Susan Downs-Karkos June 11, 2013

1. Susan Downs-Karkos June 11, 2013

2. A World on the Move: International Migrants 214 million people 250 200 150 100 50 2.9% 77 million people 2.5% 1960 2010

3. Nations that are more accepting of and better at integrating new immigrants have a higher level of economic growth and development. – Richard Florida

4. Changing Communities • Large scale demographic change • New immigrant destinations • Fear, ambivalence of receiving community

5. The Story of Tennessee • First effort to talk with everyday Tennesseans about their changing community. • Mobilizes local leaders in towns like Nashville and Shelbyville. • Launches billboard campaign and other efforts to change messages about immigrants in the community. • Brings long-time residents and newcomers into direct contact to build trust and understanding.

6. The New Story of Tennessee

7. Welcoming Initiatives WA ME MT ND OR VT NH MN ID SD WI NY MA WY CT MI RI PA IA NJ NE NV OH MD UT IL IN CO WV MO VA CA KS KY NC TN OK AZ SC NM AR GA AL MS TX Key LA Current/Emerging Affiliate Exploring Affiliation FL

8. Welcoming America • National, grassroots-driven collaborative • Goal: create a welcoming atmosphere that supports integration and shared prosperity. • 22 affiliates spearhead local initiatives across the country • Additional support to organizations and communities, including the nation’s refugee program, through Receiving Communities Initiative

9. New Focus: Receiving Communities A welcoming community not only supports immigrants directly, but helps long-time residents understand, contribute to and benefit from immigrant integration.

10. Who is the Receiving Community? • Long-time residents • May be very diverse • In some cases, can be refugees or immigrants themselves • May have conscious or unconscious fear or bias toward immigrants, or are simply ambivalent • Those who don’t live and breathe this work. Our neighbors and loved ones.

12. Benefits of this approach • More welcoming climate for all residents • Refugees and immigrants feel more welcomed to stay and integrate • Strengthened integration program credibility and success • New champions and ability to attract additional resources

13. Receiving Communities Model • Leadership • Engage credible, mainstream leaders to help foster a positive climate. • Contact • Foster meaningful connections between U.S. born and foreign-born. • Communications • Provide an alternative to divisive rhetoric about newcomers through messages that speak to unity, common values, and shared contributions.

14. 1. Building Meaningful Contact “While there are many ways in which [intergroup anxiety] can be reduced, it is through personal relationships with diverse individuals that the most profound and lasting changes take place. … Photo credit: Hillary Andrews

15. Contact Research • In a cross-national survey, researches found that • a majority of those with immigrant friends see immigration as anopportunity. • a majority of those with no social contact with immigrants see them as a problem. • Source: German Marshall Fund: Transatlantic Trends: Immigration (2010)

16. Contact-Building Strategies • Potlucks and coffees • Joint volunteer projects • Dialogues • Arts and culture • Block parties

17. Engaging RC Members as Volunteers • Supporting program activities • Volunteering side by side with refugees • Serving as ambassadors • Photo credit: Welcoming Framingham

18. 2. Communications • Acknowledge there may be apprehensions • Present messages that connect people • Focus on common values • Highlight contributions that benefit everyone

19. Communication Strategies Tell a different story about demographic change in our communities, through • Local media campaigns • Social media and networking • Film, radio and the arts • Engaging unusual spokespeople

20. Messaging Examples Nebraska is Home Welcoming Colorado

22. Welcoming Michigan

23. 3. Leadership Cultivating and engaging leaders from diverse sectors to set the tone. • Government • Faith • Business • Education • Health Care • Law Enforcement • Educate • Engage • Solicit • Thank

24. Learning from the “Boise Model” • The Problem: The Perfect Storm • The Attitude: “Never let a serious crisis go to waste” • The Approach: Convene, Listen, Prioritize and Educate • The Result: Strategic Plan to Grow Community Resources • The Challenge: Keeping It Alive

25. National Refugee Network • Create community of practice across refugee agencies, mainstream providers and geographic communities • Enhance and sustain resettlement work locally • Build new partnerships • Promote a positive community climate • Ensure refugees are successful across the nation.

26. Support forPartners and Practitioners

27. Tools to Help: www.welcomingamerica.org

28. Friends of Welcoming LEARN ACT CONNECT www.friendsofwelcoming.org

29. Building a Nation of Neighbors How-To Videos

30. Contact www.welcomingamerica.org Susan Downs-Karkos Director of Strategic Partnerships susan@welcomingamerica.org 303-808-1322

31. Our communities are strongest when everyone who lives in them feels welcome.

32. Reflection Imagine someone who may be unsure in your community. What values might they care about?

33. Reflection What experience do you have seeing people in your community shift their opinion? What worked?

34. What role can you play in reaching out to the receiving community and helping to foster a more welcoming climate?