A Note from Our Executive Director
Dear welcomers, As we enter 2022 in great flux, one constant is the durable power of welcoming infrastructure. As Afghans, Haitians, and other new arrivals join communities — and as communities look to forge trust and equitable policy and practice — we’ll be here to support our 300+ local partners to build lasting local infrastructure…
Read MoreDifferences give way to friendship over Somalian coffee in St. Cloud, Minnesota
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. The central Minnesota where Natalie Ringsmuth grew up…
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 MoreIn Wayne, NJ, mobilizing communities and pivoting thoughtfully in a 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. As COVID-19 peaked in spring 2020, increasingly more…
Read MoreInclusive economic recovery: Sparking immigrant entrepreneurship in California’s Central Valley
As the U.S. continues to recover from some of the worst parts of the pandemic, Welcoming Network members worked in communities to make the recovery process as inclusive as possible. This is the second of three blogs written by Global Detroit on behalf of Welcoming America that share the challenges, solutions, and possibilities of inclusive…
Read MoreEmerson YMCA, Our Lady of Guadalupe School help kids through pandemic, shared effort
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. Where do we find healing during troubled times?…
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 More#BelongingBeginsWithUs: A look back at Welcoming Week 2021
This year, as many of us continued to socially distance ourselves, Welcoming Week still served as a time of celebration and reflection. Under the theme of “Belonging Begins With Us”, Welcoming Week inspired communities to consider what belonging for all looks like, especially for those from other countries, but also for those experiencing a changing…
Read More