About National Partnership for New Americans
Working to advance immigrant integration and active citizenship among new Americans, the National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA) represents 41 regional immigrant and refugee rights organizations in 35 states across the United States. NPNA helps immigrant-serving organizations build capacity to provide legal services, English language skills, and leadership development. NPNA has been instrumental in the development of several key policy initiatives that support immigrant integration.
What type of work will this grant enable?
The WES Mariam Assefa Fund’s grant supports the advocacy efforts of NPNA’s network of leading immigrant and refugee coalitions amid COVID-19. NPNA is also helping to ensure that small businesses, non-profits, and local governments maximize federal dollars, and that funding is accessible to small, unbanked, minority-owned businesses. NPNA is working to address immigrants’ immediate needs with a vision toward longer-term recovery and sensible immigrant integration policies. Working with state-level partners, NPNA is providing technical assistance and guidance on how to advance specific, inclusive COVID–related policies in communities.
Why is this work important?
Immigrants have been on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis, and NPNA’s network of immigrant-serving organizations serves as the voice of immigrant workers. Government solutions are excluding many immigrants, and even those who can access benefits face barriers. There is a need to promote strong federal and state policies which lead to solutions that are inclusive of immigrants. Unfortunately, the pandemic has also impacted NPNA member organizations, halting programs that provide critical services. The importance of immigrant workers is clear, as is the need to elevate their perspectives. Advocacy is essential to shaping equitable policy and driving lasting change.
