Adaptive, resilient, and innovative: How the Welcoming Network is responding to COVID-19
The Welcoming Network is composed of more than 200 local governments and local nonprofit organizations working to make their communities welcoming and inclusive places for all. In this Q&A, Christina Pope, Senior Network Director at Welcoming America, shares her observations on how the network is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in their communities. What are…
Read MoreMember Spotlight: Resilience during COVID-19 in Salt Lake County
*As the COVID-19 crisis continues, we share the stories and experiences of the Welcoming Network in responding to the crisis in their communities as well as the challenges facing immigrant-serving nonprofit organizations. This week, we hear from Ze “Zee” Xiao, Director of the Mayor’s Office for New Americans in Salt Lake County, UT. COVID-19 has…
Read MoreDetroit city-to-city visit big hit
Building a welcoming economy—one that is inclusive of immigrants, their talents, their aspirations, and their contributions—can be a daunting endeavor. The Welcoming Economies (WE) Global Network brings together over 20 cities across the Rust Belt who have initiated local initiatives to do just that. Most of the WE members launched their efforts with the last…
Read MoreSpotlight on Louisville, Kentucky
Recognizing the positive effect that promoting inclusion has had on its economy and neighborhoods, Louisville, Kentucky has become a leader in the welcoming movement. Louisville is home to a host of innovative programs and policies to help immigrants and long-term members integrate into the fabric of the city, and, in return, residents of all backgrounds…
Read MoreThe City of Neighbors
Philadelphia is a leader in attracting, retaining, and including immigrants, and has shown the positive economic and social impacts of being a welcoming city. Immigrants have significantly contributed to the reversal of a 60-year population decline, and since 2000 are responsible for 96 percent of small business growth and 75 percent of workforce growth.
Read MoreMember Spotlight: Neighborhood Development Center
The Neighborhood Development Center in Minnesota revitalizes distressed communities by empowering local entrepreneurs to invest in their own neighborhoods. This Welcoming Economies Global Network member has trained at least 5,000 potential business owners and currently support over 600 businesses. The entrepreneurs they have assisted have created over 2,285 jobs and returned over $46 million annually…
Read MoreMoroccan flavors
Hassan Ziadi studied culinary arts in Europe. He worked in the kitchens of five-star establishments. And the emir of Qatar chose him to launch a restaurant in one of the country’s boutique hotels. Today, the native of Morocco is serving up his homeland’s traditional cuisine in Minnesota. Hassan is the executive chef and owner of…
Read MoreEast Lake Street in Minnesota revitalized by immigrant entrepreneurs
Two decades ago, East Lake Street in Minnesota was a haze of shuttered storefronts and boarded-up buildings. The Minneapolis thoroughfare was essentially a path to prostitution and drug dealing. “The neighborhood was in trouble,” says Twin Cities community leader Juan Linares. “Businesses didn’t have enough customers. But customers were afraid of coming to this area.”…
Read MoreStrengthening neighborhoods from within
Becky Xiong takes a tiny knife and carves the word “congratulations” into the side of a watermelon. She’ll complement that with cantaloupes cut to resemble shooting stars. Her work is popular with Hmong-Americans, who order tables full of sculpted fruit for presentations and parties. “I had been helping family and friends and churches who wanted…
Read MoreBoxing and ballet
Dalton Outlaw was eight-years-old when he first stepped inside the neighborhood boxing gym. “I fell in love with the place,” says Dalton. “It was a place where I could let out all my energy. Plus, it was a place that accepted me.” Punching bags and competition rings became his world. And, in 2011, Dalton opened…
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