Refugees and Displaced People Taking the Lead
Organizing long-term leaders to secure meaningful freedom for all.
The Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans (PANA) is a research, public policy, and community organizing hub dedicated to advancing the full economic, social, & civic inclusion of refugees.
What is PANA?Our Work
We believe that multiracial power-building is not just necessary — it is the only path forward to ensure that those most impacted by injustice are leading the fight for a truly inclusive and equitable multiracial society.
In 2020, we had direct conversations with over 47,000 African, Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian community members regarding the Census and the General Elections. We hired and trained 51 youth that engaged in our phone bank campaigns throughout the year.
Video Credit: Edgar Ontiveros, of Mid-City CAN
Civic Engagement
This work powerfully weaves together storytelling, activism, and visual art to center the lived experiences of refugee and immigrant youth as they confront surveillance and broader systemic injustices in their communities. Through personal testimony, PANA transforms abstract policy debates into deeply felt narratives rooted in emotion, memory, and cultural identity—compelling both the public and policymakers to confront uncomfortable truths. More than a strategy, this narrative approach is an act of resistance and reclamation, challenging the dominant frameworks that have long silenced, misrepresented, and sought to control Black and Brown communities.
Proactive Narratives
PANA equips refugee and immigrant leaders with the tools and knowledge to engage directly with policymakers. PANA transforms civic participation into a form of collective power. Our organizing builds collective power to challenge systems that perpetuate inequality, bringing urgent attention to campaign priorities to address mass surveillance, protecting immigrants, equitable development and tenant protections, and passing policies that increase access the vote for more of our language minority communities. A work is about redefining who holds power and gets to shape the future --demanding greater investments in our communities ,so that our youth and families have the opportunities and resources they need to thrive.
Policy and Campaigns
Learn More About Us
Securing meaningful freedom for all
Help us advance the full economic, social, and civic inclusion of refugees in the San Diego region, throughout California, and across the country.