Immigrant Integration - Colorado College

In August of 2005, the Colorado Trust awarded The Pikes Peak Immigrant and Refugee Collaborative (PPIRC) a grant to promote immigrant and refugee integration in El Paso County. The PPIRC is the outcome of a collaborative among various community members and organizations that work with immigrants in one form or another. The collaborative ultimately seeks to increase the sense of integration among all residents of Colorado Springs, including immigrants, refugees, and the receiving community.

Our goals:

• To sustain a network of community members and organizations that share our vision of a welcoming inclusive community
• To increase knowledge of our legal, health, and financial systems among immigrants and refugees, as well as facilitate access to them
• To develop leadership opportunities for immigrants and refugees in the community
• To provide opportunities for meaningful interactions between immigrants and refugees, and the community at large in order to build trust and understanding
• To increase awareness regarding the many positive contributions that immigrants and refugees make to our community

• Monthly Know Your Rights and Legal Education workshops for immigrants and refugees
• Community dialogue days
• Leadership workshops for immigrants and refugees
• Interpretation services for community meetings and events
• Educational workshops on topics of interest

We strongly encourage community members of all cultural backgrounds to get involved and become a part of these efforts. As a community-led and community-sustained organization, the PPIRC depends on Colorado Springs to continue in the direction of our goals. Feel free to contact the PPIRC for more information, sign up for our mailing list, become a member, or to offer your comments and suggestions.

UPDATE: The PPIRC will be housed out of Catholic Charities of Colorado Springs beginning in April 2008. Please visit the Catholic Charities website for more information on their organization and for the PPIRC Coordinator job descriptoin and application. This is an exciting move to connect our efforts closer to the community!