Building More Inclusive Boards & Committees: Immigrant Participation in Government Decision-making

46 pagesLocal government agencies engage the public in decision-making to increase their understanding of local issues, make better decisions, and build trust along the way. One common tactic for sustained engagement are “citizen” advisory boards and committees. This research is a part of a broader effort, led by Professor José W. Meléndez, to inventory a cross-section of these boards and committees in Oregon to better understand the current state of representation. The research team documented the incorporation of immigrants in local and state government boards and interviewed nearly 50 first- and second-generation immigrants. The research addresses three questions: 1) What are the different levels of board decision-making available across the state? 2) What is the state of immigrant representation within these roles? And 3) What barriers do immigrants face in accessing decision-making roles? My research targets three types of boards that influence decision-making across the state. Immigrant participants represent a variety of local and statewide groups across 1) school district boards, which serve as governing bodies with broad decision-making authority; 2) budget committees, which are statutory and work directly with local elected officials; and 3) transportation advisory bodies with more limited influence. Through the analysis of 15 interviews across these three types of bodies, I answer a final research question: how can government institutions expand and support the inclusion of immigrants in decision-making roles? This report shares findings and suggested strategies to increase inclusiveness on government boards and committees