Brazilian Policy Center

THE PURPOSE OF THE BRAZILIAN POLICY CENTER, INC. IS TO EDUCATE AND TRAIN BRAZILIAN AND OTHER IMMIGRANTS, A CONSTITUENCY OFTEN MARGINALIZED FROM US ANDMASSACHUSETTS CIVIC LIFE, SO THAT THEY CAN PLAY MORE ACTIVE ROLES IN CIVIC PARTICIPATION AND SHAPING THE LAWS THAT CAN BETTER COMMUNITIES FOR THEMSELVES AND OTHERS IN MASSACHUSETTS. WE WISH TO EDUCATE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY IN HOW THEY CAN PROPOSE NEW LAWS, THROUGH LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS, AND SUBMIT THEM TO THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. OUR TRAINING AND EDUCATION WILL THUS ASSIST MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY IN UNDERSTANDING HOW THEY CAN MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TO IMPROVING THE LAWS UNDER WHICH THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES ARE GOVERNED. TO THIS END, THE BRAZILIAN POLICY CENTER, INC. CONCENTRATES PRINCIPALLY ON PREPARING AND DELIVERING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT TRAINING, BOTH FACE-TO-FACE AND ON-LINE, CONCERNING: THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS AND HOW INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITY-LEVEL GROUPS CAN PARTICIPATE IN IT; THE PROCESS OF HOW NEW LAWS ARE PROPOSED, AND BILLS CONSIDERED AND PASSED BY LEGISLATIVE BODIES AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS; HOW NEW LAWS ARE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH REGULATORY ELABORATION AND HOW THEY ARE MONITORED AND ENFORCED BY EXECUTIVE AND JUDICIAL AUTHORITIES, AND THE ROLE THAT THE PUBLIC, INDIVIDUALS, AND NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS CAN PLAY IN THIS PROCESS. OTHER RELATED TRAINING INCLUDES: LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY BUILDING; PUBLIC SPEAKING, INCLUDING STORY TELLING; AND, MEDIA TRAINING. THIS TRAINING WILL TAKE PLACE WITH THE COLLABORATION OF EXPERTS FROM PARTNER LOCAL UNIVERSITIES AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT WILL, FOR THE MOST PART, FURNISH THE TEACHERS AND MENTORS INVOLVED. THE ORGANIZATION WILL MAINTAIN A RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE TO CARRY OUT SURVEY, FOCUS GROUP, PUBLIC RECORDS, INTERVIEW, AND NEEDS ASSESSMENT RESEARCH ON PRESSING PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES THAT AFFECT THE BRAZILIAN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY. THE ATTEMPT WILL BE TO IDENTIFY SOLUTIONS TO PUBLIC PROBLEMS THAT CAN MOST EQUITABLY AND COST-EFFECTIVELY BE RESOLVED. THE CHIEF AREAS OF RESEARCH ARE: SOCIAL CONDITIONS AND PROBLEMS IN THE COMMUNITY AND HOW THEY COULD BE MORE EFFECTIVELY ADDRESSED THROUGH LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY CHANGES; AND, HOW WELL EXISTING PUBLIC POLICIES ARE WORKING, AND HOW THEY MIGHT BE MODIFIED TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY CONDITIONS. THE BRAZILIAN POLICY CENTER WILL CONDUCT THIS RESEARCH IN COLLABORATION WITH PARTNER PUBLIC POLICY SCHOLARS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS BOSTON, AND WITH OTHER UNIVERSITY PARTNERS IN THE BOSTON AREA. AS A RESULT OF THIS TRAINING AND EDUCATION, MEMBERS OF THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY WILL PUT INTO PRACTICE THEIR CIVIC SKILLS THROUGH REGISTERING THEIR VOICES WITH PUBLIC OFFICIALS, AT THE LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND ESPECIALLY STATE LEVEL, REGARDING PROPOSED LEGISLATION UNDER CONSIDERATION, AND USE THE SKILLS AND CAPACITIES GAINED THROUGH TRAINING TO EFFECTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. THE FINAL MAJOR POLE OF ACTIVITY OF THE NEW ORGANIZATION IS PUBLIC EDUCATION. THIS WILL INVOLVE PREPARATION OF PUBLICITY AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS PAPER AND ELECTRONIC THAT WILL BE DESIGNED TO INFORM THE BRAZILIAN AND BROADER IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY OF CURRENT PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES THAT ARE UNDER CONSIDERATION BY GOVERNMENT AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS, AND THAT WILL HELP THEM TO EVALUATE CHOICES AVAILABLE TO THEM IN CONTESTS FOR ELECTORAL OFFICE. COORDINATING STAFF WITH SKILLS IN MEDIA PRODUCTION, AND IN PRINT LAYOUT AND DESIGN, WILL GUIDE COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS IN CARRYING OUT THIS ASPECT OF THE ORGANIZATION'S WORK.