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. |
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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 now |
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Member 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:
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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.
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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.
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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. |
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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
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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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