The American Immigration Council does not endorse or oppose candidates for elected office. We aim to provide an analysis of the election’s impact on the U.S. immigration system.
Presented by: Center for Inclusion and Belonging, State and Local Initiatives
Last week, communities in 49 U.S. states across eight countries and three continents declared, “We’re all in!” As part of Welcome America’s 12th Annual Welcome Week. Since Welcoming Week 2024 began on September 13, more than 2,000 events have been held, uniting neighbors of all backgrounds across the country to celebrate the diversity that makes their communities strong and vibrant. Citizenship Day was held during Welcome Week, with more than 400 naturalization ceremonies held across the country to commemorate more than 17,000 new U.S. citizens.
Welcoming Week is a great example of the dedication and efforts of regions around the world to foster a sense of belonging within their communities. The theme is “We’re ALL In!” No matter what misconceptions, superstitions, or hateful rhetoric about immigrants is splashed across the news, it is clear that welcoming immigrants builds and deepens collective prosperity. reminds me. This year’s events include:
Welcoming Week, which started in Minnesota, was quite lively in the Twin Cities as well. The City of Minneapolis kicked things off by announcing a Welcome Week resolution with community members during a City Council meeting, demonstrating the city’s commitment to inclusivity. Another anchor event in partnership with St. Paul included a special edition of the ongoing Twin Cities Monthly Twin Cities Immigration Forum. This forum is a place to discuss immigration-related news and how it affects communities and resources, and to share updates among immigrants. Serving community organizations. The Gainesville Immigrant Neighborhood Inclusion Initiative (GINI) in Gainesville, Florida, is celebrating Welcome Week with “Building Belonging,” an event that includes food from around the world, information on health screenings and flu shots, and resources from various community organizations. Concluded. In Utah, Salt Lake City became the first city in Utah to receive the Welcoming Certification, highlighting its efforts to build welcoming communities. The city welcomed the designation six years ago in 2018, joining Salt Lake County as the first U.S. county to receive the designation.
Communities that participated in Welcoming America and the Council’s Gateway to Growth Challenge (G4G) are also actively participating in this year’s Welcoming Week. G4G helps local leaders accelerate immigrant inclusion by developing multidisciplinary strategic welcoming plans through customized research reports and technical assistance. To date, 76 communities across the country have invested in the many social and economic contributions that immigrants bring to their communities, from Anchorage, Alaska and Austin, Minnesota to Fargo, North Dakota and San Antonio, Texas. , have benefited from celebrating and uplifting. Two of the communities that won G4G Adoption Awards for supporting the implementation of strategic welcoming plans continued to demonstrate their commitment to welcoming through the following events:
In Indiana, Amani Family Services and the Fort Wayne community hosted a calendar of events as part of Welcoming Week, centered around the Welcoming Fort Wayne Awards, which honor “outstanding immigrant and refugee achievements.” Baltimore County, Maryland hosted a Welcoming Week Community Resource Fair that included community resources, family-friendly activities, and opportunities to learn more about different cultures, immigrants, and each of the more than 100 participants.
Welcome Week has grown over the years, and despite efforts to demonize groups of people and incite fear, communities are a beacon of hope, and people are at the forefront of welcoming newcomers every day “to the best of their ability.” It reminds us that we are.
In addition to the many great celebrations held this year, many communities have long solidified their welcoming commitments in their policies and ordinances. Programs like Municipal ID have been established across the United States, including in Detroit and Philadelphia, to help all individuals obtain identification to apply for housing, open a bank account, or secure a job. I’m doing it. Cuyahoga County, Ohio, opened a welcome center earlier this year that offers a variety of resources for immigrants and people with limited English proficiency, and the city and county of Tulsa is funding a business incubator for immigrant entrepreneurs. Our commitment to “We’re ALL In!” doesn’t end there.
The message “We’re ALL In!” The Belonging Begins with Us, Ad Council, and American Immigration Council campaign resonated across the country through a new national public service announcement (PSA) developed in partnership with a team-up project called “Shared Table.” The ad, which airs on TV stations across the country, shows that by sitting around a common table in our lives each of us brings something unique, and by creating space for that unique contribution, we It reminds viewers that they can become stronger.
More than a decade ago, Welcoming Week began as a small collection of events in the United States, but has since expanded to more than 2,000 events each year around the world. In the face of many challenges and an escalating political climate, communities need to be reminded that they are playing a leading role in ensuring everyone feels welcome and belongs, regardless of where they come from. continues to demonstrate this.
Items: Belonging, Inclusion, Welcome America, Welcome Week
