Tired of all the negative political ads and partisan bickering? Me too.
But last week I heard about a bit of cross-sector collaboration that gave me renewed hope and optimism. Bill Blazar of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and Javier Morillo-Alicea of the Service Employees International Union Local 26 sat on the same stage and agreed wholeheartedly: Business and labor must work together for comprehensive immigration reform.
They were part of a day-long event called “Our Common Future: A Business Case for Immigration in Minnesota,” hosted by Neighborhood House and co-sponsored in part by MCF members The Saint Paul Foundation and The Minneapolis Foundation.
Keynote speaker was Tamar Jacoby, president and CEO of Immigration Works USA, a new national organization advancing immigration reform that works for all Americans – employers, workers and citizens. Her national perspective was reinforced by local facts. Minnesota State Economist Tom Stinson and Minnesota State Demographer Tom Gillaspy presented compelling data that showed that, without immigration, Minnesota will not have the human capital to fuel productivity, which is required for our future economic success.
I’m reminded of a few years ago when MCF and the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits sponsored a joint conference themed “Common Ground for Common Good.” A lot of common ground on a sometimes divisive issue was discovered this week at Neighborhood House. Let’s hope advancing the common good comes next.
Join the conversation: How is your organization promoting information-sharing and cross-sector collaboration on society’s toughest issues? What surprising common ground have you found with others on the issues you care about most?
- Wendy Wehr, MCF V.P. of Communications and Information Services
Posted by Wendy Wehr 
