1. Alabama
2. California
3. Colorado
4. Idaho
5. Illinois
6. Iowa
7. Louisiana
8. Massachusetts
9. Michigan
10. Missouri
11. Nebraska
12. New Hampshire
13. New York, Long Island
14. North Carolina
15. Oregon
16. Rhode Island
17. South Carolina
18. Tennessee
19. Utah

Alabama: Welcoming Alabama began in 2008 with a campaign that included posting billboards with Welcoming messages throughout the state. Hosted at Alabama Appleseed, Welcoming Alabama now has committees in Tuscaloosa and Dothan. For more information about the campaign, contact Zayne Smith at zayne.smith@alabamaappleseed.org.

California: The Institute for Local Government, working closely with Welcoming America staff, is supporting the planning efforts of immigrant “welcoming” initiatives in California.  With support from the Institute, Redwood City and the City of Oakley have both completed extensive multi-sector planning efforts and are now seeking funds to implement their respective welcoming initiatives – the first in California.   Each community is developing a distinctive multi-sector approach with a substantial partnership role for local officials.  The Institute for Local Government is the nonprofit affiliate of the League of California Cities and the California State Association of Counties. The Institute’s public engagement program supports effective and inclusive public engagement in California cities and counties, as well as selected immigrant integration initiatives.  Contact Terry Amsler, tamsler@ca-ilg.org

Colorado: Welcoming Colorado is an exciting campaign that has committees in 5 areas across the state. They are based in Denver, Aurora, Longmont, Glenwood Springs and Grand Junction. Hosted by the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, Welcoming Colorado has been particularly effective at starting local committees, strategic planning and paid media work. For more information about this initiative, visit their website at http://welcomingcolorado.org/ or contact Karen Sherman Perez at karen@coloradoimmigrant.org.

Idaho: Welcoming Idaho is an innovative campaign that is active in Boise and Moscow, Idaho. In the Southern part of the state, the Welcoming group has had dialogues about immigration and has raised funds for welcoming bus benches. In Northern Idaho in Moscow, they have also had dialogues on immigration and are now working on polling in partnership with the local University. In the Boise area, the Welcoming committee is re-forming and planning events for the late Spring of 2011. For more information about this initiative, hosted by Idaho Community Action, visit their website at http://welcomingidaho.org/ or contact Renato Castelo at renato@idahocan.org.

Illinois: The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights recently started a project called Uniting America to build bridges between immigrants and their native born Illinois neighbors, through volunteerism, dialogue, and community services. The Welcoming approach and practices are being incorporated into this model. For more information, please visit their Uniting America website.

Iowa: A new affiliate, the Iowa Immigration Education Coalition, is planning to implement a welcoming initiative to provide a greater opportunity for conversation and engagement on immigration issues. For further information about their work, contact Geofrey Fischer at geof@iowaimmigrationeducation.org.

Louisiana: coming soon…

Massachusetts: Welcoming Massachusetts successfully got 6,600 signatures on to its Welcoming Massachusetts pledge, over 80 endorsements from local organizations and the endorsement of over 50 elected officials. The initiative is currently focusing on the communities of Fitchburg and Framingham. For more information on this initiative or to get involved, contact Cristina Aguilera at caguilera@miracoalition.org

Michigan: Welcoming Michigan is a new initiative that is being housed by the Michigan Immigrant Rights Project and started in collaboration with State Representative Rashida Tlaib and former Representative Stephen Tobocman. This innovative campaign plans to have local welcoming committees in 2 communities (one in Western Michigan and the other in SE Michigan). Welcoming Michigan’s efforts will involve polling and paid media work. This initiative is expected to officially launch in late Spring 2011. For more information, contact Martha Huckabee at mhuckabee@lsscm.org.

Missouri: The Welcoming Missouri campaign worked with professors at St. Louis University to conduct extensive polling. The initiative is now in the process of beginning their on-the-ground work, which will initially be focused in the St. Louis area. For more information or to get involved, contact Vanessa Crawford at vanessa@mira-mo.org.

Nebraska:Nebraska Is Home is a model campaign that has committees in Fremont, Grand Island, Crete and Schuyler. This initiative has successfully changed shifted the way that immigrants are discussed in Fremont and has served as a model with its paid media campaign. Efforts are currently underway to launch the initiative in the Omaha area. The host is Nebraska Appleseed. To get involved and to learn more, visit their website at nebraskaishome.org or, contact Darcy Tramaunhauser at dtromanhauser@neappleseed.org.

New Hampshire: Welcoming New Hampshire was launched in response to a dramatic increase in the immigrant, especially Latino, population in NH as well as the increased scrutiny that refugees are facing. A group has now formed that is working together to encourage a more positive and welcoming atmosphere across the state. For more information, please contact Eva Castillo at ecastillo@miracoalition.org.

New York, Long Island: The Welcoming Long Island campaign is currently focused on two local committees – located in Port Jefferson and Bellmore. For more information and to get involved,  visit their website at www.welcominglongisland.com or contact Margarita Espada at mespada@longislandwins.com.

North Carolina: Uniting NC is based in the Triangle area of Raleigh-Durham. The has produced several exciting videos that you can view on their YouTube Channel, as well as radio PSA’s that you can hear on their website. The initiative is currently giving presentations to introduce the campaign to others and build support. In addition, they have an exciting website at www.unitingnc.org. For more information or to get involved, contact Kristin Collins at kristin@unitingnc.org.

Oregon: Welcoming Oregon is hosted by the Rural Organizing Project. They are working with several of their county-based committees to do Welcoming work. For more information or to get involved, contact Amanda Aguilar Shank at amy@rop.org.

Rhode Island: just launched in fall of 2011, Welcoming Rhode Island has already had a kick-off conference and has assembled a state-wide advisory committee, which has Governor Lincoln Chaffee as its honorary chair.   More recently, they helped to pass a Welcoming Resolution in East Providence.  Welcoming Rhode Island plans to initially focus on working in the communities of Cranston and East Providence. For more information, contact Michelle DePlante at mdeplante@iiri.org or visit their blog site at http://welcomingrhodeisland.tumblr.com/.

South Carolina: United South Carolina is hosted by two organizations – Church World Service and South Carolina Appleseed. United South Carolina is focusing its efforts in Summerville and Columbia. For more information, please contact Amanda Jackson at ajackson@churchworldservice.org or Tammy Besherse at tammy@scjustice.org.

Tennessee: The Welcoming Tennessee initiative was the first Welcoming campaign, and is a project of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC). Since 2005, they have been working to change the way immigrants are discussed in Nashville and Shelbyville, TN. For more information on the campaign or to get involved, visit their website at www.welcomingtn.org.

Utah: The Welcoming Utah initiative is still in the exploratory and planning stages. Comunidades Unidas/Communities United plans to incorporate youth and faith in their welcoming efforts. For more information, contact Rose Maizner at rose@cuutah.org.