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Welcoming takes root in the south: How one Florida community fosters safety and language access
Words and intentions aren’t enough to create a community where everyone belongs. Residents of Gainesville and Alachua County, Florida know how much effort it takes to make their home a more welcoming place to live. “To be a welcoming community means that you have policies in place which become everyday behaviors and actions, in turn,…
From Afghanistan to Virginia: How Richmond welcomes refugees
In 2016, a group of 30 Afghan women arrived at their local DMV office in Richmond, Virginia to take the learner’s permit test. When they arrived from Afghanistan a few years before, they didn’t know how to get a driver’s license and could not find information in their language. Kate Ayers, executive director of ReEstablish…
Redefining the refugee resettlement experience in North Carolina
In 2022, for the first time in history, over 100 million people were forcibly displaced. Ongoing global conflicts are bringing more individuals and families to the United States, making it critical to support organizations that are innovating and mobilizing their resources to welcome refugees. Last year, Welcoming America announced the recipients of $40,000 grants as…
#WomenOfWelcoming: Celebrating history and inclusion for Women’s History Month
In the United States, Women’s History Month takes place during March to celebrate the contributions and achievements of women in a variety of fields, from the past to the present. At Welcoming America, we are proud to lead a membership network of 300+ nonprofits and local government organizations that work to help communities become more…
Connecting Indigenous storytelling to build bridges in Charlotte
A story’s ability to bring people together is boundless. Ramona Moore Big Eagle knows this because storytelling is in her blood. Based in the newly Certified Welcoming city of Charlotte, North Carolina, Ramona is an educator, legend keeper, enrolled member of the Tuscarora nation, and recently, a gardener. Through her work with the Universal Institute…
School boards in focus: sustaining democracy and pluralism by taking a step back
Through the pandemic, schools became one of the toughest places to navigate for students, parents, educators, and school board members. Over time, school board meetings became tense spaces where people released their frustrations on issues ranging from mask mandates to the role of race in student curricula, sometimes ending in school board members being removed…
Nonprofit empowers Black immigrant community in St. Louis, Missouri
Did you know that one in 10 Black people in the U.S. is an immigrant and that Africa has accounted for the fastest growth in the U.S. Black immigrant population? (Pew Research Center) For Black History Month, we chatted with Geoffrey Soyiantet, President and CEO of the St. Louis-based nonprofit and Welcoming Network member Vitendo…
Differences give way to friendship over Somalian coffee in St. Cloud, Minnesota
In 2020, Welcoming America and its members worked in eight cities to bridge diverse communities and foster a deeper sense of belonging for local residents, including immigrants. This story is part of the Belonging Begins With Us campaign, which was funded in part by the Walmart Foundation. The central Minnesota where Natalie Ringsmuth grew up…
Southern Missourians of all backgrounds find common purpose during pandemic
In 2020, Welcoming America and its members worked in eight cities to bridge diverse communities and foster a deeper sense of belonging for local residents, including immigrants. This story is part of the Belonging Begins With Us campaign, which was funded in part by the Walmart Foundation. At 59, Maria de Lordes looks back at…
Inclusive economic recovery: bridging the digital divide, language access gaps in Contra Costa County
As the U.S. continues to recover from some of the worst of the pandemic, Welcoming Network members worked in communities to make the recovery process as inclusive as possible. This is the final of three blogs written by Global Detroit on behalf of Welcoming America that share the challenges, solutions, and possibilities of inclusive economic…