The Communication Initiative
Development action with informed and engaged societies
The Communication Initiative

After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. 

Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future. 

On the transfer, co-founder Victoria Martin expressed her pleasure to see this work continue under Wits' leadership, knowing that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction. 

As Wits, we honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades and look forward building from that strong base. This includes co-founders Warren Feek (1953-2024) and Victoria Martin as well as La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA), which continues independently at lainiciativadecomunicacion.com with links to The CI Global site. We are also eager to forge new partnerships and entertain new ideas as we consider how best to contribute to social and behaviour change in our rapidly evolving environment.

If you are joining the International Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) Summit in Panama, please join Wits and CILA on Monday, 22 June, to share your thoughts and suggestion for the relaunch of the Communication Initiative. We will be in Pacifica 5 from 12-1:25 for the Refuel, Reflect, and Renew Lunch Series: The Communication Initiative: celebrating a driving force for Communication for Social Change and the way forward. We will reflect on the legacy of Warren Feek and family in creating the Communication Initiative, consider the contributions of CI over the years and then turn our attention towards the future in this dynamic session. 

If you are unable to join us in Panama, we still want to hear from you. Please contribute your thoughts by following this link: https://redcap.link/CommunicationInitiative2026 or reaching out to ci_surveys@commint.com. 

You can also follow the QR Code:

 https://redcap.link/CommunicationInitiative2026

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Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride - United States

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From September 20 to October 4 2003, approximately 900 immigrant workers and their allies traveled by bus across the United States to raise awareness and advocate for immigrant workers' rights. After stopping for community-based events in various USA cities, the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride (IWFR) culminated in a rally in New York. The ride was organised by labour, business, immigrant and civil rights groups, religious bodies, and student associations seeking reform of immigration laws that would benefit both "legal" and undocumented immigrants. One specific goal was advocating for immigrants' right to speak up about work conditions without fear of deportation. An additional purpose was to show the public that immigrants "are real people" and to urge lawmakers to recognise the contributions that immigrants make to the US economy.
Communication Strategies
Nearly 900 immigrant workers and their allies boarded buses in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Chicago, Houston, Miami, and Boston to cross the United States over the 12-day trip. The Freedom Riders traveled across 20,000 miles of highways, hosting community meetings and awareness-raising events in more than 100 cities, towns, and workplaces. On October 1 and 2, participants met with members of Congress in Washington, D.C.; on October 3 they traveled to Liberty State Park (NY) for an event hosted by the Governor of New Jersey.

On October 4, the Riders arrived in New York for a rally that drew approximately 100,000 people. Musician Wyclef Jean (himself a Haitian immigrant) performed in several languages. More than 30 people spoke, including politicians, civil rights activists, labour organisers, religious leaders, and the Freedom Riders themselves. They delivered this message: any new immigrant policy passed by Congress must include 1) legalisation and a clear, well-defined road to citizenship for all immigrant workers; 2) the right of immigrant workers to re-unite with their families; 3) protection of the rights of immigrants in the workplace; and 4) protection of the civil rights and civil liberties of all.
Development Issues
Rights.
Key Points
Organisers observe that, in addition to anxiety related to avoiding deportation, undocumented immigrants often face abuse on the job because they are not aware of their rights. A spokesperson from the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) said that, while he doesn't dispute that undocumented workers are mistreated on the job, immigrants have chosen to come to the country illegally: "People who play by the rules are protected by the laws of the land and aren't exploited", he said. In 1986, an amnesty granted legal status to about 3 million undocumented immigrants. Today there are an estimated 8 to 10 million undocumented (some use the term "illegal") immigrants in the United States.

Reflecting on the rights of "legal" immigrants, one IWFR spokesperson said "We believe that people who are working here and paying taxes should be rewarded with an opportunity to legalise their status and get on the road to citizenship".

The IWFR is inspired by the 1960s freedom rides in which civil rights activities arrived in Southern USA states on busses to challenge segregation laws.
Partners

Click here for a complete listing of the National Sponsoring Committee and all those organisations and individuals who endorsed the IWFR. Funding has been provided by the Ford Foundation.

Sources

"Riding the bus, seeking reform", by Lourdes Medrano Leslie, Star Tribune September 28 2003; and IWFR website.