We Are Home

Background

In 2021, the We are Home campaign was launched as a coalition of organizations calling on the Biden administration and Congress to take bold action to protect the 11 million immigrants who call the United States home. The campaign sought to create a path to citizenship, transform the U.S. immigration system, and end inhumane detention and deportation policies. By amplifying the voices of immigrant communities, We Are Home aimed to unite families and make America a true home for all.

Challenge

To effectively advocate for legislative and systemic change, the campaign needed to:

1. Increase media visibility – Ensure national and local media coverage of key advocacy events, including May Day and the TPS Week of Action.
2. Unify coalition messaging – Align partner organizations with a clear and compelling narrative to strengthen their policy demands.
3. Facilitate press engagement – Connect immigrant voices, coalition leaders, and policymakers with the media to amplify their stories.

Strategy & Execution

In the Spring of 2022, The Communications Shop partnered with We Are Home to provide media relations and strategic messaging support. Our approach focused on:

1. Media Relations & Event Coverage

• • • Promoted media coverage of May Day 2022 in Washington, DC, and across the country, ensuring national attention for immigrant justice events.
    • Coordinated with We Are Home partners to uplift their voices in the media, showcasing grassroots activism and policy advocacy.
    • Facilitated press access to spokespeople and impacted communities, ensuring that reporters had direct connections to compelling immigration stories.

2. Supporting the TPS Week of Action

• • • Served as a liaison with the press covering Congress, arranging interviews with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries from various countries.
    • Helped We Are Home partners engage with journalists, ensuring coverage of TPS advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill.
    • Provided media training and support to TPS beneficiaries to help them confidently share their personal immigration journeys.

3. Strategic Messaging Development

• • • Drafted topline messages for coalition partners, ensuring unified and persuasive advocacy asks for members of Congress and stakeholders.
    • Aligned messaging across multiple organizations to strengthen the impact of legislative calls to action.
    • Ensured that the campaign’s core themes of justice, unity, and dignity remained central in all media engagements.

Results & Impact

Through strategic media engagement and messaging support, the We Are Home campaign effectively amplified immigrant voices and increased visibility for its advocacy efforts:

• • • Enhanced Media Presence – Secured significant news coverage for May Day 2022 and TPS advocacy efforts in Washington, DC, and nationwide.
    • Unified Campaign Messaging – Strengthened coalition partner communications with clear, compelling advocacy asks for policymakers.
    • Elevated Immigrant Voices – Connected TPS beneficiaries and immigrant advocates with major news outlets, ensuring their stories reached a broad audience.

Conclusion

By providing targeted media relations, press engagement, and strategic messaging, The Communications Shop played a crucial role in advancing the We Are Home campaign’s mission. Our work helped amplify the urgency of immigration reform, ensuring that policymakers, journalists, and the public heard the voices of those directly impacted.