Toolkits contain:

• Agenda for New American Day on the Hill
• Tips to help you at New American Day on the Hill
• Everything you need to know to talk to a legislator
• Information to help you prepare for New American Day on the Hill
• Map of Downtown Nashville

Click here to download the Complete Participant Toolkit

Click here to download the Complete Participant Toolkit in Spanish. Clik aqui para bajar la informacion para los participantes en espanol.

Click here to download the Complete Ambassador Toolkit. Ambassadors recieve additional material to help them prepare to lead a meeting.

Wednesday, March 31st 

Required training session for all participants 9:00 am-11:00am
Planning and Lobbying 12:00-4:30pm

If you are interested in leading a group as an "ambassador" for TIRRC, email Ryan at Ryan@tnimmigrant.org

To register for New American Day on the Hill and training, click here.

To download the flyer click here
To download the registration form click here
Para bajar la hoja de informacion en espanol, haga clic aqui
Para bajar el formulario de registro en espanol, haga clic aqui

Check back soon for more links and information to help you prepare for New American Day on the Hill! Be sure to visit our State Policy page to see what bills are currently moving through the legislature. These bills are the ones we will be lobbying about.

A valuable experience for all involved

On Wednesday, April 1, TIRRC hosted its third annual New American Day on the Hill. Nearly 100 community leaders took advantage of this important opportunity to interact with their elected officials. Participants from all over Tennessee first met at the Freedom Center, in the heart of downtown Nashville, for a brief training on the legislative process and discussion of current bills with the potential to affect immigrant communities. Next they went to the Legislative Plaza and the Capitol Building, where the legislators' committee rooms and offices are housed.

Participants held over 30 meetings with individual legislators where they discussed important policy proposals, told personal stories that put a human face to the issues, and demonstrated clearly the growing political voice of the immigrant community in Tennessee. In the words of participant Aram Torabian, “Being here at New American Day on the Hill makes you feel like you are a part of the democratic process. It makes you aware of the fact that you can make a change; that your perspective influences your government.”

NO to racial profiling, YES to education

Many participants used their time with legislators to lobby against bills that would encourage racial profiling and to advocate for bills that would expand educational opportunities for immigrants. According to TIRRC volunteer and leader Erica Roe-Fehrman, “It gave me a way to actively participate in influencing my state government to vote against bills that I believe are harmful and unjust to our newest Tennesseans and our community as a whole. It also gave me the opportunity to voice my support for bills that promote successful integration such as the DREAM Act and the We Want to Learn English Initiative.

Don't let the advocacy end here!

New American Day on the Hill is only one step in the relationship-building process between policymakers and the immigrant community.

Snapshots of the Day

"New American Day on the Hill has an important dual role. It gives you the opportunity to learn the legislative process and also gives you the opportunity to speak as a foreign-born community member, to actively participate, and to play a role in advocating for your community. We need to encourage many people to participate in this.” - Abdelghani Barre

  
“I think New American Day on the Hill is good because we can get more information on the legislative process, on bills, and spread this information to our communities.” - Pastor Jose Rodriguez