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Dear
Friend,
We don't hear much these days about immigrants
being welcomed to this country. But now in
Idaho a new effort is underway to do just
that and to change the climate towards immigration.
Read more about it in
Welcoming
Idaho below...
While the media is focusing on the presidential
election, a lot more is up for a vote. Western
States Center has been busy working with groups
to mobilize voters and battle regressive measures
expected to be on state ballots in November.
You can read more about groups that we are
working with in
VOTE Project
below...
Finally, we want to bring your attention
to a
new report on
the economic facts and prospects for working
families in Wyoming.
Enjoy,
Dan Petegrosky,
Executive Director, Western States Center
Welcoming
Idaho
Offers a Fresh Perspective on Immigration
Debate
Welcoming Idaho is starting conversations
about immigration focused on acceptance
instead of fear, and people are responding.
Could this be the conversation you
want to be having about immigration
in your community?
"Welcoming communities" campaigns
are picking up steam across the country
with successes in several states.
Now the approach has had its first
hit here in the West in Idaho. The
Welcoming
Idaho campaign has been scoring
media hits, starting community conversations,
and shifting local debate about immigration.
Read
more...
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A photo from "Shared Hopes, Shared
Dreams: A Photo Exhibit Documenting
the Contributions, Struggles, and
Dreams of Idaho's Immigrant Communities."
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VOTE
Project
Activating
People in Time for Historic Primaries
With the 2008 presidential race in
the news every day and one major party
nomination still up in the air, the
late Oregon and Montana primaries
have a newfound prominence and sense
of importance. Western States Center's
VOTE Project groups are seizing the
opportunity to sign up thousands of
historically overlooked voters.
Western States Center's 2008
VOTE
Project is providing funds, training
and other resources to 12 groups that
work with constituencies least likely
to vote: communities of color, rural
communities, new citizens, low-income
women, and youth. Here's a sampling
of this spring's voter organizing
work in Western states where upcoming
primaries and ballot initiative campaigns
are causing a buzz and giving people
a reason to turn out.
Read
more... |
VOTE
participants at a February Convening
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The
State of Working Wyoming
What will bring economic security
to the working people of Wyoming?
For a state with a history of booms
and busts, what are the best strategies
to ensure that when we can create
prosperity, it lasts? The
State
of Working Wyoming offers a picture
of the economic opportunities and
concerns of people in the state, with
sections on jobs, income, energy,
health care, and more. An easy read
with solid recommendations for a path
forward.
This Equality State Policy Center
report is available at
http://www.equalitystate.org/PDFs/State_of_Working_Wyoming.pdf
(Note: will require Acrobat Reader). |
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Western
States Center Welcomes New Staff
Sarah
Howell
Sarah joined the staff in January 2008
as a Trainer/Organizer.
Yee
Won Chong
Yee Won joined the staff in February
2008 as Development Director.
Visit
our staff page to read more about
Sarah and Yee Won.
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Western
States Center Needs You!
Building
long-term strategies for progressive social
change requires resources.
Together, we know that we can make a difference.
There are several ways you can help Western
States Center.
Find
out today! |
