MIRA’s Organizing motto: Empowering Diversity, Building Unity: Mobilizing for Immigrant and Refugee Rights and Inclusivity.
This motto reflects MIRA’s commitment to advocate alongside immigrant and refugee communities, along with civically minded individuals, for policies and programs that advance the rights, inclusion, and opportunities for immigrants and refugees in Massachusetts and beyond. It highlights our focus on mobilizing for political actions that promote the advancement and integration of immigrants and refugees into society, while emphasizing the importance of unity and diversity, and political power in achieving these goals.
In a time when divisive narratives are emerging, MIRA`s Organizing team fosters multiple initiatives to build bridges, creating belonging and collective advocacy actions.
Courage to Welcome Campaign
The hateful anti-immigrant narrative has been shocking, but we won’t let it drown out our voices. With the Courage to Welcome campaign, we are creating and centering a positive narrative and sense of belonging for all immigrants across Massachusetts. No matter how you got here, the MIRA Coalition welcomes you!
Community Presence
We participate in all kinds of community events, rallies, ethnic celebrations and ceremonies, and street parties to create a welcoming environment. We believe that our Commonwealth is stronger because of our rich history of welcoming immigrants who join our workforce, enrich our communities, and strengthen our democracy. Together, we create and celebrate diversity.
MIRA’s Petition
A Statement of Support: It is a statement of support. By signing the Petition you are simply saying that you “support, and will advocate for the rights and inclusion of all immigrants and refugees across the Commonwealth and beyond”, by taking specific actions.
An Organizing Tool: By collecting constituents’ information through the Petition, we hope to engage their level of involvement and provide them with the necessary tools, resources and opportunities to become effective advocates. Please sign our Petition and get involved.
Civic Engagement
We love working with volunteers on voter registration drives after naturalization ceremonies. We register and educate thousands of new American citizens every month!
Coalition Building
Another aspect of Mira’s organizing work is coalition building. Our 140+ coalition members are incredibly diverse and active in their communities! They are delivering information and services to thousands of community members and sometimes it might be challenging for them to make time for a broader advocacy involvement. MIRA strives to support this advocacy work, listening to members’ main concerns and bringing their voices and experiences to stakeholders.
We have launched a new program to achieve this goal: the Stories of SUN Fellowship Program, which stands for Stories of Self, Us and Now. It is a storytelling and social media training program where fellows from 11 community-based member organizations are learning storytelling techniques for advocacy work.
Additionally, we are currently conducting MIRA’s community and members’ regional meetings. Together with the advocacy and leadership team, and in partnership with MIRA Coalition members, we are meeting with local immigrant rights advocates to have an open dialogue about the current challenges that could be addressed by the state government. Together, we analyze the main issues and potential actions that we can take for the next legislative session.