The Intersectionality of Democracy and Immigration

At the time of the 2024 election, we found that candidates and the media never explained what democracy means to people’s everyday lives. Therefore, before the election, the LWVMA Voter Engagement Committee sponsored its first recorded program, in the “What Democracy Means in Everyday Life” series focusing on Voter Engagement.  In plain language, the panelists explained democracy so that people would better understand what democracy practically means for each citizen’s life. 

Given today’s focus on immigration, we are pleased to announce our program “What Democracy Means in Everyday Life” the Intersectionality of Democracy and Immigration. Click here to watch the program.

Panelists

Donna Gallagher, PhD, M.S.N, ANP-BC, FAAN is a Nurse Practitioner providing care for HIV and Cancer patients, for over 50 years, in both the Domestic and International setting.  She is a retired Assistant Professor of Family Medicine at University of MA Medical/Graduate Nursing School, as well as, at University of MA Boston.  She has held several positions including the Director of the New England AIDS Education and Training Center, an HHS funded project and the Co-Director of Global Health for University of MA Medical School. Most importantly, she is the mother of 3 daughters and grandmother of 4 grandsons.

Susan F. Martin, BA, MA, PhD is the Donald G. Herzberg Professor Emerita of International Migration in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. She is the founder and first director of Georgetown’s Institute for the Study of International Migration. Prior to joining Georgetown’s faculty, Dr. Martin was the Executive Director of the U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform. Dr. Martin is an accomplished author and editor of numerous books and articles. She actively serves on numerous boards and is the President of the League of Women Voters of the San Juan Islands.

Sarang Sekhavat, BA, MA, JD (he/him) first joined MIRA in 2008 and served as a Policy Associate then as MIRA’s Federal Policy Director before becoming the organization’s first Political Director in June 2022. Born in Brockton to recent immigrants from Iran, Sarang began his work in immigrant rights in response to the Bush Administration’s Special Registration program shortly after 9/11. Sarang received his J.D. from Brooklyn Law School in 2005, his M.A. in International Relations from Boston University in 2004, and his B.A. from Tufts in 1998. Sarang served as MIRA’s Political Director before transitioning into MIRA’s Chief of Staff in 2023.

Moderator 

Marlene O’Brien serves on the Steering Comm. of the LWVUS Immigration Discussion Group and boards of LWV of Wellesley, LWVMA, and, formerly, LWVUS and LWV Educ. Fund. With an AB and JD from Harvard Univ., she is a lawyer and writer currently focused on humanitarian affairs, democracy, and ethics. 

Related Resources

Amid increased immigration enforcement activity across Massachusetts, Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell released a ‘Know Your Rights’ guide designed to help immigrants, families, and communities understand their rights and the basic legal framework for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions.