Dear Friend,
As 2023 nears an end, the Massachusetts Immigrant Collaborative is looking back at a full year. New migrants coming to our state, and long-time immigrant residents alike continue to have challenges. They rely on M.I.C.’s legal and emergency assistance, and the services of our network of 15 partners. We look forward to continuing our work together in 2024.
We are pleased to share our work with you in this Fall update and I invite you to reach out to me if you have any questions or would like to meet and talk about the work of the Collaborative as we move into 2024. On behalf of all of us at the Collaborative, I wish you a happy Thanksgiving.
The Massachusetts Immigrant Collaborative partners with the City of Boston to support Boston families
In partnership with the City of Boston Equity and Inclusion Cabinet, the Massachusetts Immigrant Collaborative is excited to announce a new initiative to meet the basic needs of immigrant community members in the City. For one year, the Immigrant Economic Recovery Initiative (IERI) will support 200 low-income immigrant households disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 in Boston by providing monthly unconditional cash assistance of $600, as well as opportunities to participate in workforce trainings for an additional $200 and savings-based incentives to earn an additional $100 each month. In total, participants could receive a total of $900 per month.
The 200 participating families will be randomly selected by the City after The Collaborative concludes outreach so that every family that is eligible has an equal chance of getting into this program. This effort builds off of the City’s previous work to remedy the economic inequities that worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Collaborative and the City will also work with a team of evaluators to assess the impact of this program. While this program specifically targets Boston residents, the Massachusetts Immigrant Collaborative is open to discussing the possibility of expanding similar financial empowerment initiatives to other areas in Massachusetts with interested funders. Meanwhile, we are thrilled to be partnering with the City of Boston in this Initiative and look forward to working closely with the families participating in the program.
Immigration Legal Service for our communities
In August 2022, the Collaborative launched its Centralized Immigration Legal Services program, and with our legal partners we continue to provide free legal advice and representation to community members throughout the Commonwealth. So far this year, (January 2023 to the end of October 2023), the Collaborative has offered services to over 700 community members, providing full representation for 213. Most commonly, they are asylum seekers who left their home country because of persecution and serious human rights violations, people from countries considered unsafe because of natural disaster or political unrest seeking to obtain or renew Temporary Protected Status, so they can live and work (temporarily) in the United States, and individuals seeking work permits.
Whether a community member receives full representation, or a consultation with an attorney or Board of Immigration Appeals representative, our legal services have a significant impact. Navigating immigration law – especially if English is not your first language – is complex and full representation can help a person have a greater chance at a positive outcome, including legal status, a work permit and the chance to reunite with family. But a simple consultation is also extremely beneficial. Whether or not the client has a viable case, a consultation can educate them about their rights as immigrants, and, when applying for legal benefits is not the best option, can help them avoid notarios or people unauthorized to practice law.
The Collaborative greatly appreciates the hard work and dedication of our legal partners, Rian Immigrant Center, Mabel Center for Immigrant Justice, Agencia ALPHA, and Immigrant Family Services Institute.
Supporting new migrants
Over the past year Massachusetts has seen a dramatic increase in migrant families coming to the state and a dire need for housing and services. Massachusetts is working to provide shelter but the number of arrivals is exhausting shelter space, hotels and other options. In August, Governor Maura Healey declared a state of emergency.
The partner organizations which comprise the Massachusetts Immigrant Collaborative, in conjunction with the State, are doing their best to support these families, connecting new migrants to needed resources, and pushing for faster work authorization.
To learn more about what Collaborative partners are doing, please see our press release.
Looking Ahead
The Collaborative continues to prioritize supporting new migrants and long-time immigrant residents in need of emergency cash and food assistance; providing Legal Services and referrals to Partners for education and other services so people can receive the support they need; advocating for policies that support our community members; and support the capacity building of our partners.
The Collaborative is in the process of hiring a program director for the Immigrant Economic Recovery Initiative (our project with the City of Boston). Additionally, we are recruiting a communications intern. We welcome you to share this role description with anyone who you think might be a good fit.
Our Partners
The Massachusetts Immigrant Collaborative includes 15 partner organizations statewide, working in solidarity with under-resourced immigrant communities. By working together, we can share ideas, experience, resources and support each other in our work.
Says partner Ahmad Nazhar at ICNA Relief, “We are very thankful for the collaborative support and inspirational exchange of ideas in M.I.C. Through its partnership in M.I.C., ICNA Relief has been able to support Afghans and other Muslim refugees, directing them to our partners for culturally relevant support; process intakes of Haitian clients in Lowell for MIC’s legal services; hire a Spanish-speaker to handle the uptick in South Americans seeking help. You are all heroes in your community!”
You can learn more about our partners by visiting their websites.
- Agencia ALPHA
- Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center
- Boston International Newcomers Academy
- Brazilian Worker Center
- Caribbean Youth Club
- Centro Comunitario de Trabajadores
- Centro Presente
- Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative
- ICNA Relief
- Immigrant Family Services Institute
- MetroWest Workers Center: CASA
- New North Citizen Council
- Pioneer Valley Workers Center
- Rian Immigrant Center
- Sociedad Latina
