Dear Friends and Family of the Cisneros Center for New Americans, We created the Cisneros Center to address one of the most important questions facing our nation: how do we welcome and integrate the growing number of immigrants into American society and ensure they strengthen their new communities? We know that these newest Americans, like all large groups of immigrants before them, will play a significant role in shaping our nation. They will walk across graduation stages and join the workforce; they will start families and help communities grow; and they will enrich our democracy as members of the electorate and as public leaders alike. Simply put, the prosperity of New Americans will bolster the prosperity of our nation.

To pilot our program, we selected Northwest Arkansas, a region with a large, recently-arrived immigrant population and with strong, visionary local leaders. From the outset, our vision has been two pronged: we aim to empower recent immigrants with the tools they need to achieve self sufficiency and to thrive in American society. Simultaneously, we work to ensure that the communities receiving these newest Americansare able to both welcome and support them.

can say with great pride that over the course of our pilot year, we moved the needle on both of these vital components of accelerating immigrant integration.

I am especially proud of our work with the immigrant population in the region; their stories heighten our sense of urgency and give our work meaning and direction. We recruited several local college-aged students, most with immigrant backgrounds, to help us educate over 500 immigrant individuals on the skills necessary to become self-supporting Americans: English proficiency, commitment to education, financial capability, civic understanding, healthy living, and community involvement and responsibility. Through personal, often difficult conversations, we sat side-by-side with immigrant individuals as they worked to understand what integration would look like for them.

Our community work was met with enthusiastic support from leaders from across the Northwest Arkansas region. We built strong collaborative relationships with efforts like the EngageNWA Partnership and with the many champions at Walmart, Tyson, and local non-profits to create a more welcoming and supportive community. In my mind, our partners in the region have demonstrated that our basic assertion is correct: this country was built on a strong immigrant tradition,and when we honor this our familiesand our communities grow stronger.

As a nation, we are fortunate to be faced with the question of integrating our immigrants. While many industrialized countries are dealing with the challenges of a shrinking population and an aging workforce, America is brimming with youth, talent, and potential. The people who are willing to leave all they know and risk everything for the opportunity to call themselves Americans: these people are the nerviest, bravest, and best in their society. And we get them. We get that courage, that energy, that determination to build something better for their families. The hope, ambition, and resolve that defines them is exactly the fuel that has always propelled America forward.

A year ago we were joined by our closest friends, and corporate allies like Toyota, Walmart, Herbalife, Southwest, and many others, to make the vision of the Cisneros Center a reality. We did this with the singular goal of creating a future in which all Americans, whether native born or adopted by our nation, have the opportunity to achieve their American Dream. I love this country, and I feel a deep sense of responsibility to ensure immigrants strengthen the hundreds of communities they now call home. The Cisneros Center is poised to make a meaningful contribution to our nation; as we look ahead,I invite you to learn more about ourwork and join us as we broaden the reach of our mission.

Sincerely,

Henry Cisneros

“Remember that it’s not about you, it’s about all of us. What are you

going to do to make sure the community gets to the point of

reaching their American Dreams?”-Luis Martinez, 2014 American

Dream Leader

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The full integration of immigrants is both an opportunity and a challenge for our nation. Immigrants and their children will drive up to 80% of our country’s population growth over the next forty years – that’s 100 million people.

As a nation, we have a question before us: will millions of New Americans be undereducated, undercompensated, and unable to advocate for themselves and their families? Or will they be educated, productive, and a source of youthful energy for every institution in American Society?

We are committed to ensuring that our nation lives up to its promise and potential.

OUR COMMITMENT

Either way, they will move the needle of national progress in one direction or the other.

We envision a future in which all Americans, whether native born or adopted by our nation,have the opportunity to achieve their American Dream.

We empower New Americans with the tools to thrive in American society and harness the power of communities to build pathways of opportunity for all their members.

We leverage the talent and energy of our nation’s brightest young leaders to accelerate the process of linguistic, economic, and civic integration of New Americans.

We foster joint efforts between communities and their newest members to build a stronger and more vibrant America.

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PILOT REGION

OUR IMPACT

OUR APPROACH

THE AMERICAN DREAM FELLOWSHIP

LOCAL PARTNERS 24 SPONSORS 25 OUR TEAM 26 OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS 27

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OUR PILOT REGIONNORTHWEST ARKANSAS

We launched our pilot program in Northwest Arkansas. We targeted this region for three major reasons:

• Exponential growth in the immigrant population

• Strong commitment to welcoming newcomersfrom the broader community

• Significant investments by local stakeholders likeTyson and Walmart in social services focused onNew Americans

Based on our research, we focused our work in three major areas:

• Fostering the immigrant community’s capacity toaccess the resources they need

• Creating a welcoming community by supportinglocal stakeholders

• Developing local young leaders to empower theimmigrant community

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850% growth in immigrant population

over the last two decades

$3.4 Billion contributed to the

Arkansas economy by immigrants

$7 return to the region for every dollar

invested in immigrants

1stin size of Marshallese Population in

Continental U.S.

40% of students in Springdale are ELLs

3rdFastest growing immigrant gateway in

the U.S.

50% of Latino Immigrants own their

home

We believe immigrants strengthen our country and our communities;

their commitment to American

ideals and their resolve to achieve

their American Dream fuels the

prosperity of our nation.

In partnership with LiftFund (formerly ACCION Texas), a community-development financial institution, and StartUp Junkie, a local small-business incubator, microloan and financial education services are now available in Springdale, AR at the Center’s local headquarters.

This partnership has already improved conditions for immigrant entrepreneurs and immigrant-owned businesses in the region.

Impact: Expanded financial education, small business planning support, and microloan services in Northwest Arkansas.

OUR IMPACT

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Goal: Connect local service providers with additional resources that fill a gap in their organization.

Impact: Highlighted the work of service providers as well as the needs of the community in Northwest Arkansas to the federal government and connected community stakeholders to federal resources.

We hosted three convenings in Northwest Arkansas with representatives from federal agencies and initiatives. Government officials learned about the needs of the local community and shared information with community members about available federal resources. The agencies and initiatives included:

• White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics• Department of Education Office of Civil Rights• White House Initiative for Asian American and Pacific Islanders• Internal Revenue Service• Social Security Administration• Small Business Administration• Department of Labor• Department of Housing and Urban Development

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We believe our country’s communities and the champions within them hold the power to build a brighter future for all Americans; they

can embrace their newest members and

empower them with the tools to thrive.

OUR IMPACT

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Goal: Develop a resource that uses the American Dream Roadmap to increase access to existing services.

The American Dream Guide is an easy-to-use and mobile-friendly online tool that provides searchable information on local services and events in the areas of Language and Education, Legal and Civic, Health, Municipal and Emergency, and Community Arts and Recreation. Users of the Guide can access a portal that provides useful information on local service providers as well as regional transportation routes to reach these providers.

Impact: Created the AmericanDreamGuide.US, the most comprehensive resource available for immigrants to access services and opportunities in Northwest Arkansas.

Available at: www.americandreamguide.us

A special thanks to the EAST LAB teachers and students at Springdale HS for their support in

creating the GIS map!

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We believe we can reach greater heights when we work together; by

integrating our expertise and talent

across sectors, we multiply our impact

and build a united vision for our

nation’s future.

OUR IMPACT

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Goal: Establish strategic recommendations for collaborative impact.

Impact: Developed, in collaboration with the EngageNWA Partnership, a region-wide immigrant integration strategy that focuses on empowering the region’s New Americans.

Our Fellows conducted an assessment to identify the needs of immigrants and the gaps in service provision in the region. This information drove the design of strategic recommendations which are now being implemented in 4 subcommittees of the EngageNWAPartnership: Communication, Education and Leadership Development, Welcoming and Orientation, and Policy and Advocacy.

Because of our work with the EngageNWA Partnership, Northwest Arkansas is implementing a cross-sector strategic plan to create a more welcoming community.

Goal: Introduce one proven program that fits the needs of the immigrant and local communities.

Welcoming America is a pioneer in encouraging inclusive communities for immigrants across the country. Participants at the training included representatives from Bentonville, Rogers, and Springdale Public Schools as well as private sector representatives from Tyson Foods and Iberia Bank. This training compelled several program participants to join the EngageNWAPartnership.

Impact: Partnered with Welcoming America to train local community leaders on how to create a welcoming community.

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We believe in the ability of our nation’s youth to meet the greatest challenges of our time; to

learn from those who have forged paths of

progress; and to build a stronger, more united

America for those to come.

OUR IMPACT

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Goal: Mobilize 500 NWA immigrants to commit to and utilize the American Dream RoadMap.

Impact: Mobilized 500 Northwest Arkansas immigrants to commit to and utilize the American Dream RoadMap as a tool for their own empowerment.Immigrants came to this country to build something better for their families. The RoadMap empowers immigrant individuals to take specific steps important to achieving success in America.

Goal: Mobilize college-aged students to focus their talent and energy on accelerating the integration of New Americans in their communities.

Impact: Launched the American Dream Leaders with an inaugural group of four college students. These Leaders met with over 40 local organizations, and garnered over 200 RoadMap commitments from immigrant individuals.

The American Dream Leaders program trains students on how to effectively engage their communities. During their tenure, American Dream Leaders receive training on conducting mission-focused and results-driven work. The ultimate goal of this program is to prepare local college-aged leaders to succeed in a global workforce by developing their capacity to have a measurable impact in their community.

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Immigrants come to our shores driven by a deep faith in the American promise that they will create a better future for their children. They choose to leave behind all they have known and journey to a foreign land so generations to come will have the opportunity to reach new heights.

This is their American Dream.

OUR APPROACH: A ROADMAP TO THEAMERICAN DREAM

Language and Civic Knowledge

Education

FinancialCapability

Health and Family Wellbeing

Community Engagement and

Commitment

1. We will add English to our first language and learn the traditions of America.

2. We will work to become model U.S. citizens the way countless immigrants have done before.

3. We will be a learning family and stress the importance of education, including partnering with our schools’ teachers.

4. We will make life-long learning our family’s goal and establish college graduation or advanced education as a family tradition.

5. We will constantly strive to improve our skills in order to meet our family’s financial needs.

6. We will prepare for our long-term financial responsibilities, including making plans for savings, housing, college funds, health insurance, and retirement.

7. We will learn healthy nutrition and exercise habits and be attentive to our family’s health needs.

8. We will seek balance in our family by spending quality time together and nurturing supportive relationships.

9. We will accept civic responsibilities and give back to our community from the blessings bestowed upon us.

10. We will carry our home country in our hearts but commit to our obligations in the United States.

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We work to empower New Americans with the tools to thrive in American society and harness the power of communities to build pathways of opportunity for all

their members.

THE AMERICAN DREAM INITIATIVE

Foster Immigrant

Community’s Ability to

Act

Build a Welcoming

and Supportive Community

Forge a Path to Successful

Immigrant Integration

Develop and Mobilize Young LeadersCreate Lasting

Impact

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OUR APPROACH

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“I joined the American Dream Initiative to be part of the

movement that will break down the barriers immigrant families

currently face in their communities. I am the daughter

of immigrant parents who, through their perseverance and

commitment, were able to achieve the American dream. For

this to be true for other immigrant families, we must

provide them with the necessary resources and opportunities to

excel within their communities.”

Jennifer Aguirre 2014 American Dream Fellow

AMERICAN DREAMFELLOWSHIP

EMBOLDENING AND EQUIPPING THENEXT GENERATION OF YOUNG LEADERS

We recruit our nation’s brightest young leaders to the American Dream Fellowship. During their 13-month commitment in a host community, our Fellows work to support local stakeholders and accelerate the integration of New Americans.

During their residency, American Dream Fellows:• Develop innovative and strategic interventions to empower the

immigrant community and support the work of local service providers. • Forge partnerships with local leaders to align the region’s resources

with the needs of the immigrant community.• Build and leverage cross-sector networks to strengthen the community

and empower New Americans.20

MEET OUR INAUGURALAMERICAN DREAM FELLOWS

Jennifer Aguirre – Houston, TX

• 2013 Master of Education, Johns Hopkins University

• 2011 Teach For America Baltimore corps member, High School Spanish

• 2011 Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin

Jessica Boyd – Little Rock, AR

• 2014 Master of Public Service, U of AR Clinton School of Public Service

• 2014 Master of Business Administration, U of AR Walton School of Business

• 2011 Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, University of Arkansas

• 2011 Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Latin American Studies, University of Arkansas

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Jacob Perry – Fayetteville, AR

• 2014 Master of Public Service, U of AR Clinton School of Public Service

• 2009 Bachelor of Science in Biology, University of Central Arkansas

• 2009 Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, University of Central Arkansas

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“As a native of Northwest Arkansas, it has been a tremendous privilege to work in my home region. During my time as an

American Dream Fellow, I have worked with immigrant families as well as high-level leaders across all sectors to create

innovative solutions. With the development I received from the Cisneros Center, I gained a skill set that will undoubtedly

benefit me and those whom I serve in the future.”- Jacob Perry, 2014 American Dream Fellow

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Zessna Garcia-Rios was born in the city of Gomez Palacio, Durango in Mexico but grew up in the heart of Bentonville, AR. For the past two years, Zessna has worked with the Walton College of Business producing and creating video content and with Tyson Foods, Inc. as their Public Relations Intern. Zessna is a long time DREAM activist with United We Dream and the Arkansas Natural DREAMers, and received relief through Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. Zessna holds a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Arkansas.

LOOKING FORWARD2015-2016 AMERICAN DREAM FELLOWS

Emily Hackerson is from Warren, Vermont, but traded mountains years ago for the chance to live in cities across the globe, including Rabat, Morocco, Buenos Aires, Argentina and New York City. Emily holds a Master of City and Regional Planning from Cornell University. Her research centered on community-based, participatory planning and migration. Emily's past work experience includes serving as a financial capabilities counselor with a housing non-profit in Buffalo, NY as well as consulting for a Mexico City based public policy think tank on themes of urban development.

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LOCAL PARTNERS

THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERSFOUNDING SPONSOR

SPONSORS

OFFICIAL AIRLINE

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LEADING SPONSOR

OUR TEAM

NICOLAS PERILLAPRESIDENT

CARRIE WOLKDIRECTOR OFPROGRAMSAND OPERATIONS

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DONNA DAVISRESEARCH ANDEVALUATIONSPECIALIST

MADELINE HOLLANDMANAGER OFDEVELOPMENT ANDCOMMUNICATIONS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jose Villarreal Chair of the Board

Senior Adviser, Akin Gump

Aida AlvarezChair

Latino Community Foundation

Mary Alice CisnerosVice Chair of the Board

Founder/PresidentAmerican Sunrise

Monica LozanoChair

Latinos In Society Program, Aspen

Institute

Janet MurguíaPresident and CEO

National Council of La Raza (NCLR)

Raul RodriguezTom Benson Chair in Banking & Finance,

Distinguished Professor University of the Incarnate Word

Lionel SosaFounder

Sosa, Bromley, Aguilar & Associates

Cecilia Elizondo HerreraSecretary/Treasurer of the

BoardPast President and CEO

The Cisneros Center for New Americans

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Jorge BaldorFounder, Latino Center

for Leadership Development

contactus@cisneroscenter.org

San Antonio Headquarters2006 W. Commerce St. San Antonio, TX 78207

Washington, DC National Office1805 7th St NW, 6th Floor Washington, DC 20001

Arkansas Office922 E. Emma Ave. Suite 165

Springdale, AR 72764

www.cisneroscenter.org @CisnerosCenter