“It’s a victory to be a single mom and own my home outright," says Myra about the Detroit home she... [+]
How are communities around the country becoming more prosperous by creating inclusive policies for immigrants and refugees? For insight, we turned to David Lubell in Atlanta, founder of Welcoming America – a network of over 160 “welcoming cities.” Here he shares how communities can use this turbulent moment to transform themselves, how business leaders can plug in, and why welcoming is for everyone – not just those among us who are newcomers.
Ashoka: Why should business care about welcoming?
David Lubell: When we start signaling that America doesn’t need immigrants anymore, we’re losing our edge as a competitor in the global economy. The U.S. needs to be able to attract talented people from all over the world. There are already labor shortages in many industries, most heavily reported in agriculture. In addition, studies overwhelmingly show that a diverse workforce is more effective because more perspectives bring more possible solutions. And if your company imports, exports, has any interaction with other countries, be concerned because global companies and consumers elsewhere have options besides the U.S. market and some are already taking their business elsewhere. On every level, this closed stance is bad for business, and short-sighted.
Ashoka: How do new Americans contribute directly to the country’s bottom line?
Lubell: They are big contributors to the American workforce and they have huge consumer purchasing power. The purchasing power of Latinos and Asians alone is $2 trillion. And the businesses they own have sales of $857 billion and employ 4.7 million workers at last count. They are, simply put, vital to our country's economic health.
Ashoka: How do you see the new administration's travel ban?
Lubell: The ban goes against everything our country stands for, and it's an example of how when we abandon our values, there are real economic and social consequences for U.S. communities. But it’s important to ask: why do so many Americans support the ban? It’s a symptom of a larger problem. When you live in an economically depressed community, with fewer and fewer employment options, you are more susceptible to the arguments that immigrants and refugees are somehow a threat. Welcoming America works in such communities, where many locally-born residents have reached that conclusion. Fortunately, over time, we've found that by uniting people from all walks of life, and bringing long-time residents and newcomers into direct contact, communities realize much brighter economic futures.
Ashoka: How exactly does Welcoming America do that?
Lubell: We work with and support local partners – business owners, civil society, municipal governments, faith based groups – to imagine a new kind of community where everyone, including newcomers, is supported in being successful. Then we help them develop and roll out city-wide plans and policies. Long-time residents begin to see for themselves that immigrants are benefitting the whole community by starting businesses and bringing in new energy and ideas. The good news is that many communities – including many in the industrial Midwest – have been developing welcoming initiatives for years, and there are now successful blueprints for welcoming and lessons to share from all across the country.
Ashoka: An example?
Lubell: Many “Rust Belt” communities have adopted welcoming strategies to address population and economic decline. Take Dayton, Ohio. In 2008, when Arizona was closing its doors to newcomers, Dayton’s residents spent a year developing the Welcome Dayton plan and bringing the community together around these questions: Can we address economic and population decline by becoming the most welcoming city in the Midwest? How can we spread the benefits of this effort to every single person in our community?
Ashoka: Did it work?
Lubell: Yes! Less than a decade later, they are gaining population and tax base. There are cities like this all over the Midwest and Rust Belt, from St. Louis, to Detroit, to Buffalo, that are deliberatively starting to welcome newcomers while taking care to also support long-time residents. The result? Everyone feels welcome in their community and supported in reaching their full potential.
Ashoka: How does a city welcoming effort start?
Lubell: It often starts with one person or a small business or civic group reaching out to learn what other cities are doing. The leader(s) see both the challenges immigrants face and huge opportunities for their cities. Our job is to support them in what they want to do, wherever community will and leadership shows up.
Ashoka: And for those who don’t imagine playing a galvanizing role, what can they do?
Lubell: You can start by acknowledging, very simply, “I’m concerned about anti-immigrant sentiment in my community, and I care about my community's future.” Ask: How can I/we work toward a community where everyone contributes and everyone feels they belong? Then think about a pragmatic response that works for you: write an op-ed, support an immigrant-owned business, invite a newcomer family to dinner and introduce them around. Visit our website for ideas and tools to help you get started along this journey.
