HISTORY AND MOVEMENT BUILDING
NIAAS was established in 2011 after 8 months of research and thoughtful planning to respond to the particular needs of African American and immigrant communities and their organizations. For the last 3 years NIAAS has been creating spaces to find ways to overcome divisions, stereotypes, and ignorance about each other’s communities, struggles and histories. These divisions prevent communities of color from having a bigger impact on the work for social and economic justice. Step by step, NIAAS creates unique spaces for communities of color to share experiences, develop trusting relationships, and realize the value of solidarity. Via NIAAS, leaders of color learn to integrate each other’s histories and stories into work on community issues such as education, environment, economic development, etc. Through time NIAAS has deepened strategies to reverse patterns of discrimination, poverty, injustice, inequality, etc. in communities of color via mutual-solidarity and relationship building.
Movement building requires native-born blacks and immigrants to join together to shape economic and social policies for mutual benefit. To do so we must recognize how our struggles and stories are intertwined and our successes interdependent.
Overall, the initiative will contribute to the work of dismantling institutional and structural barriers that reinforce oppressive conditions and give impacted communities the language to name those barriers and interrupt patterns of self-blame. Communities will develop newer, more effective resistance strategies and build solidarity with others facing similar struggles.
NIAAS was established in 2011 after 8 months of research and thoughtful planning to respond to the particular needs of African American and immigrant communities and their organizations. For the last 3 years NIAAS has been creating spaces to find ways to overcome divisions, stereotypes, and ignorance about each other’s communities, struggles and histories. These divisions prevent communities of color from having a bigger impact on the work for social and economic justice. Step by step, NIAAS creates unique spaces for communities of color to share experiences, develop trusting relationships, and realize the value of solidarity. Via NIAAS, leaders of color learn to integrate each other’s histories and stories into work on community issues such as education, environment, economic development, etc. Through time NIAAS has deepened strategies to reverse patterns of discrimination, poverty, injustice, inequality, etc. in communities of color via mutual-solidarity and relationship building.
Movement building requires native-born blacks and immigrants to join together to shape economic and social policies for mutual benefit. To do so we must recognize how our struggles and stories are intertwined and our successes interdependent.
Overall, the initiative will contribute to the work of dismantling institutional and structural barriers that reinforce oppressive conditions and give impacted communities the language to name those barriers and interrupt patterns of self-blame. Communities will develop newer, more effective resistance strategies and build solidarity with others facing similar struggles.
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NIAAS UNDERLINING VALUES
The NIAAS initiative is rooted in the values of participatory education, anti-oppression and anti-racism. At the heart of this organizing work is a commitment to understand, link and fight against all types of oppression.
We believe strongly that this initiative needs to be self-reflective. Our goal is to create an environment in which it is possible for African American and immigrant organizers to ask serious questions about the barriers that exist between their communities and speak openly and honestly about the ignorance that partially reinforces those barriers. It is important not to deny the biases that immigrants and African Americans have against each other and work to build the consciousness and understanding that can overcome those biases.
It is important that African Americans understand the forces driving immigration and equally for immigrants of color to better understand U.S. history, the legacy of slavery, and discrimination against African Americans. Overall, NIAAS will contribute to the work of dismantling institutional and structural barriers that reinforce oppressive conditions and give impacted communities the language to name those barriers, rather than blame themselves and each other. Communities will develop newer, more effective resistance strategies and build solidarity with others facing similar struggles.
It is important that African Americans understand the forces driving immigration and equally for immigrants of color to better understand U.S. history, the legacy of slavery, and discrimination against African Americans. Overall, NIAAS will contribute to the work of dismantling institutional and structural barriers that reinforce oppressive conditions and give impacted communities the language to name those barriers, rather than blame themselves and each other. Communities will develop newer, more effective resistance strategies and build solidarity with others facing similar struggles.