With generous grants from the Zellerbach Family Foundation, Werner Kohnstamm Fund and The California Endowment the Institute will develop resources for California’s local officials to support immigrant democratic participation.  Three critically important points on the continuum of democratic participation are:

1. Naturalization and citizenship;
2. Voter education and participation; and
3. Non-electoral public engagement in local decision-making.

This project will enhance local immigrant democratic participation more broadly by: documenting examples of citizenship support by local governments; better understanding among local officials about the opportunities for local government to support electoral and non-electoral civic engagement in their communities; and linking state and U.S. government agencies and nonprofit organizations with local officials to support citizenship goals.  This project is part of the Institute’s immigrant engagement and integration efforts and guided by its commitment to inclusive public engagement.