Phase 2
In December of 2003, MCS - in collaboration with the Center to Support Immigrant Organizing - kicked off Phase 2 of the Immigrant and Refugee Leadership Development Initiative. Phase 1, which ran from January 2001 through December 2002, provided consulting and group training to six community-based organizations in Boston led by immigrants and refugees. Phase 2 was developed based on the evaluation and lessons learned from Phase 1. It will run through December of 2005. The Hyams Foundation is the lead funder with support also provided by the Boston Foundation and the State Street Foundation.
The goal of Phase 2 is to develop strong constituent leadership within immigrant-led organizations in order to increase the power of immigrant communities to improve the conditions in which they live. Five organizations in Boston and one in Cambridge will receive technical assistance and funding to support the development and implementation of a constituent leadership development plan, those organizations are:
· Association of Haitian Women
· Brazilian Immigrant Center
· Cape Verdean Community Task Force
· Centro Presente
· Chinese Progressive Association
· City Life/ Vida Urbana
By building the capacity of their constituents to lead, these organizations will enhance their ability to organize for social change, advocate for immigrants, and provide education and services in ways that build power for immigrant communities.
