January Share the Plate Partner is TIRRC (Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition)
Since its founding, TIRRC has grown from an informal network of community leaders into one of the most diverse and effective coalitions of its kind, a model for immigrant rights organizations in the Southeast and throughout the United States. TIRRC’s vision is a stronger, more inclusive Tennessee where people of all nationalities, immigration statuses, and racial identities can belong and thrive.
Tennessee has a rapidly growing immigrant population, and while these communities bring vibrancy and value to our state, they don’t always have access to the same opportunities as their neighbors. For this reason, in 2003, immigrants, refugees, and allies came together to fight for change. Since that time, the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC), a statewide immigrant- and refugee-led organization, has continued building power with and for refugees and immigrants in order to strengthen our communities, build belonging, and transform Tennessee and the South
The work of TIRRC falls into four broad categories:
Organizing and Power Building – conducting widespread state-wide outreach and organizing members into local committees that develop individual and collective leadership to fight for social justice and human rights.
Policy Advocacy – through community organizing and direct action, legislative advocacy, and strategic communications, TIRRC works to defend communities from deportations and dismantle harsh immigration enforcement systems, defend refugee resettlement and reform our nation’s federal immigration laws, advance economic justice and opportunity, defend workers’ rights, and advance equitable climate justice policies.
Building Belonging – advancing a pro-immigrant narrative that counters harmful messages and builds majority support for immigrants, refugees, and a multi-racial democracy, through building strategic communications campaigns and creating opportunities for immigrant and non-immigrant neighbors to come together.
Immigrant and Refugee Resources – offering resources such as English classes, naturalization assistance, and a state-wide resource line to help immigrants and refugees overcome obstacles, access opportunities, and become powerful leaders in our community.
With the looming threat of mass deportations, our refugee and immigrant neighbors, and organizations like TIRRC, need our support more than ever. Please give generously to Share the Plate this month!
If you know or discover such an organization, please nominate it by using the form found with the Share the Plate Nomination form..