World Refugee Day: Standing with refugee leaders who are sparking change
On World Refugee Day, held every year on June 20, we honor the strength, courage, and perseverance of refugees around the globe. This year, World Refugee Day focuses on solidarity with refugees, for a world where refugees are welcomed. Solidarity means keeping our doors open, celebrating refugees’ strengths and achievements, and reflecting on the challenges…
Read MoreStaying rooted in humanity: Reflections on #Interactive2024
Last week, 800 welcomers from across the globe joined us at the 2024 Welcoming Interactive in the Certified Welcoming city of Dallas, Texas. Leaders from local governments, nonprofits, and other sectors spent three days sharing inspiring practices and ideas for including immigrants and refugees in their communities. Participants hailed from communities across the U.S., Canada,…
Read More‘Welcoming is possible’: Opening remarks at the Welcoming Interactive 2024
Editor’s note: Following are remarks by Rachel Perić, executive director of Welcoming America, delivered on April 11, 2024 at the opening plenary of the 2024 Welcoming Interactive conference in Dallas, Texas. It has been lightly edited for web publication. Welcome to the Welcoming Interactive. What a mighty room! Give yourself a round of applause. Thank…
Read More‘Welcoming is an American value’: Assistant Secretary Julieta Valls Noyes at the 2024 Welcoming Interactive
As we count down the days to the 2024 Welcoming Interactive, we’re getting excited thinking about the energy, learning, and connection that the conference sparks for attendees. The local communities and individuals on the frontlines of welcoming immigrants and refugees are the reason we gather. Sharing ideas and practices that leaders can bring home to…
Read MoreMoving from inclusion to belonging: Bridge-building success stories
Belonging is more than a feeling. Belonging means to be fully part of society at large: each of us has our well-being considered and we’re able to design and benefit from institutions and structures that affect our lives. To achieve belonging, inclusion is a key step in the process. Inclusion is all about action. Individuals,…
Read MoreWelcoming takes root in the south: How one Florida community fosters safety and language access
Words and intentions aren’t enough to create a community where everyone belongs. Residents of Gainesville and Alachua County, Florida know how much effort it takes to make their home a more welcoming place to live. “To be a welcoming community means that you have policies in place which become everyday behaviors and actions, in turn,…
Read MoreOrganizing 101: How nonprofit advocates can bring local government along for the welcoming journey
If you’ve ever wondered why key leaders aren’t at the table in your community’s welcoming coalition, the answer may be that your table isn’t big enough. With over 15 years of working with local governments and nonprofits, Welcoming America has seen many local nonprofits lead a community’s welcoming efforts. Many of these advocates have built…
Read MoreFrom Afghanistan to Virginia: How Richmond welcomes refugees
In 2016, a group of 30 Afghan women arrived at their local DMV office in Richmond, Virginia to take the learner’s permit test. When they arrived from Afghanistan a few years before, they didn’t know how to get a driver’s license and could not find information in their language. Kate Ayers, executive director of ReEstablish…
Read MoreCelebrating inclusive values: A look back at Welcoming Week 2023
For 11 years, communities around the world have been at the forefront of Welcoming Week to showcase their common values of belonging, equity, and inclusion as they strive to be more welcoming places for all. This year was no different. From September 8-17, communities celebrated their diversity, advanced inclusion, and brought people of different backgrounds…
Read MoreRedefining the refugee resettlement experience in North Carolina
In 2022, for the first time in history, over 100 million people were forcibly displaced. Ongoing global conflicts are bringing more individuals and families to the United States, making it critical to support organizations that are innovating and mobilizing their resources to welcome refugees. Last year, Welcoming America announced the recipients of $40,000 grants as…
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