U.S., Australian participants selected for exchange program between rural communities
As part of Welcoming America’s continued work in fostering rural leadership in welcoming and inclusion, we are thrilled to announce the 16 participants selected for the forthcoming Rural Welcoming Communities Exchange program (RWCE): U.S. participants: Celeste Koppe of the West Central Initiative (Fergus Falls, MN) Fatima Said of Project FINE (Winona, MN) David Kramer of…
Read MoreTwelve nonprofits, local governments receive funding for projects to foster, deepen belonging in local communities
Welcoming America is pleased to announce the 12 nonprofit and local government recipients of the second 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: Level 1 recipients: Centro Multicultural (Pontiac, MI) City of…
Read MoreGetting Started with Welcoming (webinar series)
This two part webinar series will introduce you to the what, why, and how of welcoming. Whether your community is responding to Afghan airlifts, looking to attract a new plant to town, or launching a diversity initiative, the work begins with connecting the people and resources in your community. We call this work building welcoming…
Read MoreConnecting 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…
Read MoreCultivating Contact: A Guide to Building Bridges and Meaningful Connections Between Groups
Published in partnership with the Center for Inclusion and Belonging at the American Immigration Council and the University of Massachusetts Amherst, this guide harnesses the lessons drawn from decades of research on how to foster a sense of trust and belonging between people from different backgrounds through community-based programs and initiatives. Decades of research show…
Read MoreGeorgia, North Carolina nonprofits receive funding to bridge immigrant, non-immigrant communities
Welcoming America is pleased to announce the six nonprofit organizations in Georgia and North Carolina selected to receive $40,000 grants as part of the Fund to Foster Belonging and participate in a program to foster belonging among and between immigrant and non-immigrant communities: Every Campus A Refuge at Guilford College (Greensboro, NC) City/County of Durham,…
Read MoreSouthern 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…
Read MoreInclusive 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…
Read MoreA year of fostering belonging: 2021 reflections
As the world headed into a second year of the pandemic, we faced new and familiar challenges from misinformation, climate change and migration, and uneven economic recovery. But we also saw a surge of unprecedented support in racial equity, accessibility, and infrastructure investment. As we look ahead to 2022, here are some of the key…
Read MoreOne Region Initiative in metro Atlanta transitions ownership to Corners Outreach to lead regional inclusion strategy
Decatur, GA — Today, national nonprofit Welcoming America announces the transition of the One Region Initiative to local nonprofit Corners Outreach. Formed in 2017 in partnership with The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, the One Region Initiative made Atlanta the first major metro area in the U.S. to adopt a regional welcoming plan that encompassed…
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