Feet in 2 Worlds is accepting pitches for narrative audio stories that tell unreported and underreported stories of how immigrants are navigating the climate crisis.

Sudden or gradual climate disasters – like cyclones or prolonged droughts – have become drivers of migration. The U.S. is already seeing the consequences of a tepid response to climate change in the form of unpreparedness for hurricanes, increasing floods and droughts, as well as intensifying heat — destroying neighborhoods, decimating crops, and threatening livelihoods and our way of life. Immigrants around the country are colliding with this new reality and are disproportionately impacted by the disruptions of climate change. We want to tell their stories.

We are especially looking for stories on the following topics:

1) Housing and Climate:

Immigrants often find themselves in neighborhoods that are vulnerable to flooding, pollution and intense heat—how are they coping or transforming their neighborhoods? Affordable housing, redlining, gentrification, flood/hurricane insurance, and tenant abuse are issues immigrants across the U.S. typically face. How is climate change exacerbating these?

2) Climate Refuge City: 

Some cities in North America are positioning themselves as climate sanctuaries for immigrants. What does that mean in practice? How are individual local governments that are striving to become more climate-friendly fitting immigrant populations into their plans?

3) Resiliency:

How are the vulnerable countries of origin of immigrants adapting to climate change? What lessons or strategies are immigrants bringing with them when they come to the U.S?

4) Personal Beliefs:

From climate refugees to climate deniers, how do the experiences of immigrants in their home country, as well as adapting to life in the U.S., shape their views about climate change? What kinds of conversations about climate change are taking place in immigrant communities?

5) Work/Labor/Business

From the agricultural sector, to factories, from food delivery services to green energy companies, how are immigrant workers and business owners adapting to environmental changes? What climate-related innovations are they bringing to their industries? 

6) Asylum:

There is growing resistance to accepting new asylum seekers, and new arrivals often find that the systems that are supposed to support them are inadequate. Where do migrants without a home go when it’s not safe outside because nature is acting out?

Pitches should include:

– Human-centered stories and clear narrative arcs

– Compelling characters (immigrants whose story will illustrate the larger themes explored in your piece, as well as experts, community leaders to help frame the stories with context and information that deepens our reporting).

– A focus on immigrant communities from different regions, backgrounds, and economic circumstances across the country.

Compensation: 

Compensation for accepted stories will depend on factors including the experience level of the producer, the length of the story, and the complexity of the story. Payment for stories ranges from $250 to $1000.

How to Submit:

Please send submissions by completing this form.

Email questions to us at contact@feetin2worlds.org.

Deadline:

The deadline to pitch your story ideas was November 11 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.

*This call for pitches is now closed.*

Feet in 2 Worlds is supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, The Ford Foundation, the David and Katherine Moore Family Foundation, the Ralph E. Ogden Foundation, the Fernandez Pave the Way Foundation, an anonymous donor and readers like you.

Florida’s new law targeting undocumented immigrants has raised concerns in sectors of the local economy, with Arizona’s past experience serving as a possible precursor of both economic repercussions and unforeseen political consequences.

By Diego Graglia, FI2W web editor

As soon as she took office Friday, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solís moved to reverse a rule affecting guest farmworkers that former President George W. Bush had modified in his last days in office.

The changes included eliminating duplication among state and federal agencies in processing applications, putting in place a new wage formula, and increasing fines for willfully displacing United States citizens with foreign workers.

Critics said Bush’s rules would push already poor wages even lower, reduce worker protections, and make it easier to hire foreigners without actually looking for American employees first.

Solís had been among the many critics of Bush’s decision, which was made in December but went into effect Jan. 17, three days before President Barack Obama was sworn in. At the time, then-U.S. Rep. Solís issued a statement calling the Bush rules “just the latest example of how out of touch the president is with working families, especially with Latino families that make up a large portion of the farmworkers in this country.”

On Solís’ first day in office, the Labor Department announced in a statement “the proposed suspension for nine months” of the rule. Solís said in the release:

Because many stakeholders have raised concerns about the H-2A regulations, this proposed suspension is the prudent and responsible action to take.

Suspending the rule would allow the department to review and reconsider the regulation, while minimizing disruption to state workforce agencies, employers and workers.

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