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CIVIC ENGAGEMENT <br />254 Moving from Exclusion to Belonging <br />Finding: Immigrants feel that organizations serving the broader community do not reflect <br />their priorities, encourage their leadership, accommodate their cultural norms, or assist <br />them in overcoming language barriers, which limits their participation. <br />Recommendations <br /> Organizations should encourage volunteering and other engagement that values <br />immigrant expertise. <br /> Use forms of outreach and communication that place a strong emphasis on forming <br />personal relationships as a way to bring immigrants into existing community <br />institutions. <br /> Actively solicit input from all constituents to help shape the priorities and processes <br />of organizations that serve the broader community. <br /> Organizations should evaluate potential barriers to immigrant involvement and <br />consider changes to accommodate cultural differences, where practical. <br /> Recognize the need for integrated organizations that include newcomers and long- <br />term residents working in partnership. <br /> Provide language services where possible to facilitate involvement by all members <br />of the community. <br /> Avoid asking for Social Security numbers or U.S.-issued identification from potential <br />participants. Keep confidential any personal information about volunteers and other <br />participants, especially regarding immigration status. <br /> <br />Finding: Immigrants are not well represented in the political system, whether as elected <br />officials, government employees, appointees, or members of boards and commissions. <br />Recommendations <br /> Municipalities may need to re-examine electoral districts and voting processes to <br />promote a more representative government that reflects the demographic shifts <br />caused by immigration. <br /> Public and private organizations should provide widely available civic education for <br />adults on voting, running for office, and holding appointed positions. <br /> Political parties should think about ways to leverage immigrant communities as <br />volunteers, activists, and candidates.