The human on the other side of Trump’s wall: Lessons from Schindler’s List in an era of othering
Like all nations, America is bound together by deep, and often deeply conflicted, myths and narratives about who we are. The President’s demands for a border wall has refashioned policy discussion about immigration into a retelling of one of the most dangerous narratives we have—one that falsely pits immigrant Americans against so-called “real” Americans. As…
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 MoreHow advocates can advance immigrant workforce issues at the state and local level
This post originally appeared at National Skills Coalition, authored by Amanda Bergson-Shilocock. As Welcoming Week prepares to kick off, with hundreds of events scheduled around the country, National Skills Coalition is releasing a new report that gives state and local advocates fresh ideas for advancing policies to improve immigrant access to workforce and adult education services. At…
Read MoreThe power of volunteering in welcoming communities
Originally published in the September 2018 edition of SLOGOPIS and translated from Slovenian. Church World Service, a refugee resettlement organization, reported that its volunteer base had quadrupled. Welcoming communities around the world have seen a similar uptick in volunteerism, and harnessing the energy, skills, and commitment that volunteers bring to the welcoming movement has become…
Read MoreWelcoming Week brought neighbors together to act our values
Over a thousand events in 40+ states offer a counterpoint to the national vitriol We are wrapping up Welcoming Week in a time of extremes, both the harmful rhetoric that isolates us and hampers our potential as a thriving, inclusive society, and the immense enthusiasm and support for affirming our American values. This is especially…
Read MoreEight Themes for Welcoming Week 2018
It’s a time of immense challenges for the communities we serve, many of whom are living in fear. We are becoming polarized, and many Americans have been uprooted by the sense that they no longer belong. At the same time, many people are standing up for their neighbors and affirming that our country is a…
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 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…
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