Overview
In 2007, a group of New Hampshire immigrant leaders gathered to discuss issues impacting the rapidly growing immigrant and refugee community. This group evolved into the New Hampshire Alliance of Immigrant and Refugees (NHAIR), and successfully organized to defeat anti-immigrant state legislation, and to build leadership capacity among the states’ immigrant and refugee community. The NHIP is the only initiative in NH that organizes and civically engages immigrants and refugees as voters and leaders advocating for public policy change that ensures the civil and human rights of all NH residents.
The NHAIR works to build the power of low-income immigrants of color (regardless of immigration status); works closely with the labor and faith-based allies; increase low-income immigrant leadership; and implement campaigns to protect employment and civil rights of NH immigrants and refugees.
In its previous incarnation as the NH Immigrant Rights Task Force, the group defeated state level anti-immigrant measures (ranging from drivers license access to racial profiling). This effort included testifying at Committee hearings, organizing letter campaigns and developing alliances with faith, business and labor. The Alliance organizes to unite and ignite immigrant communities and alleviate the isolation of the new comers. We provide trainings and presentation on Know Your Rights, Civic Engagement and Citizenship.