California Immigrant Policy Center
Founded in 1996 as the California Immigrant Welfare Collaborative, the California Immigrant Policy Center is a nonpartisan, nonprofit statewide organization that seeks to inform public debate and policy decisions on issues affecting the state’s immigrants and their families in order to improve the quality of life for all Californians. The center provides research, training and public education on immigrant issues affecting the state – which is home to the largest immigrant population in the country.
To help the collaborative effectively advocate for immigrants in the media and with legislators, we worked with its board and partner organizations to reposition the organization as a reliable source of accurate information and a more powerful voice in the current debate. We guided the organization through a name change, forging a new identity while simultaneously developing a communications infrastructure to unite the California Immigrant Policy Center’s members and create a platform for statewide and national discussion and impact.
Hershey|Cause refined the center’s messaging, using sound research to bolster its advocacy. We identified academics, key opinion leaders and other unusual spokespeople to reinforce those messages and broaden the public debate. We also conducted numerous trainings for staff to help them identify pivot points on various issues, convene the best resources and move their messages.
When anti-immigrant legislation was introduced in Escondido, we helped the Policy Center respond with new frames and messages in talking points and flyers, securing significant local media coverage that raised community awareness and involvement and shifted the debate. In short order, the ordinance was effectively repealed. The California Immigrant Policy Center has since gained greater prominence in Sacramento, with the media and within the activist community.
- Organizational identity
- Positioning, frames and messaging
- Strategic communications planning and counsel
- Materials design and development
