What is Welcoming?
When places describe themselves as welcoming, what does it mean?
Being welcoming is much more than being friendly, tolerant, or peaceful. We believe that truly welcoming places have intentional, inclusive policies, practices, and norms that enable all residents to live, thrive, and contribute fully — including immigrants.
Welcoming places are made possible by welcoming people and leaders, including immigrants themselves. Whether you’re a student, librarian, government worker, or business owner, each of us is empowered to foster more welcoming places at work, in our neighborhoods, and places of gathering.
Communities that have worked for many years to become more welcoming have helped us shape the Welcoming Standard. Together, welcoming places, communities, and individuals can create the conditions for a thriving community that embraces, harnesses, and fully leverages the contributions of all residents.
Why does being welcoming matter?
Being welcoming can be a challenge when communities undergo significant changes, but especially with demographic change. Whether it’s due to the economy, immigration policies, or climate disasters, communities experiencing an influx of newcomers may not be prepared, causing misunderstanding and tension, and in some cases, outright violence and hostility.
But when communities recognize the value being truly welcoming and intentionally work toward the inclusion of newcomers, they can create a culture and policy environment where all residents feel empowered to work with each other in strengthening the social, civic, and economic fabric.
When we find strength in our diversity — and actively resist fear and division — we can build a resilient community that fully harnesses the talents, skills, and contributions of every resident so that all can thrive.
The Welcoming Standard
As a way to further define what we mean by being welcoming, the Welcoming Standard provides communities a comprehensive roadmap toward becoming more welcoming places.
The Welcoming Standard also sets benchmarks that community organizations, residents, and others can use to hold welcoming places accountable and spur innovation.
There are seven framework categories of the Welcoming Standard that we believe define truly welcoming places:
- Government & Community Leadership: In welcoming places, local governments implement systems and programs, such as designating a unit and staff to coordinate immigrant inclusion, that strengthen community efforts and embed inclusion within government agencies.
- Equitable Access: Welcoming places work to ensure community services and opportunities are available to all residents, including newcomers. This includes improving access to healthcare, childcare, transportation, and more.
- Civic Engagement: Welcoming communities actively ensure that residents, including newcomers, fully participate in civic life by increasing access to leadership and democratic spaces.
- Connected Communities: Welcoming communities build connections between newcomers and long-term residents by strengthening relationships, communicating shared values, and promoting a welcoming culture through institutional communications.
- Education: Welcoming communities strive for an educational system that ensures all students have the support they need to succeed in school and the education they need to succeed in the workforce.
- Economic Development: Welcoming communities harness the full potential of all residents, including those from other countries who have the skills and assets to thrive, by developing economies that leverage all talents.
- Safe Communities: Welcoming communities foster trust and build relationships between residents and law enforcement and safety agencies. This includes training public safety staff on working with diverse communities and more.
What does a welcoming place need to get started?
There are many factors that go into creating a truly welcoming place, including:
- Vision: Modeling in practice and policy the values of a healthy democracy
- Leadership: Inspiring others to join in and expanding key decision making to others
- Acknowledgement: Addressing racism at all levels and situating the work in the local and historical contexts.
- Mutuality and agency: Striving to build trust, mutual respect, and cooperation across lines of difference. Recognizing that institutions which extend agency—not charity—will have the greatest impact.
- Sustained commitment: Begin with shared values and culminate in the accountability of our institutions to an ever-growing “we the people”.
How can I help my community become a more welcoming place?
Creating a welcoming community is something each of us can play a role in, whether by deepening our own understanding, fostering belonging in our neighborhood or organization, electing leaders who care about these values, or joining others in moving closer to achieving the Welcoming Standard.
Throughout Welcoming America’s history, we have seen time and time again the outcomes when communities prioritize welcoming and inclusive practices in government, the economy, and social life. See our Stories of Impact to see examples of leaders taking action to make their communities more welcoming from Alaska to Pennsylvania.
More ways to take action:
- View and download resources
- Host an event in your community during Welcoming Week
- Become a member of the Welcoming Network and receive technical assistance on your plans of action
- For local governments: become Certified Welcoming to have your welcoming efforts recognized nationally
- Share what #BeingWelcoming means to you on social media