Ali Noorani
<img src=http://tba2007.confabb.com/user/photo/2963/ANoorani.JPG?1181597005>

Noorani leaves MIRA to take the helm at National Immigration Forum

By: LURDES C. DA SILVA BOSTON -

The news of Ali Noorani's resignation from the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition was received with mixed feelings by immigrant advocates across the state.
*****

*Although they are sad he will be stepping down as executive director of MIRA at the end of April, they cannot help but be excited about his appointment as Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum in Washington, DC.
*****

*The Forum is one of the nation's premier immigration policy organizations and has been at the center of practically every major legislative and policy debate related to immigration in the past 25 years.
*****

*"He has done an outstanding job advocating on behalf of all immigrants in Massachusetts," said Paulo Pinto, executive director of the Massachusetts Alliance for Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) of Cambridge, a member organization of MIRA. "It's a loss for the immigrant community of Massachusetts, but it is also at the same time a gain because we are going to have a national voice."
*****

*For Helena Marques, executive director of the Immigrants' Assistance Center of New Bedford, who serves on MIRA's board, Noorani's departure will be a "tremendous loss" for the statewide coalition of grassroots immigrant organizations.
*****

*"His heart and soul is into helping the immigrant community, so I was very sad to hear he is leaving MIRA," she said. "But with the elections and a new president, it's going to be very positive. He is going at a time he'll have a stronger voice in Washington and he will be in a position that he can advocate for immigration reform. He is not afraid to stand up for issues that sometimes are not very popular."
*****

*Heloisa Galvão, president of the Brazilian Women's Group of Allston, echoed Marques' words.
*****

*"It's a loss on one side, but it's a gain on another," she said. "He is going to the national level and I think this is a gain for us. I don't have a doubt that wherever he is he will still be helping us. This is the most important thing."
*****

*MIRA's Board of Directors President Gisela Morales-Barreto described Noorani's performance at helm of MIRA as "four years of successful leadership."
*****

*"Under Ali's leadership, an incredible team of staff have built MIRA into a true coalition of community organizations, labor unions and others working together to promote and protect the rights and opportunities of all immigrants," she said in a prepared statement. "Although we are sad Ali will be leaving MIRA and New England, we celebrate the decision by the National Immigration Forum - a decision that bodes well for our movement."
*****

*Just last year, MIRA played an instrumental role in mobilizing agencies from across the state to help the families of about 360 individuals detained during an immigration raid at a New Bedford factory, recalled Marques.
*****

*"Ali is a tremendous advocate and did an astonishing job," said Marques.
*****

*Noorani, who was born in California to Pakistani immigrants, will be assuming his new duties on June 2.
*****

*He said he will leave MIRA with a mix of sadness and excitement.
*****

*"I am sad to leave my friends and colleagues at MIRA, but terribly excited for what the future holds for this organization," he said. "I know the leadership and vision of our membership, board and staff will take MIRA to the next level. From my perspective in Massachusetts, the Forum has provided critical leadership in the nationwide fight for fair, just, and rational immigration policies. While I am very proud of my work at MIRA, I look forward to the challenges and opportunities ahead and to working with the Forum."
*****

*Noorani said he is currently trying to familiarize himself with all the duties associated with his future post.
*****

*"I learned so much from everybody in Massachusetts; I am looking forward to learn more from people across the country," he said.
*****

*Under Noorani's leadership, MIRA experienced a period of great expansion. The organization tripled its staff and membership swelled from 50 to about 115 agencies and groups.
*****

*Noorani has also served on the Board of the National Immigration Forum since 2006.
*****

*John Gay, Chairman of the Forum's Board of Directors, said the forum with Noorani at the helm "will be in excellent hands."
*****

*"This is a critical time for immigrants and for reforming our nation's immigration policies," said Gay, who is Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy at the National Restaurant Association and Co-Chair of the Essential Worker Immigration Coalition.


"Ali will continue the outstanding leadership the Forum has had, and will lead a remarkable staff to further great accomplishments."
*****

*Frank Sharry, who served as the Forum's Executive Director since 1990, stepped down to form America's Voice, whose mission is to serve as the communication and rapid response hub on the politics of immigration in the 2008 election cycle and beyond.
*****

*"There is a certain symmetry to Ali being selected as the Forum's new Director," Sharry said. "When I took this job, I was a 34 year-old pro-immigrant advocate from Boston too. I am very excited for Ali and look forward to working closely with Ali and the Forum for many years to come."
*****

*Noorani, who holds a Master's in Public Health from Boston University, said the next two to four years hold an "amazing opportunity for all of us to realize the reform we're looking for."
****
*
*Massachusetts will also see positive change, he said.
*****

*"The community across the state came together and Massachusetts is going to be a state that welcomes all," said Noorani. "MIRA was part of that effort and there are many organizations playing very important roles. We're on the verge of significant victories in the years ahead."
*****

*But Noorani - who recently received the Alfred L. Frechette Award from the Massachusetts Public Health Association for exceptional leadership in promoting social justice and received the 2007 Boston University Young Alumni Award - is humble and downplays the importance of his role at MIRA.
*****

*"It's the entire organization, the team of staff and members... I was a very small part of a very large effort," he said. "We have such a great team at MIRA that I think the transition will take the organization to the next level."
****

**Morales-Barreto said that is precisely MIRA's immediate challenge.
****
*
*"The Board recognizes this is a critical juncture for MIRA," said the chair. "Our staff have built a strong coalition, and our challenge - as members, partners and allies - is to come together to take MIRA to the next level."
*****

*She said a Transition Committee of the Board has begun to meet with staff and stakeholders. A transition leadership plan will be put in place and a search firm will be retained in the upcoming weeks.
*****

*"The Board is committed to ensuring a thorough and transparent selection process and to finding a new Director who has the energy, vision and dedication to continue and expand MIRA's important work at this crucial time," she said.


"We are dedicated to keeping MIRA true to its mission of protecting and promoting the rights and opportunities of ALL immigrants and refugees."

****
**Meanwhile, Noorani said he will always keep in touch with MIRA.
*****
*"As executive director of MIRA I worked quite a bit with the forum on policy and communication issues," he said. "I'll always be a part of Massachusetts as Massachusetts will be a part of me."


©O Jornal*2008