The County of Santa Clara Office of Immigrant Relations is proud to present the 8th cohort of the New Americans Fellowship (NAF). In 2016, under the leadership of the Board of Supervisors, NAF was created as a professional development pipeline for DACA recipients interested in working with the county organization. The core components of the NAF have since evolved to include critical policy and issue analysis, professional development and mentorship, leadership development, participatory action research, and narrative shifting. In 2022, the Board of Supervisors approved an expansion of eligibility for NAF to include immigrants that hold Temporary Protected Status (TPS), Refugee Status, U- or T-visas, and recipients of VAWA (Violence Against Women Act).
Fellows:
- Gain professional experience in government and research
- Advocate for community-driven policies and solutions affecting the diverse immigrant communities of County of Santa Clara
- Develop social consciousness and promote equity through research projects
- The program requires you to commit to 40 hours each week; while the program offers flexibility in hours, leaders are asked to commit to a 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. schedule
Applicants must:
Currently work, live, or attend school in the County of Santa Clara and be a recipient of: DACA, U or T nonimmigrant visa, VAWA, Temporary Protected Status, or have been granted asylum or refugee status in the U.S.
Last summer, we partnered up with Mosaic America, a local non-profit organization that cultivates belonging and catalyzes inclusion through inter-cultural research and culturally distinct community asset mapping. Together, the Fellows presented Under the Same Dream: Unearthing Immigrant Narratives in the County of Santa Clara, a research project highlighting immigrant narratives and understanding the factors influencing civic engagement and voter turnout in immigrant communities in the County of Santa Clara. Explore proposed NAF strategies for improvement below.
