“Welcome to the U.S.A. – You’re Hired!”: A Foreword
Editor’s note: This foreword was republished with permission from Betsy Cohen, author of the book “Welcome to the U.S.A. You’re Hired: A Guide for Foreign-born People Seeking Jobs” which released in September 2021. Elizabeth “Betsy” Cohen is the Executive Director of the St. Louis Mosaic Project of the World Trade Center-St. Louis, a Welcoming Network…
Read MoreReflecting on the 20th anniversary of 9/11
As Welcoming Week 2021 kicks off this week with joyous celebrations across the world — virtually and in-person — we also take a moment of silence today to reflect on the lives lost on September 11, 2001. I recall 9/11 vividly, when the world changed irrevocably. Sitting at my desk across the Potomac River, I…
Read MoreCreating a new home, deeper belonging together in Maine
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. Zoe Sahloul was seven years old when war…
Read MoreBoise’s Treasure Valley cooks up deeper ties, belonging for new and long-time residents
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. Tecle Gebremichael earned the right to vote as…
Read MoreInclusive economic recovery: How Atlanta built trust with immigrant leaders, community navigators through a pandemic
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 first of three blogs written by Global Detroit on behalf of Welcoming America that share the challenges, solutions, and possibilities of inclusive…
Read MoreCreating the table: Using food to foster belonging during Welcoming Week
The Nashville Food Project, a Welcoming Network member, works to bring people together to grow, cook, and share nourishing food. Check out how they plan on celebrating #WelcomingWeek2021 using the recently published Taste of Belonging cookbook. As we continue to emerge from the pandemic, we must consider how to heal and connect with one another…
Read MoreMasks on, arms open: Milwaukee nonprofits foster new connections in the heart of the 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 a time when a pandemic isolated Americans,…
Read MoreSalisbury sets out to welcome immigrants and build community on Maryland’s eastern shore
As more communities across the U.S. experience population shifts, how can small municipalities embrace diversity and inclusion to become welcoming places for all? For the city of Salisbury, MD, 2018 served as a turning point on its journey to become a more diverse and inclusive place. Known as the Capital of the Eastern Shore, Salisbury…
Read MoreThis World Refugee Day, learn something new about refugee resettlement
Today is World Refugee Day! First held by the United Nations in 2001, World Refugee Day honors refugees and “celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape persecution” (UNHCR). Welcoming America recently hosted a series of webinars with Boston University on refugee resettlement strategies to…
Read MoreCelebrating #ImmigrantHeritageMonth through food, history, and belonging.
This month, we’re celebrating #ImmigrantHeritageMonth through the stories of food, history, and belonging from our Taste Of Belonging cookbook featuring members from the Welcoming Network. Through the month of June, we will celebrate immigrants by highlighting five stories and recipes from the cookbook. Valerie Mills is senior program manager at Atlanta’s Office of Immigrant Affairs…
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