Press Room
Have a question? Need a quote? Contact ARC to get in touch with experts on education, health disparities, immigration, civil rights and a range of other issues. CONTACT: Rebekah Spicuglia Communications Manager media@arc.org (646) 490-2772 About ARC The Applied Research Center (ARC) is a racial justice think tank using media, research, and activism to promote solutions. ARC's mission is to popularize racial justice and prepare people to fight for it, with a goal to change the way society talks about and understands racial inequity. ARC is the publisher of Colorlines.com, a daily news site offering award-winning reporting, analysis, and solutions to today’s racial justice issues. Colorlines.com is produced by a multiracial team of writers whose daily reporting and analysis serves as a leading voice on a broad range of issues including politics, immigration reform, the economy and jobs. Colorlines.com offers readers the opportunity to take action on these issues through its Action channel. ARC is led by President and Executive Director Rinku Sen. A leading figure in the racial justice movement for the last twenty years, Rinku has positioned ARC as the national home for media, research and activism. She has extensive practical experience on the ground, with expertise in race, feminism, immigration, economic justice, philanthropy and community organizing. Over the course of her career, Rinku has woven together journalism and organizing to further social change. Click here for latest press releases, advisories and statements from ARC.
Click here for our latest in-depth analysis of public policy issues from our research and policy programs.
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Press Releases
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Media contact:
Monica Novoa
Campaign Coordinator, Drop the I-Word
Applied Research Center (ARC)
droptheiword@colorlines.com
646-502-8848
Drop the I-Word Campaign Calls on the Associated Press to Remove the Term “Illegal Immigrant” from its Stylebook
November 14, 2011 (New York, NY) – The national Drop the I-Word campaign (droptheiword.com) today called for the AP Stylebook to cease use of the term “illegal immigrant.” Drop the I-Word is a public education campaign to eradicate the harmful term “illegals” and related words from public discourse, led by the Applied Research Center (ARC) and Colorlines.com, and working in partnership with the National Alliance of Latin American and Caribbean Communities (NALACC) and its Somos/We Are Initiative, as well as various other institutions. Through individual and organizational endorsements, thousands of people have pledged to drop the i-word.
The AP Stylebook is the go-to reference for journalists and is expected to be accurate, objective and respectful. Two weeks ago the AP Stylebook updated the entry “illegal immigrant” rather than dropping the term altogether. The Drop the I-Word campaign in turn has activated the community and its allies in submitting suggestions via http://bit.ly/dtiwapaction to the AP Stylebook, which will be taking suggestions until tomorrow, November 15. In the past year there have been many significant events indicating to the AP that the term “illegal immigrant” is not acceptable.
“The Associated Press has to decide if it wants to be known as an organization that is behind the times or if it will really update and respond to the call from the community, journalists and people who want rational discussion,” said Drop the I-Word Campaign Coordinator Mónica Novoa. “Any reference to immigrants as “illegal” is legally inaccurate, harmful, and racially charged.”
The UCLA Chicano Research Center just released a study on hate speech on the radio in which they found that anti-Latino, anti-immigrant hate speech including the i-word, is tied to political nativism. Casting immigrants as “illegal” fuels dehumanization, criminalization and anti-immigrant legislation across the country, most recently in Alabama. Of note, the Applied Research Center’s recent report Shattered Families, revealed that more than 5,000 children have been separated from their families as the child welfare system and immigration enforcement have intersected. Dropping the i-word is about getting rid of the hate in the immigration debate, which informs how people are treated as a result.
Language matters. Since the fall 2010 launch of the Drop the I-Word Campaign:
- Colorlines.com released an investigation of how anti-immigration advocates have pushed out the i-word and helped to make it sound “fair”
- José Antonio Vargas came out as undocumented in the New York Times, making the term “undocumented” a Twitter trending topic and motivating journalists and others to reconsider and/or question their use of the i-word
- The Society of Professional Journalists with 7,800-members, passed a resolution to discontinue use of the term “illegal alien” and suggest continued discussion to re-evaluate the use of “illegal immigrant.” And our Campaign was endorsed by the national UNITY journalist alliance of over 10,000 members.
The movement to Drop the I-Word comes at the end of a decade that has seen both a rise in anti-immigrant sentiment and a rise in hate crimes against communities of color. According to FBI statistics, nationally, hate crimes against Latinos, when compared with hate crimes against other racial/ethnic groups, have risen at the highest rate, with a 25 percent increase between 2004 and 2008.
Kai Wright, Editor of ColorLines.com stated, “Foreign nationals, undocumented immigrant, unauthorized immigrant, immigrant without papers and immigrant seeking status are all accurate terms we can use. We can stop unintentionally fueling racial profiling and encourage others to uphold the same professional standards.”
For information on how to take action go to http://bitly/dtiwapaction.
About ARC
The Applied Research Center (ARC) is a 30-year-old racial justice think tank that uses media, research and activism to promote solutions. ARC’s mission is to popularize racial justice and prepare people to achieve it. ARC also serves as the publisher of Colorlines.com. For more information on ARC’s work, please visit www.arc.org.
About Drop the I-Word
Drop the I-Word is a public education campaign powered by immigrants and diverse communities across the country that value human dignity and are working to eradicate the dehumanizing term "illegals" and related language, from everyday use and public discourse. The i-word opens the door to racial profiling and violence and prevents truthful, respectful debate on immigration. No human being is "illegal."
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Press Releases
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El Centro de Investigación Aplicada revela datos en un reporte innovador de perfil nacional acerca de la intersección de la Aplicación de Leyes de Inmigración y el sistema de Bienestar Infantil
2 de noviembre del 2011 (New York, NY)-- Un reporte nuevo por el Centro de Investigación Aplicada (ARC, por sus siglas en inglés) conservadoramente estima que hay mas de 5,000 niños cuyos padres han sido detenidos o deportados, que actualmente viven en cuidados de crianza temporal. Hasta la fecha no ha habido ningún otro dato nacional disponible acerca de los niños impactados por la intersección de la aplicación de leyes de inmigración y el sistema de bienestar infantil. http://arc.org/shatteredfamilies/
“Familias Destrozadas” es una investigación innovadora sobre esta intersección peligrosa. Un nivel histórico de detenciones y deportaciones, combinado con la falta de políticas publicas del sistema de bienestar infantil esta resultando en la separación de miles de familias a través de los Estados Unidos. Estas familias enfrentan barreras formidables para reunificarse, y en muchos casos serán separadas permanentemente. ARC ha proyectado que al menos de 15,000 niños enfrentaran amenazas a la reunificación en los próximos cinco anos, si la misma tasa de separación se mantiene en casos nuevos.
“La aplicación de leyes de inmigración incrementa enormemente las posibilidades de que estas familias nunca se vean otra vez”, dijo la Presidenta de ARC, Rinku Sen. “La detención y deportación de padres destroza familias y pone en peligro a los niños que se dejan atrás. No es aceptable, es contrario a los valores estadounidenses, y es una señal clara que debemos reexaminar nuestras políticas publicas de inmigración.”
En el año fiscal 2011, Estados Unidos deportó una cantidad record de 397,000 personas y detuvo a casi el mismo número. De acuerdo a datos federales nunca antes revelados que fueron adquiridos por ARC a través de una solicitud basada en la Ley de Libertad de Información (FOIA por sus siglas en inglés), un número creciente de deportados, son padres. En los primeros 6 meses del 2011, el gobierno federal deporto a mas de 46,000 madres y padres de niños ciudadanos de EEUU.
Por primera vez, el reporte “Familias Destrozadas” ofrece evidencia acerca de la escala y alcance de este problema nacional que va en crecimiento. Los impactos no están conformes a las jurisdicciones de la frontera o a estados. De hecho, ARC identifico por lo menos 22 estados en todo el país en los cuales niños en cuidado de crianza temporal son separados de sus padres debido a la aplicación de leyes de inmigración. http://arc.org/shatteredfamilies/
“Nuestra investigación encontró repetidamente que las familias están siendo excluidas de las decisiones cuando se trata del cuidado y custodia de sus hijo/as” dijo Seth Freed Wessler, autor y investigador principal del reporte, “Familias Destrozadas”. “Como resultado, los niños de padres detenidos y deportados son mas probables de permanecer en cuidado de crianza temporal cuando podrían estar con su propia familia.”
“Familias Destrozadas” analiza los problemas, identifica barreras claves, y presenta recomendaciones de políticas publicas al Departamento de Seguridad Nacional , a varios niveles de las legislatura, departamentos estatales de bienestar infantil, cortes juveniles de dependencia en cómo podemos proteger mejor a las familias de la separación y reunificar a las familias de una manera oportuna.
Para programar una entrevista con ARC, por favor contacte a la gerenta de comunicaciones Rebekah Spicuglia, media@arc.org o 646-490-2772.
El Centro de Investigación Aplicada (ARC por sus siglas en inglés) es un tanque de pensamiento de justicia y asuntos raciales de 30 años de edad, que utiliza los medios de comunicación, la investigación y el activismo para promover soluciones. La misión de ARC es popularizar la justicia racial y preparar a la gente para ponerla en práctica. Para más información sobre el trabajo de ARC, por favor visite www.arc.org.
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Press Releases
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Groundbreaking National Report by the Applied Research Center Releases First Data on the Intersection Of Immigration Enforcement And Child Welfare Systems
November 2, 2011 (New York, NY) – A new report from the Applied Research Center (ARC) conservatively estimates that there are more than 5,000 children currently living in foster care whose parents have been either detained or deported. To date, there has been no national data available on the numbers of children impacted by the intersection of immigration enforcement and child welfare systems. http://arc.org/shatteredfamilies/
"Shattered Families" offers groundbreaking national research on the perilous intersection of immigration enforcement and the child welfare system. Historic levels of detention and deportation, combined with a clear lack of child welfare policies are resulting in the separation of thousands of families across the United States. These families face formidable barriers to reunification, and in many cases will be permanently separated. ARC projected that at least 15,000 more children will face these threats to reunification in the next five years, if the same rate holds true for new cases.
“Immigration enforcement greatly increases the chances that families will never see each other again,” said ARC President Rinku Sen. “Detaining and deporting parents shatters families and endangers the children left behind. It’s unacceptable, un-American, and a clear sign that we need to revisit our immigration policies.”
In fiscal year 2011, the United States deported a record-breaking 397,000 people and detained nearly that many. According to never before released federal data acquired by ARC through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, a growing number of deportees are parents. In the first six months of 2011, the federal government removed more than 46,000 mothers and fathers of U.S.-citizen children.
For the first time, ARC’s “Shattered Families” provides evidence on the scale and scope of this growing national problem. These impacts are not confined to border jurisdictions or states. In fact, ARC identified at least 22 states across the country where children in foster care are separated from their parents because of immigration enforcement. http://arc.org/shatteredfamilies/
“Our research found time and again that families are being left out of decision-making when it comes to the care and custody of their children,” said Seth Freed Wessler, author and principal investigator of “Shattered Families.” “As a result, children of detained and deported parents are likely to remain in foster care when they could be with their own family.”
“Shattered Families” analyzes these problems, identifies key barriers, and presents policy recommendations for Department of Homeland Security, various levels of legislature, state child welfare departments, and juvenile dependency courts on how we can better protect families from separation and reunify families in a timely way.
For more information on “Shattered Families” report findings:
• Join a press briefing call to be held Wed, 11/2, at 2pmET/11amPT
• ARC will present a public informational webinar on Thursday, 11/10, at 3pmET/12noonPT,
Information on events available at http://arc.org/shatteredfamilies/
To schedule an interview with ARC, please contact Communications Manager Rebekah Spicuglia media@arc.org or 646-490-2772.
About ARC - The Applied Research Center (ARC) is a 30-year-old racial justice think tank that uses media, research and activism to promote solutions. ARC’s mission is to popularize racial justice and prepare people to achieve it. ARC also serves as the publisher of Colorlines.com. For more information on ARC’s work, please visit www.arc.org.
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Press Kits
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Download ARC and Colorlines logos in various resolutions
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Winners will Give Speech on Racial and Social Justice at the Campus Progress National Conference, July 6 in Washington, DC
June 8, 2011 (Washington, DC) -- Campus Progress and Colorlines.com today announced the three grand prize winners of the 2011 National Keynote Contest. The contest, which was launched in April, called on young people to speak their minds about racial and social justice for a chance to win a free trip to Washington, DC on July 6 to address over 1,000 attendees at the 2011 Campus Progress National Conference.
This year’s winners are:
Kiara Lee from Richmond, VA: an activist, filmmaker and author who is shedding light on the realities of discrimination within ethnic groups: http://bit.ly/kmwLzJ
Daniel Khalessi from Stanford, CA: an Iranian-American who is raising awareness about the intersection between US foreign policy and race relations at home: http://bit.ly/mGEedJ
Stephanie Tanny from Denver, CO: an activist who is working to combat sexual violence on college campuses: http://bit.ly/lcWUK6
Videos submitted were featured on the Contest YouTube page, where the public voted on their favorites. Campus Progress and Colorlines.com staff then picked the three grand prize winners from among the top five most popular video submissions, taking into consideration the power of their message and their speaking ability.
“We were really impressed by the quality of the entries we received, and it was very tough to pick just three winners,” said Campus Progress Video Communications Associate Tara Kutz. “In the end, the winners we chose stood out because they all bring a unique, powerful and personal perspective to the conversation about racial and social justice. Campus Progress believes that young people have a key role to play in the discussion around these issues, and we are looking forward to seeing the winners share their experiences on a national stage.”
"These entries, and all the entries we received, showed something that can't be ignored: young people are inheriting a world in which race still matters," said Colorlines.com Editorial Director Kai Wright. "Racial inequity hasn't been solved with a single election, or with silence."
The 2011 Campus Progress National Conference will center on the theme “Turning Truth to Power,” emphasizing ways in which young people are turning their vision of a better world into a strong progressive youth movement that demands – and achieves – positive change. For more information about the Conference, please visit: http://campusprogress.org/national_conference/
For more information or to speak to contest winners, please contact Katie Andriulli at kandriulli@americanprogress.org / (202) 481-8238 or Rebekah Spicuglia at rspicuglia@arc.org / (415) 290-2970.
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About Campus Progress
Campus Progress is the youth division of the Center for American Progress, a nonpartisan, nonprofit progressive organization. Through programs in activism, journalism, and events, Campus Progress helps young people make their voices heard now on issues that matter, and works with young leaders and organizations nationwide to build a strong, united progressive movement that can bring long-term positive change. Campus Progress runs a daily web magazine, CampusProgress.org; supports student publications on 50 campuses; supports local and national youth issue campaigns; and has held over 900 events. For more information, please visit Campusprogress.org.
About Colorlines.com
Colorlines.com is a daily news site offering award-winning reporting, analysis, and solutions to today’s racial justice issues. Colorlines.com is produced by a multiracial team of writers whose daily reporting and analysis serves as a leading voice on a broad range of issues including politics, immigration reform, the economy and jobs. Colorlines.com offers readers the opportunity to take action on these issues through its Action channel. Colorlines.com is published by Applied Research Center (ARC), a racial justice think tank using media, research, and activism to promote solutions.
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Press Releases
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Young People Believe Race Still Matters and Racism Continues to Impact Society
June 7, 2011 (New York, NY) – Applied Research Center, the nation’s leading think tank on racial justice, today releases a 40-page study and accompanying video on the racial attitudes of young people, whom many pollsters and commentators have prematurely labeled as "post-racial."
Although the “Millennial Generation” (born post-1980, ages 18-30) is the largest, most racially and ethnically diverse generation the US has ever known, it is clear that race continues to play a role in their lives.
“Contrary to widespread labeling of the millennial generation as 'post-racial,' young people actually see a lot of racial problems. Many are concerned that race continues to impact outcomes in society, and they want to talk about it," said ARC President & Executive Director Rinku Sen. "What's more, the gap in perception between how white millennials and millennials of color see race points to continued racial conflict, demonstrating how important these conversations are."
Study results are derived from a series of 16 focus groups in the Los Angeles area, in which ARC conducted in-depth discussions on race and racism in society with millennials of diverse racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, educational, and ideological backgrounds. Video of some of the focus group participants expressing their perspectives, as well as excerpts from the discussions can be found here: http://arc.org/millennials/
Key findings include:
- Race matters – a large majority of young people assert that race is still a significant factor within various systems, such as criminal justice, education, employment, and immigration.
- Millennials are not monolithic – there are differences in how young people of different races and ethnicities view the extent and continued significance of racism in various systems of society.
- Racism is often defined in interpersonal terms – though most young people of color have little problem labeling an entire system as racist.
"Young people of color, and particularly those from low-income backgrounds, are typically underrepresented in traditional national surveys and polls. We conducted four in-depth focus groups each with African-American, Asian-American/Pacific Islander, Latino, and white millennials, so the qualitative data in this study is particularly rich," said ARC Research Director Dominique Apollon. "The report really elevates the voices of the most racially and ethnically diverse generation in our nation's history, and we should be asking them more, not less about the racial disparities that continue to impact their lives and communities."
The Applied Research Center (ARC) is a racial justice think tank using media, research, and activism to promote solutions. ARC is the publisher of Colorlines.com, a daily news site offering award-winning reporting, analysis, and solutions to today’s racial justice issues. To coincide with the release of the Millennials study, Colorlines.com is publishing a multi-part series that includes essays, video, and an investigation on the innovative groups who are working with youth to get past simply looking at individual acts of racism.
"Young people are going to lead the country out of today's mess. We need to truly understand how racism shows up in their lives, rather than fantasize about them being post-racial," said Colorlines.com Editorial Director Kai Wright.
For more information or to interview ARC Research Director Dominique Apollon (Oakland, CA) or ARC President and Executive Director Rinku Sen (NYC), please contact Communications Manager Rebekah Spicuglia at rspicuglia@arc.org or (415) 290-2970.
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Press Releases
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New Study Examines Relationship between Racial Justice Organizations and LGBT Communities
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Press Releases
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 Premier Racial Justice Conference includes presenters Melissa Harris-Lacewell, Van Jones, Tim Wise and Maria Teresa Kumar |
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In the News
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 Rinku Sen, ARC Executive Director, publishes article on using transformational goals to measure racial equity work in the third volume of the Critical Issues Forum series.
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In the News
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 ColorLines' investigation of Fresno police involved in repeat shootings provokes a response from Fresno police chief Jerry Dyer.
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Press Room 