Session Type(s): Panel
Starts: Thursday, Aug. 10 2:30 PM (Eastern)
Ends: Thursday, Aug. 10 3:45 PM (Eastern)
In traditionally red states like Texas, Georgia, and Arizona, pro-immigrant movements are starting to grow, fight, and win. How is this happening? What tactics is the left taking to achieve policy success? In the face of increasingly anti-immigrant policies nationwide, we are bringing together a distinguished panel of immigrant rights organizers from TX, GA, and AZ to share best practices around effective issue based campaigns in conservative strongholds. Learn how to build coalitions, cultivate unlikely allies, localize messaging, and leverage grassroots power. Attendees will leave understanding the importance of conservative outreach and organizing outside electoral systems to achieve social change.
Marisol Estrada is a recent graduate from Armstrong State University where she received her B.A. in Political Science and Spanish with Magna Cum Laude honors. During her time in undergraduate she was heavily involved in student organizations and community organizing including the Student Government Association at Armstrong, the Savannah Undocumented Youth Alliance and Feminists United. Highlighting on the importance of civic engagment for under represented groups, Marisol currently volunteers alongside various community non-profits in the Atlanta area. During the 2017 legislative session Marisol worked as Deputy Chief of Staff for Representative Brenda Lopez and hopes to continue her work at our GA State Capitol. Currently, she is working with the Democratic Party of Georgia for the 6th Congressional District Race as a Minority Outreach Field Organizer. As the years continue, Marisol plans to attend law school and keep working on progressive policy at the state and federal level.
Alex comes out of SB1070 and was trained, along with many others, to organize the community in the aftermath with an organization that was founded shortly after, Promise Arizona. That’s led her to incredible opportunities, where she worked for Organizing for America in Arizona, the Adios Arpaio campaign she directed with NOI, and as a Deputy Organizing Director at United We Dream during the immigration reform push in 2013 and 2014. Since then, she’s now a Co-executive Director at Living United for Change in Arizona (LUChA), where they organize and coordinate many different efforts across a range of issues locally, including immigration, worker’s rights, living wages, and voter registration. Alex brings what I would consider a wide lens perspective, given both the local and national roles she’s served, and as being one of most influential people in Arizona, investing in new leadership that is changing the political landscape at home.
Other sessions: A Path Forward: Navigating Ballot Initiatives for Progressive Change
Zenen is currently the Policy & Advocacy Analyst at United We Dream, the largest immigrant youth led network in the country. He has shared his research and analysis through various publications, online tools, convenings, presentations, and briefings with national, state, and local policy makers. Zenen preciously worked as the Senior Policy Analyst at Generation Progress, the youth-engagement arm of the Center for American Progress in Washington, DC. He has also interned with Advocates for Youth as well as the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. As a first-generation college student, Zenen graduated from Georgetown University in 2013 and he has spent much of his time advocating for education equity for immigrant students. His family is from a small town in Mexico called Palmar Chico.