Surrounded by mountains and sage brush landscapes, Gunnison, Colorado may look like other rural mountain towns: quiet, remote, perfect for connecting with nature, and a hub for seasonal workers. Look closer, though. Among local organizations and leaders, growing efforts for connection and belonging are in bloom. Despite its small population of 16,000 residents, Gunnison County… The post Welcome to Gunnison: A community modeling rural belonging appeared first on Welcoming America.| Welcoming America
Emporia, KANSAS —Emporia has earned the 1-star Certified Welcoming designation from Welcoming America, becoming the first community in Kansas to achieve this recognition through the work of Kansas Spanish Speakers (formerly known as Emporia Spanish Speakers), in partnership with the City of Emporia, and local organizations, affirming the community’s commitment to ensuring that all residents… The post Emporia becomes first Kansas community to earn Certified Welcoming designation appeared...| Welcoming America
Building a welcoming community takes more than good intentions. It requires trust, partnerships, and sustainable funding to weather crises and meet long-term needs. Establishing a welcoming fund is a best practice for creating lasting infrastructure. When anti-immigrant governors started sending buses of asylum seekers to welcoming cities in 2022, Philadelphia prepared. The city not only… The post How to fund welcoming work and strengthen local networks: A case study from Philadelphia appea...| Welcoming America
It’s easy to spot the differences within our communities and to think of them as something that divides us. But what if our differences are exactly what we need to unite? Welcoming Week is an annual opportunity for neighbors to explore different cultures, experiences, and perspectives and, in doing so, find and celebrate what connects… The post Stronger together: Three ways to engage during Welcoming Week 2025 appeared first on Welcoming America.| Welcoming America
Siham Amedy, a Kurdish refugee from northern Iraq, has transformed her experience growing up in a refugee family into a mission to support other refugees and immigrants and strengthen her community. As a 2025 Sparking Change grantee, Siham is organizing a project in Moorhead, Minnesota that uses food to bridge gaps and bring people closer… The post Finding home and strengthening community: Siham’s story appeared first on Welcoming America.| Welcoming America
We all deserve safety. Unrest in any community is concerning. Even more concerning: the treatment of our neighbors and turning Americans against one another. Today, we have a choice about how to respond: from our values or from our fears. This week in Los Angeles, large-scale immigration enforcement operations swept through schools and workplaces, using… The post Statement on LA Immigration Enforcement Operations appeared first on Welcoming America.| Welcoming America
Uncertainty continues to affect welcoming across the U.S. and around the world — but last month, at the 2025 Welcoming Interactive, one thing was certain: this community is strong, ready, and committed to building a better future. Over three days, nearly 900 people came together in Detroit, Michigan for community tours, meaningful conversations, practical sessions,… The post Sharing stories, uniting communities: #Interactive2025 appeared first on Welcoming America.| Welcoming America
Stories are more than just connection points. They’re also catalysts. Welcoming America is excited to announce its campaign theme for Welcoming Week 2025, an annual campaign celebrated in communities across the world, taking place from September 12-21, 2025. The campaign theme, “Stories We Share” focuses on celebrating differences and spotting what we have in common.… The post Welcoming America Announces “Stories We Share” as 2025 Welcoming Week Theme appeared first on Welcoming A...| Welcoming America
“Building welcoming communities is not a luxury. It is essential.” Editor’s note: Following are remarks by Rachel Perić, executive director of Welcoming America, delivered on May 21, 2025 at the opening plenary of the Welcoming Interactive in Detroit, Michigan. They have been lightly edited for web publication. In 1950s Brooklyn, a stunned boy looked up… The post “Building welcoming communities is not a luxury”: Opening remarks at the Welcoming Interactive 2025 appeared first on ...| Welcoming America
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 23, 2025 Three-day conference to spotlight immigrant inclusion and community-building across the world Decatur, GEORGIA – Welcoming America, in partnership with Global Detroit and the City of Detroit Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, will host the 2025 Welcoming Interactive from May 20–22 in Detroit, Michigan. As a Certified Welcoming city, Detroit… The post Welcoming Interactive 2025 Comes to Detroit appeared first on Welcoming America.| Welcoming America
DECATUR, GA — Welcoming America today releases the first-ever State of Welcoming report, now available online as an interactive website.| Welcoming America
