Advancing a Welcoming Infrastructure for Humanitarian Relief
As individuals and organizations in localities across the globe mobilize to support those displaced by war, conflict, and climate disasters, meeting the immediate needs is critical. At the same time, building the infrastructure needed to support and engage migrants and non-migrants in the long term is essential to ensuring belonging for all lasts beyond these…
Read MoreWelcoming America joins Bezos Family Foundation to launch student art initiative to support refugee children
Welcoming America is partnering with the BFF program Students Rebuild on their new annual challenge to help change the lives of displaced families from Ukraine, Ethiopia, Turkey, and more. The Bezos Family Foundation’s program Students Rebuild today launched their new annual challenge, The Welcoming Refugees Project, to support organizations working with displaced families including Welcoming…
Read MoreNewcomers to Neighbors: How Philanthropy Can Support New Arrivals and Welcoming Infrastructure
In this donor briefing hosted by Open Society Foundations, Welcoming America, and Welcome.US, experts explore new opportunities to support arriving families from Afghanistan, Ukraine, and other parts of the world. Learn about the role that national and community philanthropy can play in growing the capacity of every community to be a more welcoming one for…
Read MoreWays to be welcoming for World Refugee Day 2022
Today marks the 21st anniversary of World Refugee Day. Internationally designated by the United Nations, World Refugee Day serves as a commemoration of the brave journey made by millions of individuals forced to flee their homes and a reminder of the importance of providing welcoming spaces to help them rebuild their lives in safety. This…
Read MoreWelcoming Network members receive over $1 million to strengthen welcoming infrastructure for Afghan arrivals
Welcoming America is pleased to announce $1.25 million in grants from the Open Society Foundations to select local governments that support community efforts to meet the needs of new Afghan arrivals. Rachel Perić, executive director of Welcoming America, co-chaired the selection committee with Rich André of the American Immigration Council. Each grantee will receive amounts…
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 MoreCommunity Sponsorship of Refugees: Methods and Examples
This webinar took place on November 17, 2021 Community sponsorship provides an avenue for individuals, groups, and organizations to participate in the resettlement of refugees. This webinar will explore the various community sponsorship models and provide resources for communities wanting to take part in supporting refugee families. If you’re looking to better understand the options…
Read MoreCómo Establecer y Mantener la Gestión Inclusiva de Emergencias con las Poblaciones de Inmigrantes y Refugiades
“La Lista de Verificación para la Gestión Inclusiva de Emergencias con las Poblaciones de Inmigrantes y Refugiades” — creada en colaboración con el Institute for Diversity and Inclusion in Emergency Management — tiene como objetivo contribuir al fortalecimiento de los planes de preparación para emergencias existentes. Para ello, se asegurará que les inmigrantes y refugiades…
Read MoreA safe space: New and established Louisville residents talk preconceptions, build connections (and houses)
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. With a good job as a hotel manager,…
Read MoreTips 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.
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