Immigrant Integration and the American Future: Lessons From And For California University of Southern California, Davidson Conference Center Tuesday, April 22, 2008 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM e conference will bring together academics, policymakers, and community leaders to discuss experiences and practices of immigrant integration, highlighting the interwoven interests of immigrants and host communities, and the mutuality of our fates. e aim will be to dene a strategic research agenda on issues and policies for successful immigrant integration, with a special focus on Los Angeles and California. Sponsored by: Organized by: A Conference Hosted by the USC Provost Initiative on USC Population Dynamics Immigrant Integration, USC University of Research Group School of Policy, Planning, and Southern California USC Program for Environmental Development, USC College of and Regional Equity Leers, Arts and Sciences Additional sponsors: California Community Foundation, Tomás Rivera Policy Institute, and USC Center for Diversity and Democracy. ABOUT Immigrant Integration and the American Future In July 2007, the U.S. Senate found itself facing the most significant immigration reform package in nearly two decades – and blinked. While the failure to secure reform at the national level has led to much discussion, it has not changed the critical issue: the growing presence of immigrants and their children in virtually every region of the United States and the increasing intertwining of immigrant lives with that of their host communities. This is particularly true in Southern California where in Los Angeles County alone, one-third of residents are foreign-born, nearly half the workforce is immigrant, and two-thirds of those under 18 are children of immigrants. In light of this issue, the University of Southern California has chosen to host the conference, “Immigrant Integration and the American Future: Lessons From and For California” with the aim to define a strategic research agenda on issues and policies for successful immigrant integration, with a special focus on Los Angeles and California. As such, the conference has brought together nationally prominent academics, policymakers, activists, and community leaders to discuss experiences and practices of immigrant integration, highlighting the interwoven interests of immigrants and host communities and the mutuality of our fates. ORGANIZED BY: USC Population Dynamics Research Group USC Program for Environmental and Regional Equity SPONSORED BY: USC Provost Initiative on Immigrant Integration USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development USC College of Letters, Arts & Sciences ADDITIONAL SPONSORSHIP BY: California Community Foundation Tomás Rivera Policy Institute USC Center for Diversity and Democracy AGENDA at a glance TIME EVENT VENUE 8:00 – 8:30 am Breakfast Lobby 8:30 – 8:40 am Welcome Embassy Room 8:40 – 9:00 am Opening Remarks Embassy Room 9:00 – 10:30 am Morning Panel Embassy Room Immigration Integration and the Popular Narrative: Framing and Re-Framing the Issue 10:30 – 10:45 am 15 minute break 10:45 am – 12:15 pm Breakout Sessions Immigrant Integration and Educational Figueroa Room Achievement Immigrant Integration and Community Vineyard Room Building Immigrant Integration and Civic Club Room Engagement Immigrant Integration and Interethnic Cardinal and Gold Room Relations Immigrant Integration and Workforce Boardroom Development Immigrant Integration and Social Reception Alumni Room 12:15 pm Lunch Embassy Room 12:30 – 1:30 pm Keynote Speaker Embassy Room 1:30 – 3:20 pm Afternoon Panel Embassy Room Immigrant Integration and Public Policy: Where do We Go From Here? 3:20 – 3:30 pm Next Steps Embassy Room Future directions for research and USC 3:30 – 4:00 pm Closing Remarks Embassy Room 4:00 pm Networking Reception Lobby 2 SCHEDULE locations and speakers 8:00 – 8:30 am Breakfast Location: Lobby 8:30 – 8:40 am Welcome Location: Embassy Room • Howard Gillman, Dean of USC College of Letters, Arts & Sciences • Jack Knott, Dean of USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development 8:40 - 9:00 am Opening Remarks Location: Embassy Room Immigrant Integration: Why We Need It, Why It Matters • Henry Cisneros, CityView • Manuel Pastor, University of Southern California 9:00 – 10:30 am Morning Panel Location: Embassy Room Immigrant Integration and the Popular Narrative: Framing and Re-Framing the Issue Moderator: Manuel Pastor, University of Southern California Participants: • Maria Echaveste, University of California, Berkeley • Antonia Hernández, California Community Foundation • Bill O. Hing, University of California, Davis • Dowell Myers, University of Southern California • Robert K. Ross, The California Endowment 10:30 – 10:45 am 15 minute break 3 10:45 am – 12:15 pm Breakout Sessions Immigrant Integration and Educational Achievement Location: Figueroa Room Education offers the tools to advance within institutions and society at large. From high school to adult education, an improved educational system is vital to ensuring that immigrants and their families fully benefit and contribute to society. This workshop will discuss issues related to immigrant integration at all levels of education, and in doing so, will augment existing discourse on improving economic realities for immigrants. Moderator: Harry Pachon, University of Southern California Participants: • Estela Bensimon, University of Southern California • David Crippens, Youth Council Chair, Los Angeles Workforce Investment Board • Patricia Gándara, University of California, Los Angeles • Margie McHugh, MPI’s National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy Immigrant Integration and Workforce Development Location: Board Room In California, 37 percent of the workforce is foreign born, and in Los Angeles it is nearly 50 percent. Correspondingly, immigrants are clearly integral to the California’s trade and commerce, and yet they also tend to be in low-skill and low-wage occupations with limited opportunities to move up the economic ladder. By increasing opportunities for economic mobility, immigrant families and communities can help improve Los Angeles’ economy. This panel will delve into the possibilities of what businesses, foundations, and community organizations can do to improve the skill base of the labor force in general, and uplift the economic standing of the foreign born population in particular. Moderator: Pierrette Hondagneu-Sotelo, University of Southern California Participants: • Héctor Cordero-Guzmán, Ford Foundation • Stephen Levy, Center for the Continuing Study of the California Economy • Jason Marczak, Policy Director, American Society / Council of the Americas • David Rattray, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce 4 Immigrant Integration and Civic Engagement Location: Club Room Immigrants, as residents and members of society, need a space to express their opinions and participate in civic life. This spirit of engagement will hopefully persist as many of these residents become U.S. citizens. This panel will look at the work of community organizations and academics in introducing immigrants to the American political process and helping them to actively engage the system. Moderator: David Ayón, Loyola Marymount University Participants: • Marvin Andrade, Central American Resource Center • Rini Chakraborty, Sweatshop Watch • Joshua Hoyt, Illonois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights • Karthick Ramakrishnan, University of California, Riverside • Arturo Vargas, National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Immigrant Integration and Interethnic Relations Location: Cardinal and Gold Room Acknowledging mutual responsibility and mutual destiny is crucial to immigrant integration. An important place for this work is in multi-ethnic coalitions that can cross lines of race and space. This panel will look into a variety of examples and experiences around coalition building and interethnic relations from Los Angeles and beyond. Moderator: Amon Emeka, University of Southern California Participants: • Teresa Castellanos, Immigration Relations and Integration Services, Santa Clara County • Denise Fairchild, Community Development Technologies Center • George Sanchez, University of Southern California • Bill Watanabe, Little Tokyo Center 5 Immigrant Integration and Community Building Location: Vineyard Room Creating person-to-person and community-to-community relationships can generate bonds of understanding and bring together immigrant and non-immigrant populations to improve overall community well-being. This panel will explore the role of non-profits, labor, and interfaith constituencies in building a vibrant and diverse united community. Moderator: Janelle Wong, University of Southern California Participants: • Mark Gomez, Strengthening Our Lives • Ali Modarres, California State University, Los Angeles • Alexia Salvatierra, Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice of California • Kent Wong, University of California, Los Angeles Immigrant Integration and Social Reception Location: Alumni Room Immigrant integration is fostered by establishing a sense of openness to immigrants in all communities. Recently, that welcome has diminished, mostly due to economic insecurity, fear of cultural change, and the sheer scale of immigration. When a complex issue gets reduced to sound bites and accusations, the way around this barrier involves changing attitudes and realities. Underscoring the importance of immigrants to the regional economy, and promoting awareness about immigrant communities can encourage an attitude shift for