Why Affiliate?

Below are just some of the benefits that  affiliates to Welcoming America receive:

 Starting a New Welcoming Initiative – Frequently Asked Questions

Why would I want to start a Welcoming initiative in my community?

• Could the relations and connections between immigrant and U.S.-born neighbors in your area be improved?
• Are you already working to improve community relations would like to have access to tools from a national network of people and organizations working on similar issues where best practices and helpful tools are being discussed and shared?
• Is your community currently facing an increase in tension or negative attitudes towards immigrants due to an incident and/or propsed legislation?
• Are there communities that are seeing a shift in the number of immigrants and refugees in the area?

What am I committing to when I say I will start a Welcoming initiative?

You are committing to…

• Bringing together a group of people, preferably immigrant leaders and non-immigrant leaders, from your community.
• Following the Welcoming principles and participate in the national network of affiliates.
• Incorporating the Welcoming appraoch: local leadership development, strategic communications and public engagement. You will also ensure that evaluation and fundraising are elements of all of these strategies.

What are the different ways I can work or affiliate with Welcoming America?

• Welcoming initiatives come in many shapes and sizes. All are called welcoming initiatives and must utilize the Welcoming approach, and receive support from national staff.
• Local Affiliates: Welcoming America (WA) forms partnerships directly with local organizations or community coalitions that are ready to launch Welcoming initiatives in their communities in states where no qualified statewide partners are available contact us about becoming a Welcoming partner.
• Statewide Affiliates: WA partners with statewide organizations that have the relationships and capacity to spur the creation of strong Welcoming initiatives in towns and cities throughout their states.
• National Affiliates: WA partners with national membership organizations that are committed to mobilizing their members to start local Welcoming Initiatives in their communities
• Become a Welcoming Partner: If you do not wish to become an affiliate at this time, but want to work with Welcoming America to create a more Welcoming atmosphere in your community, please contact Jessy Molina at jessy@welcomingamerica.org.

Where are welcoming initiatives hosted?

• Most current welcoming initiatives are hosted by already established organizations, and a welcoming initiative is taken on as a project of this organization.
• Currently, Welcoming initiatives are hosted at, or being developed at:
  • Immigrant-oriented organizations, including direct service and immigrant rights groups
  • Legal service organizations
  • Organizations that promote cooperation between local governments and politicians
  • One state formed an independent 501(c)3 for its Welcoming initiative.
  • Many other types of organizations could host Welcoming initiatives, including business associations, community improvement projects, etc.

I would like my partner to with Welcoming America, but we don’t have the capacity to start a local initiative.

• If you are involved with a national or regional organization with local partners, contact Ellen Gallagher or David Lubell to explore potentials for partnership.
• If you are involved with a state or local organization, you could talk about Welcoming with other organizations or people who you think might be interested in starting (through staff and/or funding) a Welcoming initiatve.