Announcing the 2024 Fund to Foster Belonging grantees

Fund to Foster Belonging

Welcoming America is pleased to announce the recipients of the third round of funding from the Fund to Foster Belonging, which will continue supporting and expanding the work of local leaders and projects that build meaningful connections between immigrants and non-immigrants: ECHO Collective, Lincoln, NE One World, One Love NJ, Summit, NJ Rural Women’s Health…

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Moving from inclusion to belonging: Bridge-building success stories

Muralist spray paints on a wall

Belonging is more than a feeling. Belonging means to be fully part of society at large: each of us has our well-being considered and we’re able to design and benefit from institutions and structures that affect our lives. To achieve belonging, inclusion is a key step in the process. Inclusion is all about action. Individuals,…

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Cuyahoga County, OH and Roanoke, VA latest cities to become Certified Welcoming

February 19, 2024 — Welcoming America, a national nonprofit organization, announces two municipalities as the latest to become Certified Welcoming, each at the 1-star designation: Cuyahoga County in Ohio and the City of Roanoke in Virginia. Rachel Perić, executive director of Welcoming America, said: “We are thrilled to recognize Cuyahoga County and the City of…

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Announcing Rural Welcoming Initiative 2024 participants, peer learning partnerships

Welcoming America is thrilled to announce the 10 participants of the Rural Welcoming Initiative (RWI) for 2024: Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation – Brattleboro, Vermont Catholic Charities of East Tennessee & HOLA Lakeway (partner participants) – Morristown, Tennessee City of Garden City – Garden City, Kansas City of New Ulm – New Ulm, Minnesota City of…

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Welcoming takes root in the south: How one Florida community fosters safety and language access

Group photo of members of the GINI team

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,…

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San Mateo County becomes first Certified Welcoming county in California

January 31, 2024 — Welcoming America, a national nonprofit organization, announces San Mateo County as a Certified Welcoming place, the first county in California to achieve the designation and the first in the nation to achieve it at the 4-star level (the highest being 5-star). Rachel Perić, executive director of Welcoming America, said: “We are…

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Organizing 101: How nonprofit advocates can bring local government along for the welcoming journey

Young people have a discussion outside

If you’ve ever wondered why key leaders aren’t at the table in your community’s welcoming coalition, the answer may be that your table isn’t big enough. With over 15 years of working with local governments and nonprofits, Welcoming America has seen many local nonprofits lead a community’s welcoming efforts. Many of these advocates have built…

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French network of welcoming communities joins Welcoming International Alliance

Read in French | Lire en français Welcoming America is thrilled to announce ANVITA, or l’Association Nationale des Villes et Territoires Accueillants (translated as the National Association of Welcoming Cities and Territories), as its newest partner in the Welcoming International Alliance, a program of the Welcoming International initiative. The France-based network of welcoming cities includes…

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Le réseau français des Villes et Territoires accueillants rejoint Welcoming International

Lire en anglais | Read in English Welcoming America a le plaisir d’annoncer que l’ANVITA, l’Association Nationale des Villes et Territoires Accueillants, rejoint l’Alliance Welcoming International, un programme de l’initiative “Welcoming International”. Le réseau français des villes accueillantes comprend plus de 80 collectivités locales qui mobilisent, défendent et soutiennent les nouveaux arrivants et les populations…

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Building momentum: Welcoming America expands board with new members and appointments

Welcoming America is pleased to announce the new members of our board of directors, as well as changes in its leadership, effective immediately. New members of the board include: Alexandra Toma, Executive Director of the Peace & Security Funders Group Alexandra brings 20 years of leadership in politics, advocacy, and philanthropy to her role as…

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