Advocacy and Empowerment

Consistent with its mission to improve opportunities and open doors for Garifuna-Americans, The Garifuna Coalition believes that advocacy, civic engagement, and community-based support are essential parts of any community-empowerment strategy. Thus, the organization concentrates on advocacy activities at state and local levels through its state and local advocacy Initiatives.

In addition, the Garifuna Coalition strengthens Garifuna participation in the political process through its various civic engagement projects, including the Garifuna Voter Education and Registration Project. The Garifuna Coalition also works to build the capacity of organizations serving Garifunas, develop leaders and providing access to community resources.

Garifuna Voter Education and Registration Project

 The Garifuna Voter Education and Registration Project is part of our continued efforts to empower Garifunas to become full participants in American life through increased civic engagement. The Garifuna Voter Education and Registration Project’s (12K X 2012) goal is to register and mobilize 12,000 new Garifuna voters for the 2012 general election and the 2013 New York Local Elections! This campaign is the largest nonpartisan effort to increase Garifuna political participation ever undertaken in New York’s history.

The project will focus its efforts in the following areas:

1. The Campaign will register voters in drives at Ferry Point, Bill Rainey, and Crotona Parks in the Bronx and Linden Park in Brooklyn. The voter registration project will continue throughout the year making sure we register as many Garinagu as possible
2. An innovative media and mail campaign will complement the aggressive ground operation conducted in all identified districts. emails, newsletters, and Facebook (Click to access)
3. During 2011 - 2012 The Garifuna Voter Education and Registration Project will organize workshops  at Casa Yurumein, Biko Transformation Center,  and The Garifuna Advocacy Center, to strengthen its resource base and to widen collaboration with various stakeholders in elections with a view to getting them involved in the dissemination of civic and voter education to the Garifuna voting constituency.

Furthermore, as a follow up to our Census 2010 Campaign, we are currently implementing a redistricting assessment campaign aimed at educating our community about the redistricting process in the US, and to explore the opportunities resulting from demographic shifts.

Issues

Immigration

Immigration Reform

Building a 21st century immigration system – We will Answer President Obama’s call on all Americans to work together to foster a constructive national conversation on immigration reform that builds a bipartisan consensus and leads to legislative reform. We will continue the conversation in our community by hosting Immigration Action roundtables in our community.

The Dream Act

The “Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act” would facilitate access to college for immigrant students in the U.S. by restoring states’ rights to offer in-state tuition to immigrant students residing in their state. The “DREAM Act” would also provide a path to citizenship for hardworking immigrant youth who were brought to the U.S. as young children and to pursue higher education or military service, enabling them to contribute fully to our society.

One NYC One Nation

One NYC One Nation, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's Office of Immigrant Affairs' citywide civic engagement initiative for immigrant New Yorkers. Focused on empowering, educating, and strengthening immigrant communities throughout the five boroughs.  Five Immigrant Civic Engagement Zones will be established to provide tools to immigrant communities to better access City government, promote financial empowerment, enhance immigrant entrepreneurship, and help support college readiness opportunities for immigrant families.

Redistricting Reform Act of 2011

Support New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Redistricting Reform Act of 2011 to establish and independent Redistricting Commission, to protect the public’s interest in fair and proper elections. Including but not limited to the opportunities for Minority voters to participate in the political process and to elect representatives of their choice.