is undertaking to build capacity to meet the emerging needs resulting from the current and pending policy changes outlined in the research of the Migration Policy Institute research.

Please review this summary on the immigration policy landscape during the first 100 days of the Biden Administration prior to this session: https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/biden-100-days-immigration

Welcome:

• Zenobia Lai, Executive Director, Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative 

Introduction:

• Meghna Goswami, Senior Program Officer, Houston Endowment, and
  Amanda Cloud, President & CEO, The Simmons Foundation

Speaker:  

• Randy Capps, Director of Research, U.S. Programs at the Migration Policy Institute

Discussion:

• Zenobia Lai, Executive Director, Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative
• Andrea Guttin, Legal Director, Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative
• Paola Guzman, Director of Social Services, Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative
• Maira Sheikh, Communications Director, Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative

Disasters are considered time-limited emergencies that represent substantial deviations from normal life. As a result disaster planning is perceived as a mitigation of harm resulting from exceptional circumstances rather than an exacerbation of issues that are always present. In reality, disasters, especially in a place like Houston, are constant and overlapping. Disaster planning thus requires a deeper systemic analysis through multiple lenses that are trauma informed, equitable, and invested in resiliency for all not just for some.

Welcome:

• Renee Wizig-Barrios, Senior Vice President & Chief Philanthropy Officer, Greater Houston Community Foundation 

Moderator:

• Paola Guzman, Social Services Director, Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative

Panelists:

• Jannette Diep, Executive Director, Boat People SOS
• Tomas Aguilar, Living Hope Wheelchair Association
• Gislaine Williams, Community Relations Director, The Alliance
• Ola Osaze, Project Director, Black LGBTQ+ Migrant Project (BLMP)

After two years of advocacy by immigrant community groups and advocacy coalitions, Harris County passed a $2 million Immigrant Legal Services Fund in November 2020, which will provide legal counsel for Harris County residents facing deportation. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo will join us to speak on the importance of public funding for these services.

Our panel will speak to the importance of a holistic approach to services for people facing deportation – both detained and non-detained – as well as the impact on their families. There are short-term and long-term effects on physical and mental health, not to mention financial and educational consequences on family members of those detained and deported. They will share their learnings from collaborative pilots and advocacy efforts, and how that might guide future projects. We will also hear from the Samuel S. Fels Fund in Philadelphia, who made a multi-year grant contingent upon continued public funding for immigration legal services in order to help ensure growth and sustainability after the pilot year.

Welcome:

• Marissa Tirona, President, Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees 

Moderator: 

• Andrea Guttin, Legal Director, Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative 

Panelists:

• Sarah Martinez-Helfman, President, Samuel S. Fels Fund
• Joy Green, Legal Director, Justice For Our Neighbors Houston
• Yvonne Mendoza, Regional Director, Social Services, Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) 
• Damaris Gonzalez, Immigration Organizer, Texas Organizing Project 

Keynote & Closing:

• Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo