Pramila Jayapal

executive director, One America

Pramila Jayapal is the founder and Executive Director of OneAmerica. She is an immigrant from India and has spent over twenty years working for social justice, both internationally and domestically. Under her leadership, OneAmerica has achieved significant policy change in Washington State, leading efforts to win numerous victories for immigrants including: a New Americans Executive Order signed by Washington Governor Chris Gregoire, a comprehensive plan to address the needs of immigrant communities in Seattle, an ordinance preventing any City of Seattle employee from inquiring about immigration status, and numerous resolutions at the city and county level upholding the human rights and dignity of immigrants and affirming the need for comprehensive immigration reform. Also under her leadership, OneAmerica has engaged in the first large-scale immigrant voter registration program in the state, registering tens of thousands of new citizens to vote and organizing within immigrant communities to engage and involve immigrants in democracy. Nationally, Pramila has helped to lead the fight for due process and comprehensive immigration reform, serving as Vice Chair of the Rights Working Group national coalition as well as on the Executive Committee of the Fair Immigration Reform Movement. In 2008, she was appointed by Governor Gregoire as Vice Chair of the New Americans Policy Council.