Immigration is about so much more than debates, laws and policies — it's about people.

Every person who has interacted with the immigration system has their own story that goes far beyond their status, and if we really want to make productive and lasting changes to policy, we need to start by focusing on the individual people and their unique experiences.

Ana Wacker knows this from experience.

Ana and I became friends when we were both living in New York City interning at Teach For America, and I've been wanting to have her on the podcast for a long time because I knew she had so much she could teach us through her lived experience.

Ana identifies as a first generation immigrant, data analyst, and a mom. She and her family immigrated to the United States from Mexico when she was 4 years old and she knows first-hand both the practical and emotional aspects of navigating the immigration and citizenship process.

In this week's episode, Ana graciously shares her immigration story with us and provides actionable suggestions for what we can do to help make changes to immigration policy and to help immigrants in our own communities. You'll learn about:

• Why immigration is a community effort.
• Why it's important for immigrants to develop identity separate from. immigration status — and how nonimmigrants can support this process.
• What the citizenship process looks like.
• What policies we should be advocating for.
• The importance of mental health services for immigrants and how our communities can better provide that.
• How to talk to kids about immigration.

6 Characteristics of a Positive Community

Anti-racism is a vital part of EVERY community. It's not something we should silo away from the other communities we are a part of, whether that's your neighborhood, church, PTA, craft circle, fitness group, etc. We should just focus on building healthy communities — where we strive for fairness, communicate when there's friction, embrace freedom of expression and celebrate traditions together.

And First Name Basis is here to help you do it! Visit firstnamebasis.org/positivecommunity to get your FREE printable of the 6 characteristics of a positive community, adapted for the podcast from Dr. Nicole Celestine's work.

Ally Elementary and Ally Elementary Jr.

We are opening the doors to both Ally Elementary and Ally Elementary Jr. on Sept. 20!

Parents have been asking for a practical, interactive way to implement the anti-racist strategies that I lay out in the First Name Basis Podcast, so I created Ally Elementary and Ally Elementary Jr.

Ally Elementary is geared toward third-eighth graders, while Ally Elementary Jr. is for the smaller allies in our lives who are in preschool-second grade.

During these programs, parents will work together with their children to create a culture of anti-racism in their home. We will use hands-on activities to teach our children about everything from the untold story of how race was created to how they can disrupt racism in their everyday lives to how they can learn more about their individual identity and culture. I am so excited to watch the families in our community make a meaningful transformation and improve their communities through anti-racist action.

Click here to join the waitlist for Ally Elementary (for third-eighth graders)

Click here to join the waitlist for Ally Elementary Jr. (for preschool-second graders)

Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode

Aliento AZ

Jose Antonio Vargas

Song Credit: "Sleeper" by Steve Adams" and "Dive Down" by VYEN