America has long been known as the Land of Opportunity. Families have traveled here from all around the world seeking better lives, and the country is better for it. But history also reminds us that when times are tough, immigrants are often the first to be persecuted. Their voices are lost, their rights called into question. It even happens here in southwest Washington.
Glicerio Zurita knows this better than most. His family member was detained in 2009 by the U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) through the 287(g) program.
“I was feeling powerless,” he said. “But later I thought, this happened because of the law. So, I put my energy toward changing the law to help other families.”
Glicerio faced the pain and uncertainty, and he emerged with a mission. He was determined to make sure no one in his community would have to experience that kind of situation alone. That mission led him to an organization building strength through solidarity, OneAmerica.
Turning fear into strength
OneAmerica formed in the early days following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The fear that gripped our nation had erupted into violence. Immigrants of color became targets, homes and holy places were vandalized and people felt powerless in their own communities — OneAmerica set out to change that. They established safe spaces where immigrants could gather and build a future together.
This was the outlet Glicerio was looking for after what his family went through. He connected with the organization and dove into training, eventually becoming the lead organizer in Clark County.
“OneAmerica organizes communities to build collective power,” Glicerio said. “We create spaces where people share their voices, develop as leaders and take action on issues affecting our communities. Education, immigrant rights, economic justice.”
Collective is an important term. Immigrants come from a variety of nations, each with unique identities and needs. Some communities are large and well-connected, while others are small and isolated. The distance between them limits their power. OneAmerica brings them together through canvassing, community gatherings, trainings and listening sessions. It’s public, hands-on work you can see here in southwest Washington.
“When people come to our events,” he said, “they see other people like them. They listen to leaders who have lived these same experiences and that changes things.”
Democracy for everyone
Immigrants and refugees are a fast-growing part of our community. As of 2023, Washington State had approximately 1.2 million immigrant residents. That’s about 15 percent of the state’s population and one-fifth of the labor force, with roughly $60 billion in spending power.
You might think all of that would equate to political power. But there’s still something missing. Turning numbers into strength starts with learning how the system works and how change is built. That kind of knowledge has a powerful effect on your sense of belonging.
Some come to OneAmerica as first-time voters. Some can’t vote yet, but they want to understand how decisions are made. Some simply want to see their children treated with dignity at school – a hope that came into focus in 2017 for OneAmerica. Through Glicerio’s leadership, a group of families began conversations and lobbied lawmakers.
“We want the school boards to represent the communities they serve,” Glicerio explained.
Their dream: creating classrooms where students could learn in English alongside their native tongues. Using OneAmerica’s framework, Glicerio and other leaders organized, canvassed and advocated for the effort, engaging 480 voices in the process. Then, in 2024, their dream came true with the passage of HB 1228. This bill ensures permanent funding for dual-language programs, not just in Vancouver but across all of Washington.
Success stories like this are revealing. They demonstrate how much power immigrants have when they come together and take an active role in driving change. At the same time, there’s the reality that the work doesn’t stop when a bill passes. For these dual-language programs to be implemented, there needs to be school board support. And so the work continues with OneAmerica now shifting attention to educating school boards and building a pipeline of candidates who reflect the student body.
Civically minded and ready to lead
Where does power come from? If you ask OneAmerica, it isn’t something that can be given or owned. Power must be built. That belief is at the core of OneAmerica’s work, and its leadership development program puts it into action.
Participants do a deep dive in civic education, learning about current issues, government structures, political processes, individual rights and organizing skills. Using this knowledge, local leaders like Glicerio can begin mapping out strategies for grassroots change — turning community ideas into real-world solutions. The dual-language program is a perfect example, but they also host community forums and advocate for policies that will improve the lives of Washington immigrants.
This power-building approach also fosters resilience, which is important when addressing an issue that continues to grow and change over time. In the early 2000s, attacks on immigrants targeted Muslims, Sikhs and other people of color. In recent years, the violence has shifted to aggressive ICE raids targeting all immigrants. Building a network of strong, local leaders across southwest Washington ensures immigrant communities can adapt to meet whatever need arises.
How lasting change is built
OneAmerica hasn’t slowed down. In the last year, they’ve organized advocacy efforts to push back on federal deportations. They’ve offered insight into state-level measures that would ensure detention centers are humane, that immigrants hold onto their voting rights, and that much-needed services like healthcare and legal aid are accessible. In short, OneAmerica is fighting hard for democracy.
Luckily, they aren’t alone. OneAmerica is partnering with allies, such as NAYA, Pacific County Voices United, and Love and Justice Alliance, to form statewide networks. Glicerio described it like this, “It’s powerful because oppression affects each community the same way. When we listen to each other’s stories, we connect.”
Organizing at scale takes time and resources. A single grant can get the work started, but it isn’t enough to fund a sustained effort. The Community Foundation for Southwest Washington addresses this reality by building close partnerships and providing consistent funding to organizations addressing long-term, systemic issues. Since 2019, its strategic grantmaking programs have invested in OneAmerica’s efforts to grow immigrant leadership and civic engagement in Clark County.
“They’ve been a strong partner,” said Glicerio. “Their support makes it possible to grow our base and respond to community needs like training new leaders.”
Stable funding is often the difference between creating a brief burst of aid and a sustainable support system for the long term. That kind of stability allows an organization to respond to real-time needs while effectively planning for the future.
While civic action can feel less tangible than issues like food security or healthcare, it’s just as essential. When communities have the tools, relationships and leadership to advocate for themselves, the impact extends far beyond any one policy win.
This is what democracy looks like
America is a land of immigrants. The journey of coming here, seeking citizenship, and becoming civically engaged stretches back to our democracy’s earliest days. Just look at Glicerio’s story. His path — from feeling powerless and alone to helping his community create positive change — traces what the Founding Fathers mapped out for the United States. This is democracy at work.
OneAmerica plays an important role in this journey. It serves as a guide, connecting immigrants to each other and to their innate power.
And with more support, OneAmerica can expand this vital work, ensuring immigrant communities across southwest Washington are prepared to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles in their quest to help build a more representative democracy — one that lives up to the ideals of liberty, justice and opportunity for all.
Some may think this vision is too lofty. Glicerio sees things differently. He knows change is always within reach, because in his own words, it starts when people come together.