In 2006, Hate Free Zone Board and staff went through a rigorous strategic planning process.  With the help of Fusion consultant Beth Rosales, we assessed the current political environment and considered the future of our organization.  During an internal scan, Board and staff reviewed Hate Free Zone's mission, vision and capacity.  During an environmental scan, partners, stakeholders, opinion leaders and community members told us how they view Hate Free Zone's place in the immigrant rights movement at the local, state and national levels. 

We are grateful to everyone who shared their opinions and experiences with us.  The results were clear: we are in the midst of a remarkable political moment in this country.  As Congress has debated the future of immigration policy, and politicians have made immigration a wedge issue, millions of people have taken to the streets and made their voices heard.  Immigrants and allies have pushed for truly comprehensive reform that protects families, ensures civil rights, gives a path to citizenship for undocumented workers and protects workers regardless of immigration status. 

The debate about immigration reform isn't a debate  just about immigration.  It's a debate about what America wants to be as a country.  To ensure that our democracy lives up to its promise of liberty and justice for all people, we need  a broad vision and new forms of leadership. 

"I believe that the next few years are going to be crucial in terms of the current debate on immigration in this country. It will be up to organizations like Hate Free Zone to guide that conversation so that it does not get side tracked by emotional diatribes but remains focused on the real issues.”

Hate Free Zone has great strengths: a history of being responsive and effective in the face of injustice, deep connections to local communities, the proven ability to work across sector and across community, credibility with policymakers at the local and national level, and a principled and hopeful vision of justice for all people.

"Hate Free Zone is smart, organizes from the bottom up, and stands on principles rooted in accepted values. Hate Free Zone is clearly unafraid to challenge national elected leadership with great power. Hate Free Zone...has become a moral leader, a rare thing for any organization, in a remarkably short time."

At Hate Free Zone, we are proud of what we have been able to accomplish, and recognize what we need to do be most effective from this point forward.  We need to refine our focus, invest in our organizational capacity and expand the reach of our work.

“[Hate Free Zone must] develop its capacity to strengthen its local organizing and policy work, build its base, and take an even greater leadership role in national coalitions, helping others to learn and strengthening the national movement.”

We have rewritten our mission and vision to reflect our new direction.  Our  theory of change will shape our initiatives and allow us to track our progress.  Our 2007-2009 Strategic Plan that will guide us as we grow the organization.

As we grow, we remain committed to working with our allies in immigrant, labor, faith and business communities.  We know that this is a difficult time and that the stakes are very high.  Hate Free Zone and you- allies, friends, partners, donors- are being called to be creative, courageous, inclusive and strategic.  We look forward to the next few years as we stand together for freedom, liberty and justice for all.