Civic Engagement for Immigrants

As more and more immigrants and refugees become citizens, they are playing a growing role in the political life of their new city, state, and country. We work to increase immigrant involvement and impact on issues of common interest to new American communities. Through voter education, candidate forums, regular mailing updates, citizenship and voter registration drives, and advocacy at many levels the program builds political and social integration of new Americans.

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Ethnic Heritage Council

We launched the Ethnic Heritage Council in 2004 to bring together immigrant representatives from around the region. Council participants network with other ethnic leaders and seek ways to collaborate between ethnic communities and the community at large. They get involved in cultural preservation, public celebrations of traditional cultures, and social events as well as common action to express shared concerns.

The council includes more than 70 members, working together to improve the image of immigrants in St. Louis and to express their shared interests to the wider community.

All interested immigrants, especially representatives of local immigrant and refugee non-profit organizations as well as concerned members of the wider community are welcome to participate. Modest membership dues apply although they can be waived in cases of need.

As soon as immigrant community members have met their immediate survival needs, they become very interested in educating their new neighbors about “who we are and where we come from.” They organize dance troupes, music classes, language lessons and other strategies to preserve their traditions for future members of their own communities while also sharing their culture with other Americans. We partner with them in these efforts through such efforts as the Ethnic Heritage Council, Festival of Nations and Culture Links.

What our participants say:

“Our organization has been working with the Institute for many years to produce International Folkfest and Festival of Nations. It’s great to work together with leaders of other immigrant communities.” (A Polish leader)

Contact Information:
Christina Juelfs (juelfsc@iistl.org ) ext. 121
Ann Rynearson (rynearsona@iistl.org ) ext. 127

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Ethnic Mediation Council

We facilitate mediation activities in cooperation with the Ethnic Mediation Council of St. Louis, housed at the International Institute’s S. Grand facility. Almost 100 immigrant community members have been trained in alternative dispute resolution (mediation), through a partnership between the International Institute and Washington University Law School’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Program. The council is made up of these trained community mediators, representing communities from Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America.

The council arranges and facilitates meetings between two or more individuals who have a problem or a conflict. When funds are available, we arrange to bring in trained interpreters to help in cases of inter-ethnic conflict.

Our goal is to encourage and support ethnic organizations to become self-sufficient and capable of providing culturally and linguistically appropriate assistance to their members involved in disputes or tensions within or between communities. These programs help people incorporate conflict resolution techniques from their native lands with new problem-solving techniques. Thus, solutions have a better chance of being understood and accepted because of mutually understandable and acceptable arrangements.

Who is eligible? Anyone, immigrant, refugee, or a member of the larger St. Louis community, can request free mediation services from the Ethnic Mediation Council.

Participation is FREE! Services are underwritten by a variety of private and public sources. Volunteer mediators donate many participation hours as well.

What our participants say:

“The mediation training is just what our people needed. Now we have another way of solving conflicts before the problem involves the police or becomes too big—or violent.” (Participant from Mexico)

*Mediation is a process of resolving disputes for individuals or parties in which another person (a neutral third party) helps the parties negotiate a satisfactory solution.

Contact Information:
Pam De Voe (devoep@iistl.org )
Ann Rynearson (rynearsona@iistl.org ) ext. 127

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Meet Learn Connect: A Program to Reduce Anti-Immigrant Backlash

We offer a cutting-edge approach to meeting a rapidly emerging and highly volatile need to reduce anti-immigrant hostilities. To counteract misinformation and xenophobia, we offer MEET LEARN CONNECT which focuses on interactive learning and communication to strengthen intergroup relations across age, geography, race and economic boundaries.

Our program operates in-person and in cyberspace. We:
• Facilitate ethnic community meetings to identify problems and help connect newcomers with authorities to alleviate conflict,
• Operate a blog (web log), an on-line discussion tool focused on immigration and multiculturalism. Thus, we can share the latest news and research and invite St. Louisans to ask questions and develop communication networks; and
• Offer a variety of fee-based and no cost cross-cultural training to reduce conflict through our International Institute Business Solutions Center.

Our goal is to reduce anti-immigrant prejudice by sharing information and contacts so that we can all live together with mutual respect.

What our participants say:

“It’s terrific to find a way to cancel out the thousand irritating questions people ask me out of simple ignorance. Like staring at me and asking me (in a loud voice) if I speak English. I was born here!” (Young architect of Chinese heritage)

Contact Information:
Ann Rynearson (rynearsona@iistl.org ) ext. 127

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