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The Haas, Jr. Fund believes that immigrant voices must be heard as California and the nation debate issues that affect the lives of immigrants and their families. We are committed to building the power and influence of immigrants through partnerships and investments aimed at expanding immigrant voting and civic participation.
The demographics are powerful. California is home to 10 million immigrants. They represent nearly 30% of the state’s population and one-third of its workforce, including nine out of ten agricultural jobs. Latinos will become the largest racial/ethnic group in the state in the next 10 years; by 2040, they will be a majority of the California population.
Despite their huge numbers, immigrants wield relatively little policy influence in California. Local and statewide debates about immigration issues tend to be dominated by anti-immigrant and nativist interests.
It is time to ensure that immigrants’ influence begins to mirror their growing role in the California electorate. This is why the Haas, Jr. Fund has been a leading funder of efforts to ensure a fair and accurate count of all Californians, including hard-to-reach immigrant populations, in the 2010 Census.
Currently, we are working to increase civic participation and voting among immigrants in seven targeted regions of the state. Our goals are to:
- Develop coordinated strategies for boosting civic participation among immigrants. The Haas, Jr. Fund is working with funders and nonprofit leaders in the targeted regions to increase citizenship and build the influence of immigrant communities in local and statewide policy debates.
- Support local efforts to mobilize and engage immigrants. The Haas, Jr. Fund is working to identify and support grassroots campaigns in the targeted regions that empower immigrants and build their leadership.
