The Latino Migration Project, a collaborative program of the Institute for the Study of the Americas in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Center for Global Initiatives at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has been selected as the 2012 recipient of the AARP’s Multicultural Outreach Award. The organization was recognized on October 11 at St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation’s Hayti Heritage Center in Durham.
The award recognizes organizations that have demonstrated excellence in working with diverse communities in North Carolina. “AARP is looking for organizations and businesses that understand the importance of building strong reciprocal relationships with partners that help strengthen communities,” said Debra Tyler-Horton, associate state director for multicultural outreach at AARP North Carolina.
Established in 2006, the Latino Migration Project provides research and educational expertise on Latin American immigration and integration issues in North Carolina. One of its many initiatives is “Building Integrated Communities,” which helps North Carolina municipal governments successfully engage with immigrant and refugee populations in order to improve public safety, promote economic development, enhance communication and improve relationships. The program has had an impact on policy in municipalities across the state and is gaining national attention for its comprehensive approach to promoting immigrant civic engagement.
Since its establishment, the Latino Migration Project has generated policy-relevant publications, organized community dialogues and engaged in outreach with the general public on many different issues related to immigration and integration. Since 2007, student volunteers with the project have contributed more than 2500 hours of public service in all parts of the state.
“We are honored to receive this award,” said Hannah Gill, director of the Latino Migration Project. “Our work is strengthened by our many community collaborators across the state who are open to respectful dialogue about demographic change.”
For more information about the Latino Migration Project, visit isa.unc.edu/lmp/
