Political Asylum Project of Austin (PAPA) is changing its name to American Gateways. We have prepared this document to help answer some important questions you may have concerning our name change and our upcoming new brand.

 Important Facts: PAPA’s Name Change

Why the Name Change?

Over the past several years, we have grown and expanded our services, as well as expanded the geographic areas where we offer our services. We are also engaged in reaching out to a much broader constituency on immigration issues. The name no longer accurately fits what we do, and we are finding that it causes misconceptions among people who are learning about us for the first time.

 How did you choose the name?

A sub-group of our Board of Directors worked with a professional branding firm, The Chris Moujaes Company, which provided their services pro bono. The group began by identifying a set of concepts or connotations that a new name for the organization should invoke. Over more than a year, the group reviewed name suggestions, narrowing and eliminating choices until two names were left as finalists. The group conducted due diligence on the remaining two names that included conducting focus groups and an anonymous online survey.

American Gateways emerged as the clear winner in our naming program and was selected because it most strongly conveyed the concepts that had been originally identified as central to our mission.

 When will the new name and brand be instituted?

Over the next several months, we will be notifying key supporters and constituencies of the coming name change. In about 6 to 8 months, we will publicly launch the name and logo design. After about a year, we will begin using American Gateways exclusively as the new name.

 Have there been changes in leadership or in the board?

No. The leadership and the board are still very much committed to our mission and our services.

 Are you changing your mission or services?

Our mission and our services remain the same, but we hope to be able to continue to expand our services to meet the ever growing need for them.

You are informing key constituencies first. Would you prefer that the new name not be discussed until you publicly launch the new name in 6 to 8 months?

The change to the new name will be more of a process over time, so there is no need to keep it secret or avoid telling others. Please share this document with associates who may have questions concerning the name change or direct them to this page our web site at http://www.papais.org/name.html.