Advocacy and Organizing
CWS’ long-term goal is to see that immigrants and refugees are treated equitably, with dignity and respect. Through our network of relationships and resettlement work, we know this goal is achievable. But it can’t be done without real and creative reform, and it can’t be done without building power among refugees.
Now is the time to advocate for that goal. Many factors push people away from their homes, and today we are facing the worst displacement and refugee crisis in global history. There are more than 31 million refugees worldwide, and with emerging humanitarian crises and climate-induced displacement quickly changing the landscape of where people can safely live, this trend is emblematic of the profound need for humanitarian protection. Despite this, we continue to see gaps in investment and education at the nation’s highest levels on how to safely, sustainably, and nimbly respond to forced migration.
Here’s what we’re doing to move people into action, and how you can be in relationship with that movement:
Get Involved in CWS’ Advocacy and Organizing Work
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INVEST IN BUILDING POWER
CWS’ organizing, policy and advocacy teams - led largely by staff who come from refugee/asylum backgrounds themselves - equip a network of 2,500+ immigrant and refugee leaders in Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia. We equip participants with the tools, skill-building, and networks needed to advance their representation in:
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Become a Grantmaking Partner
CWS’ advocacy and organizing work is entirely funded by private grants and a network of faith partnerships. Interested in learning more about how you as a grantmaker can partner in this work? Contact Jeff Whisenant, Vice President of Business Development at CWS.
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BUILD COLLECTIVE POWER
CWS’ organizing and policy work - led largely by staff who have lived experience - currently equips its growing network of 2,000+ immigrant and refugee leaders in GA, MI, NC, OH, OR, PA, TX and VA to build collective power of their communities through trainings on leadership development, community organizing, storytelling, and team building. Learn more here about how you, as a refugee leader or ally, can support this work and the team driving it here.
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Take Advocacy Action
CWS invites you to be part of a growing network of people, organizations, media organizations, and partners who will stand up for refugee and immigrant rights. Join us in helping each other and our elected officials imagine a more sustainable and responsive world of welcome.
Our action alerts include relevant links to additional resources, such as CWS policy statements and policy recommendations that are vetted by refugee leaders to provide key information to policy makers and the public on how legislation and state and national budgets can be more inclusive of and less harmful to new Americans.
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Review Press Releases
Stay updated on CWS’s press statements on relevant current events and their impact on welcome.
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Latest Updates
5 Key Takeaways From NIIC
At the recent National Immigrant Inclusion Conference, the energy was one of enthusiasm, excitement and passion. Listening to the speakers I often felt chills and was moved deeply by the conviction in their voices. I left the conference with a renewed passion for the work that we do at CWS and a solidified understanding of why it’s so important. Here …
Executive Order on Census Prioritizes Partisanship Over Community
Washington, D.C. – In response to President Trump’s Executive Order preventing undocumented immigrants in the United States from being counted in the apportionment base in the 2020 Census, John L. McCullough, President and CEO of Church World Service issued the following statement: “This order is illegal and unconstitutional, full stop. The census is one of the most important tools our …
Faith-based Coalition Condemns Trump Administration’s Rollback of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
Washington, DC – Church World Service today joined with a coalition of diverse faith organizations in denouncing new rollbacks to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by the Trump Administration. The rollbacks, done under the auspices of streamlining construction projects such as pipelines, highways, drill sites, new factories or major builds on federal lands, would put communities at risk of …