BECOME A
WELCOMING
COMMUNITY
Guide to achieving the Certified Welcoming
designation under the Welcoming Standard version 2.0
Published in April 2023 by Welcoming America
Creative Commons License BY-NC-SA 4.0
“Portland takes great pride in our shared immigrant heritage and longstanding history as a community where people from across the globe are celebrated. We recognize that our community is more vibrant and prosperous when all individuals, from all backgrounds, races, ethnicities and countries of origins, are welcomed and valued.
While we celebrate the collective achievements of our community in gaining this recognition, we also realize that it is merely an affirmation that we are on the right track and that there is more work to be done to ensure that everyone here feels included and connected.” —MAYOR KATE SNYDER, CITY OF PORTLAND, MAINE
(Certified Welcoming since 2022)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
02 ABOUT WELCOMING AMERICA
AND CERTIFIED WELCOMING
03 INTRODUCTION
03 Background
04 About this guide
05 HOW TO BECOME
CERTIFIED WELCOMING
06 Ensuring you’re ready
07 Overview of the certification process
08 Process
10 Pricing & contact info
11 CERTIFIED WELCOMING CRITERIA
12 Welcoming Standard framework areas
14 Criteria by star designation
28 WHAT COMMUNITIES SAY ABOUT
BEING CERTIFIED WELCOMING
30 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
BECOME A WELCOMING COMMUNITY
1 ABOUT WELCOMING AMERICA
Welcoming America is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that leads a movement of inclusive communities becoming more prosperous by ensuring everyone belongs. We believe that all people, including immigrants, are valued contributors and vital to the success of our communities and shared future. Through the Welcoming Network, we work to help communities develop the roadmap they need to create welcoming policies and share new approaches to inclusion to create an environment where everyone can truly thrive.
Our mission is to support communities building a welcoming society where every person, including immigrants, can fully contribute and shape our shared prosperity. Our vision is a just world in which we each belong, prosper, and thrive in the place we now call home, no matter where we came from.
Learn more at WelcomingAmerica.org.
ABOUT CERTIFIED WELCOMING
Certified Welcoming is a formal designation for local governments that have created policies and programs reflecting their values and commitment to immigrant inclusion. This innovative program assesses local governments on their efforts to include and welcome immigrants in all areas of civic, social, and economic life in their communities.
With a Certified Welcoming designation, communities distinguish their local efforts, build a competitive advantage, and gain access to opportunities to share their welcoming practices on a regional, national, and global stage.
Learn more at CertifiedWelcoming.org.
2 INTRODUCTION
Strong communities are ones that connect and include people of all backgrounds. By doing so, communities — and those who live there — will meet their highest civic, social, and economic potential. As local governments look to create more equitable and vibrant communities, welcoming and inclusive policies, programs, and practices will set themselves apart. 1 Local governments are places with a governing body, and include cities, towns, counties and other local government jurisdictions.
To gain this competitive edge, leaders in local governments across the United States can lean on the Certified Welcoming program and Welcoming Standard framework areas to measure, promote, guide, and validate welcoming efforts.
BACKGROUND
Welcoming America launched Certified Welcoming in 2017 as a formal designation for local governments1 to demonstrate their welcoming values through policies, programs, and practices. Since the program’s launch, more than two dozen communities in the United States have undertaken the rigorous process to become Certified Welcoming. Outcomes of Certified Welcoming include accountability and institutionalization of work, opportunity to identify gaps and prioritize next steps, and ability to raise the profile of the locality for investment in welcoming and immigrant inclusion work.
In 2020, Welcoming America embarked on a multi-year project to update the Welcoming Standard and Certified Welcoming to ensure they continue to provide an accurate and user-friendly roadmap for places seeking to become truly welcoming places for immigrants, refugees, and all residents. This was done in consultation with a broad range of stakeholders from local government, academia, nonprofits, think tanks, philanthropy, and beyond, as well as Welcoming Network members — including members that had directly participated in Certified Welcoming.
The updated Welcoming Standard includes several new criteria that better reflect the wide range of institutions and policies that influence day-to-day life in local communities. It is also intended to be more accessible to communities with fewer resources and smaller populations. Because the Welcoming Standard builds upon itself, communities can now envision paths to deepen their work, gain new champions, and set new goals for becoming Certified Welcoming at any level.
BECOME A WELCOMING COMMUNITY
3 ABOUT THIS GUIDE
This guide outlines the second iteration of the Certified Welcoming program and the Welcoming Standard that communities must meet to earn the designation of Certified Welcoming. It is intended for those interested in learning more about what it takes to achieve the Certified Welcoming designation.
This guide also captures a new designation system for Certified Welcoming which allows places to achieve one of five star designations for their welcoming efforts. A set of criteria from the Welcoming Standard is tailored to each star designation.
Far from being a “rating system, ” the Certified Welcoming stars ensure that cities, towns, and counties have a chance to achieve the designation of Certified Welcoming while also providing pathways to advance their welcoming work.
Fostering welcoming and inclusive communities requires
continuous work, but it is ultimately achievable. It is a worthy endeavor that we hope becomes more practical through this guide.
Photo credit: iStock4
HOW TO BECOME
CERTIFIED WELCOMING
BECOME A WELCOMING COMMUNITY
5 ENSURING
YOU’RE READY
2 Relying solely on data from the American Community Survey or the U.S. Census can be unreliable for foreign-born populations. We recommend collecting additional information from direct service providers, schools, and other trusted community sources to determine the demographics of immigrants in your community.
Places seeking to become Certified Welcoming should understand the demographics of their community. 2 We recommend
conducting a landscape analysis on the community partners and stakeholders involved in local welcoming and inclusion work.
While Certified Welcoming cannot be achieved without the work of a wide array of community organizations and leaders, the Certified Welcoming designation is for local governments and they must be the lead applicant. Community-based organizations interested in Certified Welcoming will need to engage their local government to apply for the program.
Beyond certification, Welcoming America’s Welcoming Network offers opportunities for all of its members to meet the Welcoming Standard, including support for community-based organizations when the local government is not yet ready to be involved.
Photo credit: Roberto Torres6
OVERVIEW OF THE
CERTIFICATION PROCESS
The Certified Welcoming process formally evaluates and assesses your community’s efforts to provide an inclusive place for all.
Candidates complete an intake form and self-assessment, and receive an evaluative audit (virtual or in-person).
At the end of the assessment process, candidates receive a detailed final report that identifies the community’s strengths and provides a roadmap for areas of growth. Depending on the certification team’s findings, places either receive the Certified Welcoming designation or implement an action plan to work toward achieving their designation.
Local governments are required to be the lead applicant for Certified Welcoming; however, the designation would not be possible without the work and support of community partners.
Community partners — such as refugee resettlement agencies, chambers of commerce, and local schools — typically contribute to the certification process by providing information for the self-assessment and being interviewed during the audit.
From start to finish, the certification process typically takes six months to one year.
Certificates are valid for four years. To maintain certification, local governments must continue to meet the indicators in the Welcoming Standard, address any observations in their certification report, and update their self-assessment before their certificate expires.
BECOME A WELCOMING COMMUNITY
7 PROCESS
SELF-ASSESSMENT
Localities seeking certification are
required to conduct a self-assessment in
which they gather evidence and information
to demonstrate compliance with the
Welcoming Standard. At this stage,
localities select the star designation
they would like to be evaluated for.
DESKTOP REVIEW / ANALYSIS
BY CERTIFICATION TEAM
Once the self-assessment is complete, the
certification team reviews it and conducts
a preliminary analysis of compliance. With
this initial assessment, the certification
team may request additional evidence
or flag items for the audit interviews.
AUDIT
The audit, either virtual or in-person,
consists of a series of interviews with
stakeholders, including community
leaders, government employees, and
representatives from community-based
organizations. The audit provides an
opportunity to verify information provided
in the self-assessment, gather additional
evidence, and gain a better context and
understanding of the landscape of local
welcoming and immigrant inclusion work.
1 2 3
8 REPORT
The certification team will produce a
detailed final report with their findings,
including compliance with the Welcoming
Standard, as well as local strengths and
opportunities for growth. Reports often
provide communities with a roadmap for
identifying priorities and next steps to
continuously improve work.
ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE,
IF REQUIRED
The report identifies any non-compliant
criteria and localities have the
opportunity and additional time to
provide evidence to demonstrate
compliance to gain certification.
CERTIFICATE AND
ANNOUNCEMENT
Once compliant with all of the criteria for
the star designation, local governments
receive their certificate and coordinate
an announcement. Welcoming America
communications staff provide additional
support to amplify the achievement,
including a press release, a quote from
Welcoming America, and branded
marketing materials to use.
RECERTIFICATION
The Certified Welcoming designation is valid for four years, at which point local governments must apply for recertification to maintain the designation. Recertification follows the same process as the initial certification, but typically takes less time since evidence may be carried over from the previous designation. If localities would like to be evaluated for a new star designation before their certification cycle has ended, they may reapply and go through the same process. 4 5 6
BECOME A WELCOMING COMMUNITY
9 PRICING
Please refer to CertifiedWelcoming.org for our current
fee structure.
For scholarship opportunities, send an email to
[email protected].
CONTACT INFO
Contact [email protected] for any questions or to get started.
Photo credit: Adobe Stock10
CERTIFIED WELCOMING
CRITERIA
BECOME A WELCOMING COMMUNITY
11 CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT (CE)
Welcoming communities
ensure that all residents,
including immigrants, are
able to fully participate in
civic life. Immigrant residents
have access to democratic
spaces, and shape community
priorities and policies.
Immigrants hold leadership
roles in the community,
and local institutions are
invested in increasing access
to leadership positions for
immigrant residents.
WELCOMING STANDARD
FRAMEWORK AREAS
CONNECTED
COMMUNITIES (CC)
Welcoming communities
build connections and trust
between residents. Community
institutions — including local
government, businesses, faith
communities, and nonprofits
— create opportunities and
spaces for immigrant and
non-immigrant residents to
have constructive interactions,
develop relationships, and
deepen their understanding
of one another. Institutions
support residents in building
their personal capacity to
engage with people different
from themselves on equal
footing and in sustained
ways that reduce prejudice
and strengthen diverse
community relationships.
ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (EC)
In welcoming communities,
all residents — including
immigrants — can participate
fully in the economy. Workforce
and economic development
infrastructure address the
priorities and needs of
immigrant residents and
immigrant jobseekers.
Programs that support
entrepreneurship, business
development, and workforce
development are accessible
to all residents, including
immigrants. Local businesses
are committed to diverse hiring
and retaining employees
with diverse racial and
ethnic backgrounds.
The seven framework areas
of the Welcoming Standard
underpin the Certified
Welcoming process. Within
each framework area are
multiple criteria that local
governments must fulfill
based on the star designation
they choose to pursue.
Following are the goals of
each framework area of the
Welcoming Standard. In the
next section, you will find
the full set of criteria based
on each Certified Welcoming
star designation.
12 EDUCATION (ED)
In welcoming communities,
the education system ensures
all students, including
immigrant students, have the
support they need to thrive
in school and the knowledge
they need to succeed in the
workforce. Schools and
community education
programs are informed by
the needs and priorities of
immigrant students and
families, and are accessible
to all residents, including
immigrants. Welcoming and
inclusion efforts are not siloed
within a single school or
program, but incorporated into
the schools and school districts
that serve the community.
EQUITABLE
ACCESS (EA)
Welcoming communities
ensure local services are
accessible to all residents,
including immigrants.
Immigrant residents
provide feedback to local
government and community-
based organizations to
identify and address
demographic disparities
and gaps in services,
and to improve access
to programs, particularly
in the areas of housing,
health, transportation,
financial services, and
the justice system.
GOVERNMENT
AND COMMUNITY
LEADERSHIP (GL)
Welcoming communities
have infrastructure in place
to support immigrant
participation, inclusion, and
equity. The local government
and community-based
organizations regularly seek
feedback from immigrant
residents to understand the
challenges and priorities
of immigrant residents.
Institutions work closely
together to prioritize and build
capacity to implement
immigrant participation,
inclusion, and equity strategies.
SAFE
COMMUNITIES (SC)
Welcoming communities
prioritize safety for all residents,
including immigrants. Policies
and practices are in place that
prevent discrimination. Strong,
trusting relationships are built
between immigrant residents
and local safety services,
such as law enforcement, fire
departments, code enforcement,
and emergency response.
Effective bidirectional
communication between safety
services and immigrant
residents exists, and programs
are in place to address implicit
and structural bias. Community
partnerships are built to identify
and address needs and gaps
in services.
BECOME A WELCOMING COMMUNITY
13 CRITERIA BY
STAR DESIGNATION
14 Following are the criteria for each Certified Welcoming star designation. All criteria must be fulfilled in order to receive the designation.
Each star designation builds on the previous star —
for example, a 2-star certification requires meeting
the criteria for both 1-star and 2-star.
BECOME A WELCOMING COMMUNITY
15 CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
CE 1.0 Programs support immigrants in obtaining
U.S. citizenship.
CONNECTED COMMUNITIES
CC 1.0 Local government leadership does not make
public statements discouraging immigration
or immigrant inclusion.
CC 1.1 There is ongoing public communication
from local government leadership about its
commitment to welcoming immigrants.
CC 1.2 Local government leadership does not make
public statements directly attacking individuals
or groups on the basis of their immigration status,
national origin, religion, ethnicity, race, gender
and gender identity, ancestry, sexual orientation,
or ability.
CC 1.3 The local government participates in celebrations of immigrant cultures, customs, and beliefs.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
EC 1.0 Programs support immigrant job seekers in
finding and obtaining employment.
EC 1.1 Programs support immigrant business owners in
starting, sustaining, or growing their businesses.
1-STAR CERTIFIED WELCOMING
16 EDUCATION
ED 1.0 Programs address barriers to navigating local
K-12 school district(s) for immigrant families.
ED 1.1 Local K-12 school districts provide language
accessible information about the school system
and services available to immigrant families.
ED 1.2 Programs work to address barriers to adult
English language classes.
EQUITABLE ACCESS
EA 1.0 Local government departments disseminate
information on government services, resources,
and public benefits with the goal of expanding
access to immigrants.
GOVERNMENT AND
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
GL 1.0 The local government has one or more
staff positions whose responsibilities include
advancing immigrant inclusion.
GL 1.1 The local government has a process in
place to ensure regular communication with
immigrant residents.
GL 1.2 Public libraries implement an immigrant
inclusion strategy.
SAFE COMMUNITIES
SC 1.0 Local law enforcement agencies have programs
in place to build trust and mutual understanding
with immigrant communities and immigrant-
serving organizations.
SC 1.1 Local law enforcement agencies do not have
policies in place where the primary purpose
is to detain or deport immigrants.
BECOME A WELCOMING COMMUNITY
17 2-STAR CERTIFIED WELCOMING
In addition to meeting all of the 1-star criteria, places seeking a 2-star designation should also fulfill the following:
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
CE 2.0 Programs support eligible immigrants in voting.
CONNECTED COMMUNITIES
CC 2.0 Programs bring together immigrant and non-
immigrant residents to build relationships.
CC 2.1 Arts and creative placemaking programs highlight the diverse artistic traditions of the community in
public spaces.
CC 2.2 Community efforts advancing immigrant inclusion
are connected to broader equity work.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
EC 2.0 Programs support immigrant adults in
accessing additional education to obtain the
skills and degrees required to meet their
employment goals.
EC 2.1 Programs address barriers for immigrant
entrepreneurs and business owners.
EDUCATION
ED 2.0 Programs support immigrant family engagement
in their child’s education.
ED 2.1 Programs support immigrant students
in understanding and accessing higher
education opportunities.
ED 2.2 Programs address barriers to the adult education infrastructure for immigrant adults.
EQUITABLE ACCESS
EA 2.0 Information from the local government (EA 1.0)
is communicated through outreach methods
that are proven to be effective in reaching
immigrant residents.
EA 2.1 Programs address barriers to immigrants
accessing and navigating preventative healthcare.
EA 2.2 Programs inform immigrants of workers’ rights.
EA 2.3 Programs address barriers to digital inclusion
for immigrant residents.
18 GOVERNMENT AND
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
GL 2.0 The local government leadership has an
immigrant inclusion strategy for its departments
and agencies.
GL 2.1 A group of local leaders and residents regularly convenes to advance immigrant inclusion efforts.
GL 2.2 Participants of the group advancing immigrant
inclusion (GL 2.1) reflect the diversity of the
community in demographics, constituencies,
and sectors.
GL 2.3 The group advancing immigrant inclusion
(GL 2.1) has a process in place to ensure
regular bidirectional communication with
immigrant communities.
GL 2.4 The group (GL 2.1) informs local government
staff and is able to provide direct feedback
on issues impacting and priorities of the
immigrant community.
GL 2.5 Local recreational programs implement an
immigrant inclusion strategy.
SAFE COMMUNITIES
SC 2.0 Programs inform immigrants of their rights and
responsibilities when interacting with local law
enforcement and the legal system.
SC 2.1 Programs inform immigrants of their rights and
responsibilities when interacting with immigration
enforcement and the detention system.
SC 2.2 Local law enforcement agencies have
programs to ensure regular communication
with immigrant residents.
SC 2.3 Programs connect immigrant victims and
witnesses of crime with community resources.
BECOME A WELCOMING COMMUNITY
19 3-STAR CERTIFIED WELCOMING
In addition to meeting all of the 1-star and 2-star criteria, places seeking a 3-star designation should also fulfill the following:
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
CE 3.0 Programs support immigrants in developing civic
leadership skills and are accessible to speakers
of languages other than English.
CE 3.1 A program connects immigrants with local
government departments and community
resources with the goal of supporting immigrants
in navigating and accessing these services.
CE 3.2 The program (CE 3.1) is accessible to speakers
of languages other than English.
CONNECTED COMMUNITIES
CC 3.0 Local government efforts to advance immigrant
inclusion are connected to and reinforce the
local government’s broader equity work.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
EC 3.0 Local workforce agencies have information on
current and projected demographic trends of
the local immigrant population and the unique
barriers faced by immigrant job seekers.
EC 3.1 Programs support immigrant job seekers in
communicating foreign work experience and
skills for U.S. employers.
EC 3.2 Chambers of commerce and/or economic
development agencies are engaged in immigrant
inclusion work.
20 EDUCATION
ED 3.0 Programs train K-12 educators and staff on
teaching and supporting diverse student
populations, including immigrant students.
ED 3.1 Programs support immigrant students in
accessing career technical education.
ED 3.2 K-12 schools support immigrant students that
have limited or interrupted formal education to
attain their educational goals.
ED 3.3 Programs provide contextualized English
language classes for adult English learners.
EQUITABLE ACCESS
EA 3.0 Information from the local government (EA 1.0)
is provided in languages other than English.
EA 3.1 Programs address barriers to immigrants
accessing immigration legal services.
EA 3.2 Programs address barriers to immigrants
accessing and navigating maternal and
infant healthcare.
GOVERNMENT AND
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
GL 3.0 Local government departments know the
demographics of the immigrant population and
have access to tools to serve these residents.*
GL 3.1 The local government has a language access policy that includes interpretation and translation protocols
for all externally facing government departments.*
GL 3.2 The local government provides regular training
to its staff about language access requirements,
available resources to provide meaningful
language access, and working with speakers
of languages other than English.*
GL 3.3 The local government regularly assesses language access needs and usage across departments in
order to improve each department’s ability to
conduct business in languages other than English.*
SAFE COMMUNITIES
SC 3.0 Law enforcement staff receive regular training,
over the course of their career, on working with
diverse residents, including immigrants.
SC 3.1 A policy is in place that clarifies the jurisdiction and separation between local law enforcement
and federal immigration enforcement agencies.
SC 3.2 Local emergency management agencies have
a plan to inform immigrants of community
emergencies, and that plan includes communication
methods that are effective in reaching speakers
of languages other than English.
BECOME A WELCOMING COMMUNITY
21 4-STAR CERTIFIED WELCOMING
In addition to meeting all of the 1-star, 2-star, and 3-star criteria, places seeking a 4-star designation should also fulfill the following:
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
CE 4.0 Programs build immigrant youth leadership.
CE 4.1 Programs address barriers to immigrant
participation in public hearings and meetings.
CE 4.2 Programs address language access needs for
participation in public hearings and meetings.
CONNECTED COMMUNITIES
CC 4.0 Programs that serve diverse immigrant and
non-immigrant residents embed strategies to
build relationships between immigrant and
non-immigrant participants.
CC 4.1 Programs work to address biases about others
held by non-immigrant residents.
CC 4.2 Programs work to address biases about others
held by immigrant residents.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
EC 4.0 Programs support immigrants in
meeting occupational certification
and/or credentialing requirements.
EC 4.1 Programs support immigrant business owners
in accessing capital to start, sustain, and grow
their businesses.
22 EDUCATION
ED 4.0 Programs work with K-12 schools to regularly
collect feedback from immigrant families
on the school environment.
ED 4.1 Programs address barriers to participation
in family engagement programs for
immigrant families.
ED 4.2 Programs address barriers to early childhood
education and care for immigrant children.
EQUITABLE ACCESS
EA 4.0 Programs address barriers to immigrants
accessing and navigating mental health services.
EA 4.1 Programs address barriers to accessing rental
housing for immigrants.
EA 4.2 Local mobility planning efforts address the needs and priorities of immigrant residents.
EA 4.3 Programs address barriers to immigrants in
accessing civil legal services.
GOVERNMENT AND
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
GL 4.0 A community-wide strategy for immigrant
inclusion is set through a feedback process
including immigrant and non-immigrant
residents representing the diversity in
the community.
GL 4.1 There is a process in place to regularly update
the strategy (GL 4.0) with feedback from
immigrant and non-immigrant residents.
GL 4.2 Local government departments annually set and
monitor goals for immigrant inclusion informed
by the needs of immigrant residents and the
community-wide strategy (GL 4.0).*
SAFE COMMUNITIES
SC 4.0 Local emergency notification platforms are
available in languages other than English.
SC 4.1 The local government has a process in place
to identify the priorities and goals of immigrant
residents for creating a safer community.
BECOME A WELCOMING COMMUNITY
23 5-STAR CERTIFIED WELCOMING
In addition to meeting all of the 1-star, 2-star, 3-star, and 4-star criteria, places seeking a 5-star designation should also fulfill the following:
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
CE 5.0 Programs address barriers to immigrant
participation on local government commissions
and boards.
CE 5.1 Programs address language access needs for
participation in public boards and commissions.
CE 5.2 Programs engage state and/or local
election offices on barriers to voting
for eligible immigrants.
CE 5.3 Programs provide training to immigrant residents on accessing and using local government data
and information.
CONNECTED COMMUNITIES
CC 5.0 The local government accommodates
diverse cultural and religious practices
in its daily operations.
CC 5.1 Programs resource initiatives that bring
immigrant and non-immigrant residents
together to identify and work on common
interests or challenges.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
EC 5.0 Programs work with relevant state agencies to
address barriers to occupational licensing for
immigrant residents.
EC 5.1 Programs work with employers to build
welcoming work environments.
EC 5.2 Programs work with employers to identify and
address barriers to hiring immigrant job seekers.
EC 5.3 Programs work with employers and immigrant
employees to identify and address barriers to
retaining immigrant staff.
EC 5.4 Programs address barriers to obtaining
local government procurement and
contracting opportunities.
24 EDUCATION
ED 5.0 K-12 schools accommodate diverse cultural
and religious practices in daily operations.
ED 5.1 Programs support immigrant students in
accessing mental health services.
ED 5.2 Programs engage the state government on
expanding access to adult education programs
for immigrant adults.
ED 5.3 Programs engage the state government on
expanding access to early childhood education
and care programs for immigrant children.
EQUITABLE ACCESS
EA 5.0 Information from the local government (EA 1.0) is proactively written and designed with translation
and the diversity of residents in mind.
EA 5.1 Programs address barriers to homeownership
for immigrants.
EA 5.2 Programs work with the state government and/or
regional transit authorities on expanding access
to transportation, including addressing the needs
and priorities of immigrant residents.
EA 5.3 Programs provide training to those in the legal
system on the potential impact of criminal
convictions on residents with different
immigration statuses.
BECOME A WELCOMING COMMUNITY
25 GOVERNMENT AND
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
GL 5.0 Local government departments have programs
that build relationships with immigrant residents.*
GL 5.1 Local government departments have programs
that address the needs and priorities of
immigrant residents.*
GL 5.2 Local government departments receive
training on working with diverse populations,
including immigrants.
GL 5.3 Programs engage regional jurisdictions on
adopting and implementing welcoming policies
and programs across the region.
GL 5.4 The local housing authority implements an
immigrant inclusion strategy.
SAFE COMMUNITIES
SC 5.0 Local law enforcement has one or more staff
positions whose responsibilities include
advancing immigrant inclusion.
SC 5.1 Law enforcement agencies publicly share data
on arrests, jail population, use of deadly force,
resident complaints, and language access usage
and disaggregate this data by race, ethnicity,
gender, and geography.
A NOTE ON THE GOVERNMENT
AND COMMUNITY
LEADERSHIP CRITERIA:
Criteria in 3-5 star designations for Government and
Community Leadership reference local departments
as a whole. For criteria designated with an asterisk (*), all local government departments are expected to
meet these criteria. To assess these criteria, we collect data from the departments listed below — if under
the jurisdiction of the local government — during the
assessment process. The Certified Welcoming team may
also request information from 1-3 additional departments during the certification process to check compliance.
• Child protective
services
• Communications
• Department(s) that
enforce building,
construction,
fire, health, and
housing codes
• Economic
development
• Emergency dispatch
• Emergency
management
• Emergency medical
services (EMS)
• Fire
• Human resources
• Law enforcement
• Neighborhoods
• Planning
• Purchasing
• Public health
• Zoning
26 Photo credit: Adobe Stock
BECOME A WELCOMING COMMUNITY 27
WHAT COMMUNITIES SAY
ABOUT BEING CERTIFIED WELCOMING
PHILADELPHIA, PA DETROIT, MI NASHUA, NH
“Philadelphia has worked tirelessly to be a
place where people — from all walks of life
— feel a sense of belonging. Our greatest
strength is our vibrant diversity and that
is largely in part due to the tremendous
and continuous contributions made by
our immigrant communities. This special
recognition is not the end of our efforts,
but a true testament to the commitment
and hard work of City departments and
partner organizations. ”
—MAYOR JIM KENNEY,
City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
(Certified Welcoming since 2023)
“We wanted to change the narrative in Detroit
and show that what’s happening in Detroit
is different from what’s happening across
the country, that we were welcoming to all.
Having the Certified Welcoming designation
would separate us from other communities
and show that we were proud to be a
community of immigrants and refugees. ”
—ROBERTO TORRES,
Director of Immigrant Affairs and Economic
Inclusion, City of Detroit, Michigan
(Certified Welcoming since 2022)
“In practice, we have always strived to be a
welcoming city to all; having this recognition
helps us reinforce the assertion that we are
passionately dedicated to ensuring that
everyone feels safe and supported here
in Nashua. Our cultural diversity is what
makes our city the vibrant, exciting place it
is, and we are happy to share this wonderful
certification news with our community. ”
—MAYOR JIM DONCHESS,
City of Nashua, New Hampshire
(Certified Welcoming since 2022)
28 “First, I think the achievement of becoming
a Certified Welcoming city was truly a
recognition of the work that community
partners put in. We got to this point together
and this is how you can see if people feel
like they belong: by being able to accomplish
something like this together. The City of
Pittsburgh and community partners know
that this isn’t a one-off accomplishment or
a box that is checked. The work is ongoing
and our community partnerships and
commitment will continue to carry forward. ”
—FEYISOLA AKINTOLA,
Special Initiatives Manager, Office of Equity,
City of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
(Certified Welcoming since 2021)
“Being Certified Welcoming strengthens and
affirms [the welcoming work] you’re doing. It
is a very rigorous process because someone
else was evaluating us, telling us what we were
doing well and what could be improved. The
Certified Welcoming process puts a name
towards that work. ”
—JEANNETTE HORWITZ,
Program Coordinator, City of Dayton, Ohio
(Certified Welcoming since 2017)
“Salt Lake County has a long history of
welcoming immigrants and refugees from
all over the world. New Americans continue
to enrich our community with their unique
cultures and contribute to the economic
and political vibrancy of Salt Lake County.
As the first county in the nation to become
Certified Welcoming in 2018, regaining
this designation reaffirms our commitment
to welcoming and supporting immigrants
and refugees. My Office for New Americans
continues to identify and address barriers
to the integration of our neighbors so that
they can maximize their civic, social, and
economic potential in Salt Lake County,
where we all belong. ”
—MAYOR JENNIFER WILSON,
Salt Lake County, Utah
(Certified Welcoming since 2018)
See more stories about Certified Welcoming at CertifiedWelcoming.org/blog.
PITTSBURGH, PA DAYTON, OH SALT LAKE COUNTY, UT
BECOME A WELCOMING COMMUNITY
29 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The updated Certified W elcoming program and W elcoming Standard version 2.0 is the outcome of two years of conversations, feedback, and knowledge exchange with experts and stakeholders in a broad range of fields, including members of the W elcoming Network, partners, academia, local government, the private sector, and beyond. Additionally, W elcoming America received more than 100 responses on a draft of the W elcoming Standard over a 60-day public comment period. W e thank everyone who contributed their support and generous contribution of time and resources.
CONTENT ADVISORY
BOARD FOR THE
WELCOMING STANDARD
Amer J. Al Fayadh
Communication Essentials, LLC
Niken Astari Carpenter
City of Erie, PA
Anka Badurina
Building One Community
Pablo Bose
University of Vermont
Jeremy Carter
Urban Redevelopment
Authority of Pittsburgh
Stefanie Chambers
Trinity College
Lorrie Chang
Policy Link
Annie Chen
Vera Institute of Justice
Natalie Copeland Ringsmuth
UniteCloud
Brian Corr
National Association
for Civilian Oversight
of Law Enforcement
Lauren Crain
WES Mariam Assefa Fund
Maria Domingo
Jewish Family Services Buffalo
Kevin Douglas
Grantmakers Concerned
with Immigrants and Refugees
Felipe A. Filomeno
University of Maryland,
Baltimore County
Abigail Fisher Williamson
Trinity College
Matt Fulton
Polco/NRC
Laura Gardner
Immigrant Connections
Carla Gibson
REACH Healthcare Foundation
Danielle Grigsby
Refugee Council USA
30 Susana Guardado
OneMorgan County
Vethina Hage
Urban Redevelopment
Authority of Pittsburgh
Hiba Haroon
Prosperity Now
Michael Huang
Communities In Schools
Tomás Jiménez
Stanford University
Mo Kantner
American Immigration Council
Melissa Kelly
Ryerson University
Malka Kopell
Civity
An Le
City of Boston, MA
Kien S. Lee
Community Science
Edmundo Lijo
City of Saint Paul, MN
Anna Marandi
Wendy Mateo Pascual
Mary Jayne McCullough
Global Wordsmiths
Paul McDaniel
Kennesaw State University
Margie McHugh,
MPI National Center on
Immigrant Integration Policy
Sarah Mesick
National Partnership
for New Americans
Valerie Mills
City of Atlanta, GA
Karen Murphy
Human Responsibility
Accelerator
Ana Ndumu
American Library Association
Services to Refugees, Immigrants, and
Displaced Persons Sub-Committee
Ayman Okar
Refugee Congress
Karen Phillippi
Global Michigan
Miriam Potocky
International Rescue
Committee
Anna Rashed Marandi
National League of Cities
Vanessa Saldivar
Cities for Action
Jessica Schenk
Gateway Region YMCA
Paul Stein
Mary Tauras
Forge Consulting
Steve Tobocman
Global Detroit
Julia Trujillo Luengo
State of Maine
BECOME A WELCOMING COMMUNITY
31 TECHNICAL COMMITTEE
FOR THE WELCOMING
STANDARD
Catherine Crosby
Town of Apex,
North Carolina
Erica DeLeon
One Siouxland
Sebastian Geers
Welcoming Australia
Mara Kimmel
Welcoming America
Lola Pak
Welcoming America
Catalina Rodriguez-Lima
City of Baltimore, Maryland
Ze Min Xiao
Economic Development
Corporation of Utah
PILOT SITES FOR
CERTIFIED WELCOMING 2.0
City of Champaign
Illinois and New American
Welcome Center at the YMCA
City of Tulsa
Oklahoma
San Mateo County
California
Special Mention
We thank the staff and leadership
of Welcoming America for their input,
including Meg Shoemaker Little and
Melissa Bertolo, who have led the process
to update the Welcoming Standard.
Photo credit: Adobe Stock32
Visit CertifiedWelcoming.org to find more information
and stories about becoming Certified Welcoming.
Contact: [email protected]