On July 9, 2008 Governor Patrick signed Executive Order 503 launching the New Americans Agenda (NAA). As outlined in the Executive Order, the NAA is a comprehensive statewide initiative to better integrate refugees and immigrants into Massachusetts’ economic and civic life. Over the course of one year the MA Office for Refugees and Immigrants (MORI) & the Governor’s Advisory Council for Refugees and Immigrants (GACRI) will develop a series of policy recommendations on integration.
The information for these recommendations will come from research, interviews with experts, input from state agencies, and from a series of public meetings across the state. These public meetings will be organized by MIRA in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Civic Engagement (GOCE) and a team of ten network organizations. By July 1, 2009 MORI will present its policy recommendations to the Governor. These recommendations will address: Citizenship Assistance, Employment/Workforce Training, English Language Proficiency, Education, Civil Rights, Fair Housing, Healthcare, Public Safety, and other important topics.
Once the Governor approves the policy recommendations the report will be forwarded to state departments, offices, divisions, and agencies, which will have one year to develop their own New Americans Plans addressing the needs of the immigrant and refugee populations.
The meetings will begin in Chelsea on October 20, 2008 and one will be held each month through March 2009. The locations for the meetings are Chelsea, Hyannis, New Bedford, Lowell, Springfield, and Fitchburg.