Speaker Series featuring Sara McElmurry

Over the past 50 years, the Midwest population has been growing more slowly than the national average—but the arrival of nearly one million immigrants to the region over the past decade has helped reverse this trend. More than a simple population boost, immigrants are replacing aging Baby Boomers in the workforce, filling jobs in sectors critical to the Midwest’s economy. However, outdated visa caps and quotas, along with backlogs and bureaucracy, keep our region from benefitting from the maximum contributions of immigrant workers, while efforts to update the immigration system have been stalled in Congress for years. As immigration reform is hotly debated ahead of the 2016 election, local governments across the country—including the Midwest—are creating programs and policies that welcome immigrants into their communities. These local efforts offer a solid start, but federal reforms are needed to realize the full potential of Midwestern immigration. Join us for this discussion.

Sara McElmurry joined The Chicago Council in 2014 as assistant director of immigration. Previously, she was communications manager for the Latino Policy Forum, where she developed media advocacy strategies for the organization’s immigration, housing, and education policy work. She was also a research professor at the Universidad Tecnológica de la Mixteca in Oaxaca, Mexico. McElmurry earned BA degrees in Spanish and communications from Bradley University and an MA in linguistics from Northeastern Illinois University. 

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Our aim for this series is to provide an opportunity for individuals and organizations to engage diverse residents and employees from multiple sectors in the Quad Cities region, broaden their networks, and enhance their awareness of diversity issues.

Registration is open online through November 3rd, 2015. Student & Group Rates available. Get motivated and reserve your seat today!