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Largest Immigrant and Refugee Integration Conference in the Nation Starts Sunday!

DETROIT – A list of exemplary speakers will be featured at the 12th Annual “New American Dreams” National Immigrant Integration Conference (NIIC2019) starting Sunday, Oct 20, and going through Tuesday 22, in Detroit.

Planned Parenthood’s Alexis McGill Johnson, the acting president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, will speak on Sunday October 20th, regarding the number of unprecedented attacks on women’s health rights. In August, Planned Parenthood announced they were withdrawing from the federal Title X program, which helps fund comprehensive reproductive health services to clinics throughout the country because of a new Trump administration gag rule on physicians when talking to patients regarding their care. 

Also, joining the line-up of featured speakers is Julissa Arce, a political commentator, speaker, writer, and nationally best-selling author of “My (Underground) American Dream and Someone Like Me.” Arce is a contributor for Crooked Media, CNBC, and she serves on the board of directors of the National Immigration Law Center.

“As an immigrant, and formerly undocumented for more than a decade, I am excited to be in fellowship with organizers, activists, and allies who together fight for the dignity of our community each and every day,” Arce said. “Together, we can and we will win.”

Another keynote speaker will be Michigan’s Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist.  Previously, he served as the first-ever Director of Innovation & Emerging Technology for the city of Detroit, where he used public data and technology to address every day concerns the community was facing – including an app to report issues such as broken fire hydrants, potholes and broken street lights. He also served as the first Director of New Media at the Center for Community Change in Washington, D.C., and spent three years as National Campaign Director at MoveOn.org. 

Other notable speakers include Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and UNITED HERE general vice-president Nia Winston.

NPNA’s National  Immigrant Integration Conference: New American Dreams, is led by NPNA and its 35 member and affiliated immigrant organizations from across the country. Now in its 12th year, the conference runs over three days and is attended by more than 1,400 leaders annually. The 2019 conference will include over 55 plenaries and workshops addressing the pressing issues facing immigrant and refugee communities.

NIIC is co-hosted by Michigan United, Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (MIRC) and ACCESS (Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services), the largest Arab American community nonprofit in the United States. ACCESS, with 11 locations and more than 120 programs serving metro Detroit, is one of the largest social service providers in Michigan and offers a wide range of social, economic, health, and educational services to a diverse population. Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (MIRC) is a leading legal resource center for Michigan’s immigrant communities. MIRC works to build a thriving Michigan where immigrant communities experience equity and belonging. Michigan United is the largest statewide organizing coalition, comprised of some 50 faith, labor, business, and community institutions fighting for the dignity of all people, an economy that works for the many, a participatory democracy that is strong, and a society that protects civil rights. 

If you are interested in covering the  12th Annual “New American Dreams” National Immigrant Integration Conference (NIIC2019) or the Detroit Presidential Forum on Economic, Immigrant & Racial Justice please contact:

 Susana Flores (915) 525 2434  susana@communicationsshop.us or Fernanda Durand (443)  396-3317  fernanda@communicationsshop.us for credentials.