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 Josh Hoyt
Executive Director, ICIRR
Josh Hoyt has been the director of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights since May of 2002. During that time the Coalition has fought vigorously for citizenship for the undocumented and to protect civil liberties in the wake of the attacks of September 11, 2001. The Coalition, now with 80 member agencies, has helped to make Illinois one of the most immigrant friendly states in the U.S.
Since 2003 the Coalition led the successful fight for in-state tuition for undocumented students in Illinois, was instrumental in the New Americans Initiative, $9 million three-year effort to assist 60,000 legal immigrants become U.S. citizens, registered over 27,000 new immigrant voters, and turned out 60,000 immigrant voters in 14 different suburban and city communities. In 2005 the Coalition won recognition for the Consular I.D. (Matricula Consular) in Illinois and a strengthened Day Labor Protections Act.
Josh has worked a total of 28 years as an organizer for social justice in Chicago, Baltimore, and in the countries of Spain, Peru, and Panama. He has led or assisted the Organization of the NorthEast (O.N.E .) in Uptown and Edgewater and United Power for Action and Justice in organizing efforts on the North and Northwest Sides of Chicago, as well as the northern suburbs and the Muslim community of Chicago. He was the lead organizer of United Power's Gilead Campaign for the Uninsured, which resulted in the creation of FamilyCare in Illinois, expanding health insurance coverage to 130,000 uninsured adults.
Josh was educated at the University of Illinois and the Universidad Central de Barcelona, Spain, and received his Master's from the University of Chicago. He has testified before Congres on immigration issues, written numerous articles, and appeared on national television.
For his vigorous efforts and many accomplishments for immigrants and refugees in metropolitan Chicago and throughout the country, Centro Romero is honored to present the Monsignor Romero Award to Josh Hoyt.
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