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CIVIC ENGAGEMENT <br />248 Moving from Exclusion to Belonging <br />they will participate.”1217 Smaller language communities have an even more difficult time: “Russians <br />aren’t included in the mainstream. Their language isn’t available.”1218 <br />Immigration status can also play a role in inhibiting immigrant participation in organizations that <br />serve the broader community. One organization described how their effort to attract a more <br />diverse pool of volunteers has run into difficulties because undocumented immigrants are afraid to <br />give out their personal information: “We have forms to fill out to become volunteers and that can <br />frighten people. We no longer make copies of IDs. We explain the process to people and they do <br />not come back. We don’t know how to get around the need for a liability waiver and contact <br />information.”1219 <br />PARTICIPATION IN THE POLITICAL SYSTEM <br />Immigrant participation in politics and government has a mixed record as well. The political system <br />presents some of the same barriers to participation that interviewees cited to explain low <br />participation in non-governmental organizations that serve the larger community, including: lack of <br />familiarity with the system; cultural differences in behavior on boards and committees; discomfort <br />with being the only minority present; and language and status barriers. <br />People from all over the state bemoaned the lack of diverse representation in local government and <br />services. One representative example came from a suburban city: “There was a big city meeting and <br />they were doing city employee recognitions. I was standing in the room with [my colleague] in the <br />back and I don’t honestly think there was one non-white person in that entire room besides us and <br />it was packed. Police, fire, parks and rec, maintenance, and a lot of city people.”1220 Even in the <br />most diverse cities in the state, “most *employees+ are white, English language-only speakers. There <br />is no diversity in leadership.”1221 <br />The lack of political representation at the local level is particularly troubling because it inhibits <br />people from getting the services they need and further reduces participation. One service provider <br />explained: “We need all citizens to be engaged in political life, because that’s where the power is <br />and immigrants most often aren’t involved, so they can’t influence it.”1222 <br /> <br /> <br />1217 Interview 99. <br />1218 Interview 142. <br />1219 Interview 67. <br />1220 Interview 108. <br />1221 Interview 128. <br />1222 Interview 106.