Affiliate Actions
These actions are designed to help all groups, especially those interested in becoming affiliates, by introducing you to the elements of the welcoming model and presenting actions based on Welcoming America’s three core strategies: 1) Local Leadership Development; 2) Strategic Communications; and 3) Public Engagement.
The actions below introduce these three core strategies, and ask you to:
1. Watch and reflect on the model and each strategy, using the Building a Nation of Neighbors video modules along with real-life examples of how strategies have been implemented by Welcoming America affiliates.
2. Plan and implement the strategies in your own community, using tools and other resources developed by Welcoming America and its affiliates.
It is not necessary to implement these actions sequentially, although the initial planning and team building steps provide helpful foundations. These actions are intended to help you go at your own pace, and since not all actions are required to become an affiliate, we encourage you to select those actions that make most sense for your community.
We also strongly recommend that these actions be conducted as a group (you can even register as a team) to receive the full benefit and to create a more sustainable effort.
If you have questions about the material presented or are looking for additional support, please let us know. If you are considering becoming an affiliate, please contact us after taking the first four actions and completing the goal setting exercise to let us know of your interest. We can be reached at info@welcomingamerica.org.
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Watch & Discuss: “The Story of Welcoming” (1000 points)
Watch and discuss “The Story of Welcoming,” a Shelbyville Multimedia module about the Welcoming America model and how it was implemented in Shelbyville, TN. |
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Why Do You Think Your Community Needs to be More Welcoming? (5000 points)
Describe actions you have seen or attitudes you have heard that have led you to want to start a welcoming initiative in your community. |
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Review the Affiliate Introduction Packet (1000 points)
Review our toolkit of resources and ideas for forming and running a local affiliate. |
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Get Started (1000 points)
Use our quick start tool to begin to organize your welcoming effort. |
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Do You Have a Local Welcoming Affiliate? (500 points)
Find out if you have a Welcoming America affiliate in your area, and get connected. |
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Read & Discuss: Receiving Communities Toolkit (1000 points)
Read the toolkit to learn more about receiving community movement, and share your thoughts |
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Watch & Discuss: “Local Leaders – The Foundation for Welcoming Work” (1000 points)
Watch and discuss “Local Leaders,” a Shelbyville Multimedia module about the leadership development component of the Welcoming model. |
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Identify Your People: Brainstorming Allies (2000 points)
Begin by identifying other local leaders who might want to help make your community more welcoming. |
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Recruit Community Members (2000 points)
Connect with the people, in your area, who might want to make your community more welcoming, and ask if they’re interested in becoming involved in your welcoming effort. |
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Complete Team Profile (1000 points)
Complete the profile of your team. |
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Meet as a Committee and Identify Goals (5000 points)
Bring together your group to form a Welcoming Committee to begin setting goals for your initiative. |
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Create Your Workplan (2000 points)
Create a 12-24 month plan to map out the specifics of what your group will achieve. |
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Identify a Host Partner (4000 points)
Through a guided process, you\’ll determine the best partner to host your initiative. |
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Memorandum of Understanding (2000 points)
Upload your host partner MOU to receive additional points. |
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Watch & Discuss: “Starting the Welcoming Conversation” (1000 points)
Watch and discuss “Starting the Welcoming Conversation,” a Shelbyville Multimedia module about how the Welcoming model brings immigrants and long-time residents into direct, facilitated contact. |
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Watch & Discuss: “Welcoming Messages – Changing the Perceptions of Immigrants” (1000 points)
Watch and discuss “Welcoming Messages,” a Shelbyville Multimedia module about approach of reversing negative images of immigrants by using strategic communications. |
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Messages That Matter – Why We Care? PSA (1000 points)
Learn about welcoming work in action by watching a short video, and earn points by answering the discussion questions. |
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Messages That Matter – Long Island Wins PSAs (1000 points)
Learn about welcoming work in action by watching two short videos, and earn points by answering the discussion questions. |
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Messages That Matter – Campaign Posters (1000 points)
Learn about welcoming work in action by reviewing a series of campaign posters, and earn points by answering the discussion questions. |
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Read and Discuss: Welcome Dayton – Immigrant Friendly City (750 points)
Learn about the Dayton Welcome Plan and share your thoughts on the immigrant friendly city concept. |
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Pass a Welcoming Resolution in Your Town (25000 points)
Get your city to pass a Welcoming Resolution. You can approach your town managers, city councilors, or mayor to ask that your city or town adopt a Welcoming Resolution. |
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Host a Welcome to Shelbyville Screening (5000 points)
Host a Screening of Welcome to Shelbyville, and earn points by submitting a description and photos. |
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Host a Not In Our Town Screening (5000 points)
Host a Screening of Not In Our Town: Light in the Darkness, and earn points by submitting a description and photos. |
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Watch & Discuss: “From Neighbors to Friends-Overcoming Common Misunderstanding” (1000 points)
Watch and discuss “From Neighbors to Friends,” a Shelbyville Multimedia module about bring together community members to address misunderstandings and stereotypes. |
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Affiliate track: Host a potluck, dialogue or other Welcoming event (10000 points)
Have your affiliate team host a potluck, dialogue or other Welcoming event. |
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Suggest a Welcoming Action (250 points)
Do you have an idea for an activity that would help make your community more welcoming? Make a suggestion here and you may just see your idea on the action list sometime in the near future. |
