Louisville, KY: How Community Advocates Made the Case for Inclusive Communications
In 2021, Amos Izerimana, director of the Office for Immigrant Affairs in Louisville, KY, rallied community members to deliver a message to city council. In a community where the newcomer population had grown rapidly and 150 languages were spoken in public schools, leadership couldn’t afford not to invest in language access and inclusive communications. “I…
Read MorePhiladelphia, PA: How a Census Outreach Campaign Paved the Way for Inclusive Communications
Home to newcomers from across the globe, Philadelphia has a long history as a welcoming city. With commitments to workforce inclusion, equitable education opportunities, and language access, the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection has worked to ensure all residents are included in civic life. However, prior to the 2020 Census, city leaders recognized…
Read MoreMontgomery County, MD: How Local Youth Supported Culturally Resonant Communications Around Mental Health
Maryland’s Montgomery County, located just outside Washington D.C., is home to a growing and diverse Asian American community, comprising 39% of the state’s Asian population. With over 26 ethnic subgroups and even more Asian languages spoken across the county, language access and inclusive communication are essential. Public health officials understand that linguistically and culturally relevant…
Read MoreChampaign IL: How Local Partnerships Boost Capacity for Inclusive Communications
As home to a Big Ten university and major farming operations, central Illinois’ Champaign County attracts people from all over the world, including international students and agricultural workers. This vibrant newcomer community made Champaign one of only nine Illinois counties with a growing population between 2010 and 2019. The local government, including the “twin cities”…
Read MoreLancaster, PA: How City Officials Prioritized Inclusion in COVID-19 Communications
Lancaster, a community of 60,000 residents, welcomed 500 people displaced from Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria in 2017. Their arrival underscored the importance of inclusive communication, prompting the city to develop a linguistically and culturally responsive infrastructure that served it well in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic just three years later. “We are a very…
Read MoreHow Detroit Neighbors Turned a Vacant Lot Into Common Ground
We talk a lot about bringing people together. But what does that actually look like? There’s a science behind it: contact theory. Developed by social psychologist Dr. Gordon Allport, contact theory describes the conditions that support people in building connections across differences. Here’s the basic idea: if you know, work alongside, and do something meaningful…
Read MoreStories We Share: Looking Back at #WelcomingWeek2025
2,014+ events. 50 U.S. states & DC. 8 countries. 63,000+ people reached on social media. Countless stories, conversations, and connections. This is the power of Welcoming Week. With more than 2,000 events and initiatives in 8 countries, Welcoming Week brought together neighbors to build connections and affirm the importance of welcoming places. Now in its…
Read MoreStories We Share: The Power of Small Acts
When we step into our communities with intention and courage, the small acts of welcoming we practice every day become the foundation for the belonging we all seek. This is a call to embrace those everyday moments of connection that, when shared across neighborhoods, create communities where everyone can thrive. When chalk becomes connection I’ve…
Read MoreWelcome to Gunnison: A community modeling rural belonging
Surrounded by mountains and sage brush landscapes, Gunnison, Colorado may look like other rural mountain towns: quiet, remote, perfect for connecting with nature, and a hub for seasonal workers. Look closer, though. Among local organizations and leaders, growing efforts for connection and belonging are in bloom. Despite its small population of 16,000 residents, Gunnison County…
Read MoreHow to fund welcoming work and strengthen local networks: A case study from Philadelphia
Building a welcoming community takes more than good intentions. It requires trust, partnerships, and sustainable funding to weather crises and meet long-term needs. Establishing a welcoming fund is a best practice for creating lasting infrastructure. When anti-immigrant governors started sending buses of asylum seekers to welcoming cities in 2022, Philadelphia prepared. The city not only…
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