Empowering Immigrant and Refugee Leaders: Unite Oregon's PILOT Program Paves the Way to Civic Engagement
Image: PILOT Graduating class of 2016-2017 convening 24 emerging immigrant and refugee leaders
Engaging in civic participation can often seem daunting and deter many individuals from exercising their rights and contributing to causes larger than themselves. This is why Unite Oregon established the Pan-Immigrant Leadership and Organizing Training (PILOT) program over 15 years ago.
The primary objective of the PILOT program is to address the obstacles encountered by emerging immigrant and refugee leaders and community groups by providing leadership development and skill-building opportunities.
Unite Oregon firmly believes that communities disproportionately affected by local and state policies should have a seat at the decision-making table. The PILOT program empowers individuals to become civic leaders who can advocate for and generate solutions that benefit their communities.
Nuhamin Eiden's Inspirational Journey with PILOT
Today, we are pleased to share a glimpse into the journey of Nuhamin Eiden (she/they), Unite Oregon's Deputy Director, who discovered her purpose and a sense of belonging through her participation in the PILOT program in 2014. As an Ethiopian immigrant in a state that hasn't always been welcoming to BIPOC individuals, finding a safe and inclusive space was a formidable challenge.
Through Unite's PILOT program, Nuhamin discovered the community she had been seeking since her arrival in the United States, and it catalyzed her career. Today, Nuhamin holds a leadership position within an organization dedicated to building a united intercultural movement for justice.
We all have to start somewhere and sometimes all we need is the space, community and willingness to become activated. If you are interested in learning more about our PILOT program, this is your opportunity to set up a meeting with one of our organizers at vania@uniteoregon.org or jamie@uniteoregon.org.
You can submit your application at the link below!
