MIRA provides a wide range of trainings for community members, service providers, educators, advocates, public officials, and employers. Our goal is to educate and inform stakeholders on complex immigration and related issues, ensure that practitioners have the knowledge and tools they need to support those they serve, and empower community members to be strong, effective self-advocates. In addition to our public trainings, we offer trainings in the following topics for organizations and service providers.


Training Fees

We need your support to continue this important work! The fee for a one-hour virtual training for your organization is $250. The fee for a one-hour in-person training is $350. If cost is a barrier to receiving training, please contact us at training@miracoalition.org.

MIRA Member organizations receive two (2) free trainings for their staff or membership in a calendar year.


Training Offerings

Introductory Trainings

ABC’s of Immigration

This training provides an overview of common immigration statuses, the privileges and restrictions associated with each, and common pathways to obtain legal immigration status including through family and humanitarian protections. 

Best Practices in Serving Immigrant Families

This training introduces participants to common challenges and barriers of effective service provision to  immigrant families and best practices for organizations to follow to build strong, trusting relationships with immigrant clients. 

UndocuAlly

 This training introduces participants to the resources available for undocumented students and their allies including access to higher education and tuition equity, entrepreneurship and support systems. 

Tuition Equity for Students and Families

Undocumented students in Massachusetts are now able to receive in-state tuition and financial support to afford higher education through the Tuition Equity Law. This training is meant to help ensure a successful application process. The training also discusses financial aid options available regardless of immigration status, including scholarship opportunities for undocumented and DACA students.

Understanding the Latest Policy Changes

This training provides accurate,  up-to-date information on changes in immigration policies and their impact on our Massachusetts communities.

How to be an Immigrant Advocate

This training will empower participants to be a resource and support to immigrants. Participants will also learn how to show up for immigrants by learning to effectively communicate with policymakers and legislators and uncover opportunities to take an active role as an immigrant rights advocate with the MIRA Coalition and our member organizations.

Citizenship 101

This training provides an introduction for legal services providers on the benefits and barriers to naturalization. It covers the basics on eligibility for naturalization, the application process, the English and civics exam  requirements and available exemptions, as well as an overview of derivative  citizenship.  

Legislative Advocacy

This training walks participants through the basics of how a  bill becomes a law in Massachusetts and introduces advocacy tools for each step  of the process.

Intersection of Immigration & Domestic Violence

This training provides an introduction to the dynamics of power and control that are characteristics of domestic violence and how they may manifest where the survivor of abuse is an immigrant. It also provides an overview of the forms of immigration relief available to immigrant survivors of domestic violence.

Immigrant Access to Benefits

This training provides an introduction to immigrant eligibility for state and federal programs based on their immigration status and provides helpful resources for service providers. It also reviews the concept of the “public charge” test for green card eligibility in some categories, as well as what we know of data sharing between state and federal benefits agencies and immigration enforcement. 

 

Know Your Rights & Navigating Immigration Systems

Know Your Rights

This training helps participants understand immigrants rights when interacting with immigration enforcement, including when immigration comes to your home or stops you while driving, family preparedness, where to get legal help, and information on notario fraud and immigration scams. This community-facing training can be offered in English, Haitian Creole, Spanish, Portuguese. 

In addition, we offer Know Your Rights presentations tailored to specific audiences:

  • KYR for Service Providers
  • KYR for Employers 
  • KYR for Houses of Worship
  • KYR for K-12 Educators
  • KYR for Early Childhood Providers
Family Preparedness

This training guides participants through a plan that families can take to prepare for unexpected events like detention or deportation of a family member and introduces a tool to collect helpful information to be used in case of an emergency. 

Bystander Know Your Rights

This immigration bystander training aims to provide you with tools and strategies to safely and effectively respond when witnessing immigration enforcement. Topics covered will include how to recognize an ICE operation, clear do’s and don’ts, safe practices for offering support, and the use of community hotlines, mutual aid, and accompaniment programs.

Removal Proceedings in Immigration Court:

This presentation is geared towards community members who would like to better understand what happens when an immigrant is placed in removal proceedings in immigration court. We will discuss the federal agencies involved in these proceedings, the typical case process, and the rights that all individuals have when appearing before an immigration judge. Attendees will learn how to look up an individual’s case in the public Immigration Court system, as well as where to find additional resources to support those in removal proceedings.

Accessing Immigration Court Hearings through WebEx

This presentation is intended for community members who would like to better understand how immigrants can access hearings in Immigration Court online through the WebEx platform. We will discuss when and how respondents are permitted to appear for their hearings remotely, the logistical requirements for hosting hearings, and how to overcome common challenges and barriers in accessing Immigration Court via WebEx.