Karen Mejia, who migrated from Somalia to the United States as a high schooler, faced significant challenges in adapting to a new language and culture. Her mother, who initially moved to set up a life for their family, inspired Mejia’s commitment to support others within immigrant communities in the city.
Now, Mejia dedicates her time, both professionally and as a volunteer, to assist unaccompanied children. Her work is complemented by her participation in a civic education program tailored for adult immigrants in Boston, enhancing her community engagement.
“Coming into this program, knowing what I know … I wanted to bring a greater picture of that to the community,” Mejia expressed, now serving as a senior social services coordinator with Kids in Need of Defense after completing the program last year.
Launched in 2020, the Immigrants Lead Boston program, spearheaded by the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Advancement, is currently accepting applications for its sixth cohort through July 18. The initiative aims to empower Boston’s immigrant community members to take more civic ownership.
Hawa Yusuf, the program manager for Immigrants Lead Boston, noted the evolving mission of the initiative over the past five years. Initially, the focus was on equipping participants with the resources necessary to engage in city jobs or attend City Council meetings. This foundational goal remains while also expanding to include other dimensions of civic engagement.
“Having civic ownership means understanding that what happens in your community — you have the voice, you have the power to speak about it,” Yusuf explained. She emphasized that increased involvement enables participants to effect positive change in their environment.
The curriculum includes valuable information about the workings of the City Council and various city departments, fostering a sense of reliance on local government, especially among immigrant communities from countries with less established connections to government officials.
Yusuf remarked, “Originally, the goal was to build trust in government. Some immigrant communities in Boston are very active in government, while others aren’t. We wanted to understand why.”
Personal experiences shared by Yusuf, whose parents immigrated from Somalia, illustrate the barriers to engagement with city government rooted in prior perceptions of corruption back home. Mejia highlighted the importance of face-to-face interactions with city officials, allowing participants to pose questions and feel their thoughts were valued.
“That was really a learning experience that I got, and it shifted a lot in the sense of how I refer clients to city programs,” Mejia noted.
Initially, the program included meetings with department heads for candid discussions, but the format has since evolved to prioritize community organizing and developing public narratives. The emphasis now lies on conveying personal stories that connect individual experiences to broader community needs, a component Yusuf referred to as the story of us.
Mejia’s sense of civic ownership has prompted her to attend more city meetings, including those led by the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Advancement, and engage in state-level advocacy efforts. Previously, she had been intensely involved in civic activities but found it challenging to maintain her engagement over time, especially given the demands of her profession.
Participating in the Immigrants Lead Boston program reignited her passion for civic involvement, enabling her to connect with other community leaders who play a vital role in sustaining her engagement.
“There was a time that I was disconnected,” Mejia shared. “When I started doing the program again, there was that fire that started in me, on being able to be a little more active.”
The program’s classes inform participants about the mechanics of the city’s government, describing the operations of various departments, City Council processes, and overall city structure. As Yusuf asserted, this aspect of civic engagement is the program’s foundation.
Recently, the curriculum has broadened to focus not only on integrating immigrants into city processes but also fostering local community advocacy. This evolution includes a component dedicated to strategizing effective communication regarding community needs, with Yusuf emphasizing the importance of collective action.
“If you’re trying to get somebody to join your advocacy or join a community meeting, it’s important for them to know who you are, how this relates to them — how is this an us thing, not just a you thing — and then, what do you need from me,” she explained.
The current iteration of the program also introduces a grant component where participants can propose projects or campaigns for their neighborhoods, potentially securing city funding.
“The ideal candidate is someone who is connected to a community-based organization,” Yusuf explained, noting that throughout the program’s duration, participants conceptualize a project or campaign for which they seek funding.
Beyond its ten-week structure, the program fosters connections that help participants remain active in their communities. Mejia noted, “Coming out of the program, I now have banks of community leaders to rely on for additional support.”
Both Mejia and Yusuf stress the significance of these connections, which foster collaboration and encourage diverse experiences and ideas among participants. Recently, a group from the last cohort initiated efforts to support the city’s Haitian community by facilitating Know Your Rights training.
Participants also have the opportunity to receive a stipend, informally referred to as a “scholarship,” to aid in their involvement. Mejia recognized the value of this support, particularly for those passionate about community engagement while balancing work and financial responsibilities.
“This program is something that you want to do because you really love the community — and that’s what I got from the entire cohort — but we all have lives, we all work, we all have to pay bills,” she remarked.
Overall, the Immigrants Lead Boston program has empowered Mejia to better advocate for the children and families she works with, reinforcing her belief in her belonging and agency within the community.
“This program has been able to teach me that I can be empowered because I live here, because I belong here,” Mejia concluded.
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