Welcoming Cities Initiative

Commitment to Action

Welcoming Cities Initiative

Commitment by

Welcoming America

In 2013, Welcoming America committed to launch the Welcoming Cities Initiative, which will help cities across the US to collaboratively advance a positive immigration agenda. Welcoming America will initially enlist ten cities in its Welcoming Cities network and will provide a venue for municipal leaders to share promising practices and policies that build cohesive communities and attract and retain immigrant entrepreneurs. The Welcoming Cities Initiative will provide research and tools, host quarterly conference calls, and connect participants to Welcoming America's network of immigrant integration partners. In addition, Welcoming America will lift up successful Welcoming Cities through earned and paid media strategies.

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Tabs

Overview

Summary

Commitment

Welcoming Cities Initiative

Launched

2013

Est. Duration

3 Years

Estimated Total Value

$2,663,578

Region

Northern America

Countries

United States

Commitment by

Welcoming America

Details

APPROACH
Welcoming America commits to launch the Welcoming Cities Initiative, which will help cities across the US collaboratively advance a positive migration agenda by providing a venue for municipal leaders to share promising practices and policies that build cohesive communities and attract and retain immigrant entrepreneurs. This project seeks to bring scope, depth, research and new tools to the newly formed network of collaborating cities. Welcoming Cities will also move cities beyond thinking about integration as a collection of services, and toward a more transformational collective action approach that taps the broader community to participate.
Specifically, municipalities that join the Initiative have the chance to: 1) Hear from local government leaders who are making the most of their diversity, by creating immigrant?friendly welcoming plans; 2) Learn about large and small communities that are responding to demographic change and supporting long?term immigrant integration in a way that speaks to and benefits all members of the community; 3) Access new tools and resources to help advance welcoming strategies and attract immigrant entrepreneurs; 4) Receive support and recognition for their efforts to foster more economically vibrant, inclusive, and welcoming communities; and 5) Participate in national and transatlantic learning exchanges that highlight promising practices from globally competitive cities.
Welcoming America will act as convener, coach and marketer for participating municipalities. Cities will have access to tools and curriculum developed, tested and refined by Welcoming America and its local partners. The Welcoming Cities Initiative will host quarterly conference calls, and participants will also be connected to Welcoming America's network of immigrant integration partners. In addition, Welcoming America will lift up successful welcoming cities through earned and paid media strategies.
ACTION PLAN
In 2013, the Welcoming Cities Initiative will:
1) Bring 10 cities into the Welcoming Cities cohort, using a city or county sign-on document. (July 2013)
2) Convening quarterly cohort conference calls and one in-person meeting for Welcoming Cities participants. (Conference calls September and December, in-person meeting November).
3) Provide at least one opportunity for U.S. cities to connect with Canadian and European counterparts on best practices for fostering immigrant-friendly communities. (TBD, before December 2013).
4) Tailor current Welcoming America tools and curriculum for municipal government audiences. Develop new tools of interest to the cohort, as needed. (Ongoing)
5) Develop a communications plan to publicize and promote model 'Welcoming Cities.' The plan will also include launching an Initiative website and developing marketing materials. (September)
6) Identify and engage key immigrant integration partners for the Initiative to ensure municipal leaders better understand traditional integration approaches, such as the provision of English language classes. (Ongoing)

Background

Worldwide, the last twenty years have witnessed a dramatic rise in migration, and in the U.S., the foreign born population has roughly doubled. Change on this scale is never easy, not for immigrants, nor for communities asked to welcome newcomers whose language and culture they may not understand. In the U.S., dramatic demographic shifts have led to increased anxiety among native-born residents and new pressures on local governments who must adapt to serve a changing demographic.
Despite new challenges, there are also significant opportunities. A growing body of research is pointing to the economic contributions of immigrants and underscores that cities that successfully attract and retain immigrants and new, global talent can create positive opportunities for growth and competitiveness in a 21st century economy.
Today, a new opportunity exists as a growing number of cities are seeking to compete for immigrants, rather than drive them away. Now is the time to lift up and bring to scale the emergent work of these 'Welcoming Cities.' More than ever before, local governments must be supported in their efforts to foster welcoming, immigrant-friendly environments that respond proactively to demographic change, position them favorably in a global economy, and capitalize on their greatest asset - their people.
Over the last five years, Welcoming America has supported a growing national network of communities that are fostering positive climates for successful immigrant integration. While individual efforts are taking place in several U.S. cities, there is currently no network in place to support the work happening throughout the U.S.; exchange promising practices; and present efforts on a national stage, and encourage their further proliferation. Despite growing interest in this area, many cities and smaller towns lack the capacity and political will to address immigration comprehensively and strategically.

Partnership Opportunities

Welcoming America seeks funding to support and sustain the Welcoming Cities and Counties Initiative, and is also interested in partnering with media and communications experts in developing and implementing a strategic communications plan for the Welcoming Cities and Counties Initiative. This includes identifying and pitching local and national, traditional and new media to promote the efforts of specific cities as well as the overall Welcoming Cities network.

Through this initiative, Welcoming America supports municipal governments to create more welcoming, immigrant-friendly environments that maximize opportunities for economic growth and cultural vitality. Participating cities will be able to hear from local government leaders who are making the most of their diversity by creating immigrant-friendly welcoming plans; learn about large and small communities that are responding to demographic change and supporting long-term immigrant integration in a way that speaks to and benefits all members of the community; access new tools and resources to help advance welcoming resolutions, initiatives, and strategies; receive support and recognition for their efforts to foster more vibrant, inclusive, and welcoming communities; and participate in national and transatlantic learning exchanges that highlight promising practices from globally competitive cities.

Progress Reports

March 2016

Our commitment to launch our Welcoming Cities and Counties initiative has been fully and successfully completed. Already, the Welcoming Cities and Counties initiative has made significant strides in advancing arace to the top amongst localities to attract immigrants, and as an integral part of Welcoming America's network the initiative will continue to grow and deepen. Since the initiative's launch, we have become a recognized leader on immigrant inclusion. We have been honored by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and the BMW Group through the 2014 Intercultural Innovation Award, by President Barack Obama, and as Champions of Change by the White House in 2013. This points to the formidable role Welcoming America has played in successfully reframing the issue of immigration as a competitive advantage for cities and motivating localities to take measurable steps to become more inclusive.

In three short years, the network has grown to include 64 local government members that have committed publically to advancing immigrant-friendly policy and practice. Welcoming America supports these cities'efforts through resources, coaching, technical assistance, and in-person and online training. Examples of progress on-the-ground include the following:

Pittsburgh developed a comprehensive welcoming plan through the Welcoming Pittsburgh initiative. Immigrants from 60+ countries helped shape the recommendations of the plan, which will be undertaken in three categories: Welcome, Neighbor! (community, civics and citizenship, and communication), Bridge to the City (government and policy, housing, and services), and Prospering Together (business, job creation, employment, and empowerment). Innovative efforts include international exchanges, a youth ambassador program, a new community policing approach, improved transportation accessibility, and job fairs for immigrants.

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder established the Michigan Office for New Americans (MONA) to work with all state agencies to connect immigrants with resources and provide feedback to the Governor's office on state legislation related to immigrants. One of MONA's recent successes is the launch of the Michigan International Talent Solutions (MITS) program, in partnership with Upwardly Global, to work with immigrant job-seekers who are either unemployed or underemployed to help them find jobs that better fit their skill set.

In Decatur, GA a comprehensive two-year community outreach strategy and community planning process has resulted in the adoption of its Better Together Community Action Plan. This plan was adopted in December 2015 and is set to begin implementation in 2016.