News & Resources
Tips to Build & Sustain a Locally Welcoming Infrastructure
Following the U.S. government’s departure from Afghanistan in August 2021, Welcoming America and a cadre of partners created this toolkit for community leaders managing arrivals of Afghan refugees. It offers four key tips to creating an equitable and welcoming environment, including mobilizing a multi-sector response group; creating a We Welcome Fund; sharing messages of welcome; and changing policy at the federal, state, and local levels.
Resettlement Strategies: Learning from National Examples & Local Actors
Presented by Welcoming America and Boston University, this two-part webinar provides a broad understanding of how the resettlement system works in the United States, how it differs from other systems, and what challenges it has undergone over the past three years. Part one of this series took place on May 26, 2021 and part two…
Engaging Public Sector Stakeholders to Prepare for Welcoming More Refugees
This webinar was hosted and organized by Switchboard on April 7, 2021. Switchboard is a resource hub for refugee service providers in the United States. Welcoming America staff presented on this timely topic using knowledge and examples from the Welcoming Network. Speakers: Christina Pope, Senior Network Director George Zavala, Western Regional Manager As refugee service…
Integrating Immigrants into Civic Life
Presented by the National Civic League, this webinar features Welcoming America’s Certified Welcoming Director Melissa Bertolo and two communities empowering immigrant leaders. The webinar covers innovative ways nonprofits, city, and county governments are including and welcoming immigrants in all areas of civic, social, and economic life. Speakers: Melissa Bertolo, Certified Welcoming Director, Welcoming America Sabeen…
Taste of Belonging Cookbook
The presence of food sets the table for conversation and curiosity — two essential ingredients for building community among people who have different backgrounds and identities. Under the right conditions, food can be a positive entry point for activities and initiatives that decrease prejudice between different groups. Welcoming America created this cookbook as a tool…
Creative Placemaking & Welcoming: Tips and Tools for Integrating Arts, Culture, and Immigration
In communities where arts institutions also play a role in welcoming, organizations reap the benefits of inclusion as they attract more diverse audiences, reflect their changing communities, and make communities more vibrant. Creative Placemaking & Welcoming: Tips and Tools for Integrating Arts, Culture, and Immigration was created as an entry point and companion piece to…
Building a Welcoming Economy: How Local Economic Development Can Support Immigrant Business Owners, Investors and Entrepreneurs
As part of the Winter 2021 issue of the Economic Development Journal, the article “Building a Welcoming Economy: How Local Economic Development Can Support Immigrant Business Owners, Investors and Entrepreneurs” on page 5 highlights best practices, lessons, and examples that communities may use to develop successful economic development strategies that include immigrants. Author Steve Tobocman…
Establishing and Maintaining Inclusive Emergency Management with Immigrant and Refugee Populations
With the COVID-19 pandemic and greater occurrences of natural disasters, the need for inclusion in emergency management is paramount. We will discuss a variety of topics, including our latest toolkit, which was created in partnership with the I-DIEM and focused on how organizations can develop more inclusive preparedness and practices in emergencies. Our panelists will…
Overcoming COVID Vaccine Hesitancy in Immigrant Communities
View the slide deck from this webinar here. Additional resources provided by the speakers can be found here. While efforts to administer the COVID-19 vaccine are ramping up across the country, there is a dramatic rise in misinformation being shared. As a result, many individuals and families are hesitant to receive the vaccine, and this…
Establishing and Maintaining Inclusive Emergency Management with Immigrant and Refugee Populations
The Establishing and Maintaining Inclusive Emergency Management with Immigrant and Refugee Populations Checklist is designed to help strengthen existing emergency preparedness plans by ensuring immigrants and refugees are part of any emergency response. History demonstrates that residents of color are disproportionately impacted by disasters. In the Great Floods of 1927, over 330,000 African Americans were…