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Dear John, One of the best things about New American Leaders (NAL) is the amazing team we get to work with each day. The passion, care, and dedication to immigrant communities is unmatched. Today, we are highlighting an individual who embodies this care and commitment to New Americans, Zena Jahmi. Zena is a critical member of NAL’s program team and a proud member of NAL’s staff union. She was the first member of her family to go to college as she earned her degree in International Affairs with minors in Spanish and ethnic studies. From there she spent time as a Fulbright Scholar in the Canary Islands, then returned to her home in Colorado to work for both the Colorado State Legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives where she centered the representation of marginalized communities in her work.
As we reflect on the year, we’re reminded of the stories that inspire us to continue building a more inclusive and equitable democracy. In this Q&A, Zena, Program and Data Coordinator at New American Leaders, shares her journey from witnessing the immigrant experience in her community to working on the frontlines of local government. Zena's passion for advancing marginalized communities is at the heart of NAL's mission, and her insights offer hope for meaningful change. Read on to learn more about how Zena is working to empower New Americans and transform the political landscape for future generations. Zena and I hope you will make a generous donation today to support NAL’s democracy transformation work in 2025 and beyond!
Warmly,
Q: What socio-political challenges did you observe before getting involved with New American Leaders (NAL)? What did you want to change? A: Before joining NAL in my time working for local government, I saw many New American constituents frequently neglected in one of the most diverse congressional districts in the country. I noticed a stark difference in the response of the political system to New Americans as compared to the more affluent, less diverse communities in the district. I saw many people ignored, passed endlessly between agencies that would seldom provide them solutions, and inundated with questions and paperwork in languages they did not understand. But mostly, I saw valuable members of our community lose faith in the political and bureaucratic systems created to support them. In my time there, I desperately wanted to change the way our office, and every other office, responded to the diverse constituents that helped to create the multicultural tapestry our district claimed to be so proud of. I wanted to not just say that immigrants and diverse populations mattered in our community, but actually treat them as if they did. Q: What motivated you to take action? How is being part of the NAL community helping you make change? A: I joined NAL because I wanted to change the face of local government offices like mine. I wanted to move upstream in the political process and help elect a new generation of government representatives that not only acknowledge the diversity of their districts but celebrate and respect that diversity as well. I wanted to help ensure that diverse communities could have representatives that do just as the name suggests, and represent the people in their community. NAL serves as a way for me to do my part and see that New Americans around the country can look to their local officials and feel heard, seen, respected, and supported. Q: What have you learned from your journey with NAL? A: In my journey with NAL, I learned to see that hope for an effective and representative government lies in the New Americans and everyday people running for office and not in maintaining the system as it is. Q: What are your hopes for the future? A: I hope that the movement to create a more representative democracy continues to spread and results in meaningful change from the ground up. I hope, in time, more and more people will be able to look at the officials and systems that govern them and feel a sense of pride. Q: How can others help make a difference? A: Others can make a difference by getting involved with their local government and community resources. Meaningful change can be made if we all engage in the political, social, and bureaucratic systems around us. Getting educated about local issues, voting, supporting local candidates, attending meetings, sharing resources, and organizing your community around the things that matter to you can change the face of democracy as we know it. And of course, you can help by supporting NAL and our training programs that enable New Americans to run, win, and lead. Together, we can create a better and more equitable democracy! |
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