Uncategorized
Immigrant Heritage Month: Celebrating our stories of immigration
Each year, Immigrant Heritage Month celebrates the contributions immigrants and their descendants have made to the history and culture of the United States. In this blog, Welcoming America staff share their immigration and/or immigrant heritage experiences. What is your experience with immigration? I am an immigrant myself. My parents moved my siblings and I to…
Read MoreNew Report Shows Immigrants in Baltimore County Paid Over $1.0 Billion in Taxes and Exceeded $2.8 Billion in Spending Power in 2019
Immigrants in Baltimore County made up 21.2 percent of business owners, generated $204.4 million in business income, and helped create and preserve over 4,800 jobs BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD, June 2, 2023—A new report, New Americans in Baltimore County, released today by the American Immigration Council—in partnership with Baltimore County’s Office of Community Engagement, underscores the…
Read MoreAs Title 42 expires, an opportunity emerges to build a more welcoming America
As Title 42 ends this week, we urge the Biden administration and Congress to use this opportunity to pursue a comprehensive immigration policy that is both orderly and compassionate, rather than succumbing to fear. All immigration is local, which means the end of Title 42 will lead to more people seeking asylum at the border…
Read MoreThree tips for community foundations wanting to advance immigrant inclusion
A new white paper from Welcoming America explores the capacity community foundations have to advance the work of welcoming newcomers into U.S. communities. Through our project and white paper we ask: How are community foundations currently engaging in welcoming work? What are the opportunities for community philanthropy to play an even stronger role in advancing…
Read MoreWhy We Gather: #Interactive2023 Reflections
Last week, more than 600 leaders from across the globe joined us in the Certified Welcoming city of San José, California for the 2023 Welcoming Interactive. Welcomers from local governments, nonprofits, and other sectors spent three days exchanging practices and ideas for including immigrants and refugees in their communities. A truly global event, participants from…
Read MoreIlluminating our shared humanity: Opening remarks from the 2023 Welcoming Interactive
Editor’s note: Following are remarks by Rachel Perić, executive director of Welcoming America, delivered on April 27, 2023 at the opening plenary of the Welcoming Interactive conference in San José, California. It has been edited for web publication. We are so glad to be here in San José and see the incredible leadership of this…
Read MoreRevamped Certified Welcoming program includes star designations, new criteria
Welcoming America is pleased to announce the second iteration of the Certified Welcoming program, its signature program that recognizes U.S. cities, towns, and counties for their welcoming policies and programs. Certified Welcoming is introducing a star designation system that will allow more communities to achieve one of five star designations under the Welcoming Standard version…
Read MoreDallas and Detroit to host 2024 and 2025 Welcoming Interactive conference
Welcoming America is pleased to announce Dallas, Texas, and Detroit, Michigan as the sites for the 2024 and 2025 Welcoming Interactive conference, respectively. The formal announcement was made at the recent Welcoming Interactive conference in San José, California, in which 600 participants from across the globe attended. The City of Dallas will spearhead the conference…
Read MoreImmigrant inclusion network convenes in Silicon Valley for annual conference
Welcoming America and the City of San José are set to host the annual Welcoming Interactive conference this Wednesday in San José, California, the heart of Silicon Valley, with over 600 attendees and special guests including San José Mayor Matt Mahan. “We are excited to welcome people from around the world to experience our vibrant,…
Read MoreFarewell, Isha: Parting words from our deputy director
Editor’s note: Isha Lee, deputy director of Welcoming America, is departing the organization after eight years of service. During her tenure, Americans faced some of the most momentous challenges to our well-being and democracy and witnessed profound transformations within the fields of immigration and belonging. Isha came to Welcoming America in 2015 as the first…
Read More