Organizing & Powerbuilding
Every person possesses agency and power to create a stronger, more inclusive Tennessee where people of all nationalities, immigration statuses, and racial identities can belong and thrive. That's why we organize our communities and build their power through membership, base building, leadership development, community education, and civic engagement.
Our Work
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Membership
Our organization is driven by hundreds of individuals and organizations committed to defending the rights and dignity of immigrants and refugees and building a Tennessee where we all can thrive. Through formalizing their connection to TIRRC through membership, immigrant and refugee community members gain access to our diverse resources and organizing opportunities while also expressing a commitment to our movement. Read more about becoming a member.
Base Building and Leadership Development
To organize a powerful base of immigrants and refugees, we connect with multiracial, multiethnic, and multigenerational communities through one-on-ones, events, and community meetings. Once engaged, members develop their leadership through our ongoing training opportunities, including political education, dismantling anti-Blackness, power mapping, campaign basics, how to organize, and spokesperson training.
Community Education
We facilitate skills workshops and presentations at schools, religious institutions, and community gatherings, or through virtual spaces where immigrants and refugees can access the information they need to overcome barriers and be powerful leaders in their communities.
Coalition Building
Through connecting our members to the broader fight for justice and equity, we strengthen the infrastructure of our movement and expand the power of our communities. We know the issues facing marginalized communities are often interconnected, and we work with partners in the pro-LGBT, pro-labor, reproductive rights, and anti-racism space to advance collective liberation.
Civic Engagement
We believe that every Tennessean–regardless of immigration status–can be powerfully engaged in the civic process, from nonpartisan get out the vote efforts or talking to their neighbors about voting to casting their ballot or running for office. Through training leaders, providing political education, and removing structural barriers that make it more difficult for immigrants, refugees, and other communities to engage in the civic and political process, we work to build a deeply rooted culture of civic engagement within immigrant communities.
Ready to be a part of the TIRRC community?
Verónica, TIRRC Member