This is one in a series of profiles on the 2020 Giraffe Award winners. Each week leading up to the Champions for Children virtual celebration on November 17th, we will feature a profile of a 2020 Giraffe Award Winner and showcase how they “stick out their neck” for Maine children, youth, and families. This week, we are pleased to introduce you to the Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition.
The Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition has become a leader in advocating for and providing support to the diverse immigrant communities in Maine. As the number of immigrants and refugees in Maine grows, it is important to understand the needs and priorities of immigrants and how to ensure their inclusion and integration into daily life. This is at the core of the work that MIRC does on behalf of immigrants in Maine.
MIRC was founded by the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project in 2005 and has since grown from 20 to 69 members throughout the state. What began as a small, yet vibrant coalition has transitioned into a thriving, immigrant-led non-profit organization.
As the convener of a statewide network of organizations – mostly led by people of color – MIRC represents diverse ethnic communities across our state. The coalition is committed to working to create and support programs and policies that promote inclusion and integration for immigrants in Maine communities.
MIRC has also stepped forward in very specific moments of need to support immigrants in Maine. Last summer, when hundreds of asylum seekers arrived in Portland from the southern border, MIRC took the lead in addressing their needs. They organized everything from cooking and serving familiar food, creating activities for children, collecting needed clothing, and moving families into suitable housing.
Most recently, MIRC also brought the voice of Maine immigrant families to the COVID-19 crisis. They advocated for direct resources into immigrant communities, the use of cultural brokers, access to testing, and translation of materials. They recognized early on that immigrant families were at greater risk for contracting the virus, as they are more likely to live in multi-generational families, in close quarters, and in jobs where they are in more direct contact with the public. MIRC utilized their voice and leveraged their leadership to advocate for resources directly to impacted immigrant communities.
The Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition will be awarded a 2020 Giraffe Award for its commitment to inclusion and equity for immigrant children and families in Maine on November 17th at our Champions for Children celebration.
Don’t forget to join us for the 2020 Champions for Children and Giraffe Awards event ! And keep an eye out for upcoming profiles featuring the rest of our 2020 Giraffe Award winners.