FEATURED NEWS
As we grow during the COVID-19 crisis, we must empower the organizations that serve as bridges between official information and immigrant and refugee residents. Through the Resilient Rapid Response Initiative, Welcoming America continues to assist local government and nonprofit members with immediate needs in responding to the pandemic. We’d like to give a sincere thanks to Democracy Fund and World Education Services Mariam Assefa Fund for their support of the Initiative.
Dance For Resilience: Virtual Dance Party with DJ Quasi Mandisco
Friday, May 29, 7-9 p.m. ET
Join Welcoming America and DJ Quasi Mandisco for a virtual dance party. Joining is free, but a suggested donation of $10 is appreciated. All proceeds will go toward the Resilient Rapid Response Fund to support communities responding to COVID-19 challenges. Invite colleagues, friends, and family to join! Share your moves on social media with the hashtag #WelcomingIsResilient. RSVP now and join at: https://www.twitch.tv/quasimandisco
#GivingTuesdayNow and Beyond
Thanks to your generosity, we raised $2,057 for Giving Tuesday on May 5. If you weren’t able to participate, there’s still time. You can give online or you can text “welcomingamerica” to 243725 to make a donation. Learn More
Communities of Practice
The participants of the Inclusive Emergency Management Community of Practice (CoP) have been selected. They will discuss foundational principles, innovations, challenges, and solutions for organizations working to ensure immigrants can access and contribute to COVID-19 prevention, care, resources, and response coordination.NET
WORK NEWS
Flash Sale: Welcoming America Swag
As we transition our online store this summer, support a more welcoming America from now until May 29 by purchasing Welcoming America swag at reduced rates. Buy nowMember Spotlights
Be inspired by the stories and experiences of Welcoming America members in responding to COVID-19 in their communities and the challenges facing immigrant-serving organizations:
Strategic language access is key to crises in Aurora, CO by Ricardo Gambetta-Alvarado, Manager of the Office of International and Immigrant Affairs, City of Aurora, CO
How Charlotte, NC makes emergency response more inclusive for all by Emily Yaffe and Federico Rios of the Office of Equity, Mobility, and Immigrant Integration of the City of Charlotte
Responding to COVID-19 in Meat Processing Communities by Kate Schieferecke, Refugee Resettlement Case Manager at the Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas.
Members in the News
Welcoming Network members are doing their part to serve communities and provide a roadmap to welcoming, see what locals have to say about them.
A teacher is caring for her student's newborn brother because his mom is recovering from Covid-19 (Published on CNN, highlighting Building 1 Community)
Idaho Refugees' Wartime Experience Helps Them Through COVID-19 Pandemic (Published on Boise State Public Radio, highlighting Idaho Office for Refugees)
Providing Successful Remote Services During the COVID-19 Crisis: Tips from the International Institute of New England (Published on SwitchBoard, highlighting International Institute of New England)
Garden Grows Relationships (Published on McDonald County Press, highlighting RAISE)
Bomi’s Immigration Story – Chungju, South Korea to St. Louis, Missouri (Published on Finding American, highlighting St. Louis Mosaic Project)
Welcome, New Members!
We are thrilled to welcome the following organizations to the Welcoming Network:
The Central Valley Immigrant Integration Collaborative (CVIIC) is a regional network that was created to strengthen the capacity of Central Valley, CA communities to serve the needs and interests of immigrant families.
Intercambio Uniting Communities based in Boulder, CO provides English language education, resources, and training that creates meaningful connections, builds cultural awareness, and inspires confidence.
The City of Birmingham, AL joins as our newest member in the Southern region.
The City of Columbus, OH joins as our newest member in the Rust Belt region.
The International Institute of New England in Boston, MA aims to create opportunities for refugees and immigrants to succeed through resettlement, education, career advancement, and pathways to citizenship.
Article: A roadmap to municipal inclusion in the age of COVID-19
Hello Europe, an initiative of Ashoka, brought their community together to collectively reflect and share their stories on COVID-19’s impact on migration, asylum, and integration. Each focuses on a different perspective and includes practical and implementable policy recommendations. To address the difficulty of maintaining inclusion norms during a crisis, David Lubell of Welcoming International reveals a roadmap to welcoming. Moving forward, as municipalities and other local stakeholders begin rebuilding; creating resilient and prosperous communities will require a focus on inclusivity and unity. Read more.
Welcoming International Update
Welcoming International, an initiative of Welcoming America, will be launching its website soon! Sign up for the newsletter to hear more about the launch and future Welcoming International news.
Have You Been Baking More? Submit a Recipe for the Welcoming Cookbook
Welcoming America is still accepting recipes for the Welcoming Cookbook. Our cookbook will showcase the power of food, tradition, and gathering across lines of difference. Along with recipes, we will also feature examples of using food to bridge communities.
Ways to Participate:
Submit a recipe from your family tradition
Submit a community-building template/example
Share the link with your clients, friends, and family so that they can add their recipe and community building recipes
Fundraising Fears: Moving Beyond Discomfort and Making the Ask
June 2, 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. ET
Discomfort with asking for money is one of the biggest barriers to successful fundraising, especially during a crisis like COVID-19. During this webinar, join fundraising experts from ioby (In Our Own Backyard) and Welcoming America to get useful tips, practice building pitches and more.
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