Immigrant Voices Series

Immigrant and refugee support

City of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a citywide benefit)

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

Los Angeles is one of the most vibrant and diverse counties in the United States. A third of Los Angeles County’s population are immigrants, and over half of the county’s children are second-generation immigrants. Despite this, immigrant and refugee communities are often underrepresented and/or negatively portrayed in media and political discourse. Anti-immigrant rhetoric is on the rise, and this has a profoundly adverse impact on the mental and social well-being of immigrants and refugees. The marginalization of immigrant voices leads to feelings of isolation and loneliness, particularly among youth who struggle to reconcile their identities as Americans and immigrants. It also impacts their sense of safety, as immigrants often feel wary of speaking out for fear of being deported, harassed, or targeted in other ways. On a larger scale, the lack of immigrant voices fosters policy decisions that either disregard or directly harm immigrant communities.

CAIR-LA developed the Immigrant Voices series to help immigrants reclaim their own narrative. CAIR-LA will create a high-quality video series amplifying authentic immigrant and refugee voices, allowing them to tell their stories of how they came to the United States, the challenges they faced, and how they overcame those challenges. This series will dispel misinformation, showcase the vibrancy and diversity of immigrant communities, and embolden other immigrants to share their experiences with others. CAIR-LA will invite immigrants to participate in this series through direct outreach to immigrant community centers and places of worship across Los Angeles. CAIR-LA will select immigrants of various nationalities and ethnicities to appeal to the largest audience of viewers.
Furthermore, CAIR-LA will publish a coloring book aimed at youth (aged 12-25). The book will tell the ABCs of Muslim immigrants in the United States, with each letter representing a significant location, person, or event for various Muslim immigrant groups. The objective is to empower immigrant youth to feel proud of their identity in a time where cultural tensions are leading to increased levels of bullying and isolation. The coloring book will also generate awareness around the importance of building solidarity and advocating for civil rights. The content of this book will be decided upon talking to various immigrant communities and receiving their input on which people/places/events should be included.

Our vision of success is a Los Angeles that is more welcoming of immigrants from diverse backgrounds. If our work is successful, CAIR-LA will dispel stereotypes and misinformation directed at immigrants. Critically, this project will foster a sense of safety and comfort for immigrant youth and adults surrounding their cultural identity. They will feel emboldened to speak about their experiences. They will feel encouraged to participate in cultural events without fear and seek support for their unique challenges.
In the long run, CAIR-LA seeks to change the narrative surrounding immigrants. If successful, narrative change will not only affect public perception, but will also foster solidarity among various immigrant and non-immigrant groups. This solidarity will serve to strengthen advocacy campaigns and ultimately support positive policy decisions. In short, CAIR-LA’s project will build the people power of immigrant communities through a persistent effort to amplify immigrant voices.