Author: Christa Yoakum

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Eleven Brothers helped immigrant children form new family on soccer field

NEishome_featimgEleven Brothers was more than the name of their soccer team.  “We are all brothers,” the coach says. “We are all one. We respect each other. We love each other as brothers.”

The Lincoln Journal Star tells the inspiring story of how these young soccer players who came to Nebraska from Vietnam, Cambodia, Kosovo, Sudan, Nigeria, Bosnia, Iraq and Mexico bonded together, overcoming cultural barriers with respect and honesty and bonding over their love for soccer.  Their coach and mentor, Joseph Rafique, taught his young players manners, behaviors and integrity that remain now that they no longer teammates but young adults, and still brothers.

Through the common love of the sport, the youth who spoke English, Spanish, Arabic and Serbo-Croatian found success on the soccer field and a respect for each other and for each other’s culture, faith and race.

This mutual respect and cooperation is an important principle of Nebraska Is Home,  recognizing immigrants who feel welcome, valued and included in the community are more successful at integrating into their new community.

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You’re Invited – Omaha Welcoming Community Dialogue

youre_welcome_logoOmaha is a stronger, safer, and better community when we welcome people from all backgrounds and places of origin.

You are invited Monday evening to join Nebraska Appleseed, Inclusive Communities, and You’re Welcome in Omaha for a dialogue about making Omaha a more welcoming community for all people.

What: You’re Welcome In Omaha Community Dialogue
Where: Urban Abbey coffee shop
1026 Jackson St. Omaha
When: Monday, July 29, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

The event will be an informal conversation between Omaha neighbors, both those whose families have immigrated to Omaha generations ago and those who have immigrated more recently. Sharing experiences, identifying common goals and shared values will lead to greater respect among all neighbors.

Please join us at Urban Abbey Monday evening to participate in a conversation about how we can make Omaha an even better community by making everyone feel welcome.

We hope to see you there!

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Immigrants breathe new life into communities

NEishome_featimgA recent article by Immigration Impact gives a telling portrayal of the benefits that immigrants bring to their new homes – while highlighting new local efforts across the country to focus on “welcoming” initiatives that create strong communities.

New immigrants “breathe new life into communities” and help create a vibrant social, economic, and cultural environment.  They diversify neighborhoods and open businesses that share the beauties of numerous cultures.

The economic benefits are significant as well.  Many immigrants fill the gaps in the labor market and positively contribute to the state and local economies.  Immigrants with stable financial situations often start their own businesses and create jobs in their new hometowns.

Immigrants are a necessary and crucial factor in helping the United States sustain growth.  Immigrants have been an engine of this country since its creation.  Local organizations, such as Welcoming America affiliates and Nebraska is Home, help create a more welcoming community environment to help new and longtime residents find shared prosperity, because our communities are strongest when everyone feels welcome. For many of these immigrants, their potential is limitless if they are welcomed and have the belief that they can play a part in creating positive change in their community.

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Announcing the Welcoming Cities and Counties Initiative

Re-posted from a Welcoming America announcement

welcom_cities_final-300x154Recognizing that immigrants help maximize opportunities for economic growth and civic vitality and position communities as globally competitive, 21st century leaders, 14 local governments have joined the Welcoming Cities and Counties Initiative with Welcoming America.The initiative signals the growing importance of an innovative and proactive role for local governments, and the growing recognition of immigrants as assets in any community.Participating cities and counties include:

  • Allegheny County, Pennsylvania (incl. Pittsburgh)
  • Austin, Texas
  • Baltimore, Maryland
  • Boise, Idaho
  • Chicago, Illinois
  • Columbus, Ohio
  • Dayton, Ohio
  • High Point, North Carolina
  • Lincoln, Nebraska
  • Macomb County, Michigan
  • Montgomery County, Maryland
  • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • St. Louis, Missouri (city)
  • St. Louis, Missouri (county)

 

Welcoming Cities and Counties recognize the benefit of supporting immigrant-friendly, welcoming environments in which all community members can fully contribute and participate.Welcoming America is convening members of Welcoming Cities and Counties to share promising practices with each other and help the nation learn from their local level innovations that support economic development and create vibrant global communities that are great places to live, work and do business.In addition this initiative is supported by a growing list of partner organizations, which include: City of Chicago, The German Marshall Fund of the United States, AS/COA, and Maytree’s Cities of Migration. Welcoming Cities and Counties has also been recognized as a 2013 Clinton Global Initiative Commitment to Action.

If you, your organization, or your city or county is interested in learning more or participating, please contact Susan Downs-Karkos, Director of Strategic Partnerships, at susan@welcomingamerica.org.

To learn more about the initiative, visit www.welcomingcities.org.  Read more research about the imperatives for this work in Communities and Banking magazine and the Welcoming Cities report.

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Nebraska immigrant documentary screening in Lincoln Sunday

QC16x9Meet The Quilted Conscience director Sunday at the Ross

Documentary also airs statewide Friday on NET

A locally produced documentary about the welcoming of cultural diversity in Nebraska will air this weekend in Lincoln with a chance for you to participate.  The Quilted Conscience will be screened at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center (313 N. 13th St., Lincoln) as part of NET’s Coffee and Conversation series.

Following the film, you can participate in a discussion with the film’s director, John Sorenson, as well as several of the quilters featured in the movie.

The Quilted Conscience portrays a remarkable bond formed between a group of 16 Sudanese-American girls and a local quilter’s guild in Grand Island, coming together to create something spectacular.  The film shows the incredible experience of two groups of women coming together and understanding that they have more similarities than differences through the work in their hands.

Peggie Hartwell, a master quiltmaker, helps to “stitch” these two groups together in creating a quilt, depicting the girl’s memories of Africa and their dreams of America.

A community discussion will follow the screening of the one-hour film with panelists including director John Sorenson, NET Executive Producer Christine Lesiak, and several of the quilters featured in the film.

This screening is also shown in partnership with Nebraska Appleseed, Center For People in Need, and the Clyde Malone Community Center.

The Quilted Conscience also will air statewide this week on NET Friday night at 7 p.m.  Omaha residents will have their chance to view the film and meet the director, master quiltmaker, and some of the girls featured in the film at a screening Thursday, June 20th at Aksarben Cinema and Saturday, June 22nd for a pair of screenings on World Refugee Day at Omaha Benson High School.

We encourage you to watch this film to see a beautiful story about how creating a sense of welcoming strengthens our communities and makes Nebraska thrive.

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Immigrants bring hard work, creative ideas to U.S. economy

the_immigrant_advantageLast week Marketplace Money, a public radio program focusing on business and the economy, highlighted the positive effects immigration has on our nation and our economy. Two immigrants, Mario Escobar, originally from El Salvador, and Jose Luis Zelaya, from Honduras, described the trials they have gone through in their pursuit of the American dream.

Escobar, now a 35-year-old father of two, was unable to receive student loans since he had not yet been granted political asylum after fleeing the violence of his home country.  In order to put himself through college at UCLA, he juggled multiple jobs and still continues to do so to this day. He currently is working as a translator and managing his own small business as a book publisher.

Zelaya left Honduras after the death of his brother.  He was a homeless teenager before he came to the U.S. with a unique skill, crocheting.  By crocheting and selling his products online he made enough money to put himself and his sister through college.  He is now a graduate student at Texas A&M.

Claudia Koelker, the author of “The Immigrant Advantage: What We Can Learn From Newcomers to America About Health, Happiness and Hope,” writes in her new book that too often we fail to see all of the positive benefits of immigrants in our community.  Apart from diversifying our community and bringing new cultures, foods and hope, they also bring new, innovative ideas and a passion to succeed.

You can learn more and test your immigration knowledge with the Marketplace Money podcasts below.

Listen: Learn from immigrants…and test your knowledge

Listen: Immigrants get creative to survive without credit

Listen: How much would you spend for a taste of home?

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Quilted Conscience screenings November 13 & 15

Quilted Conscience is a documentary about the welcoming of cultural diversity in Grand Island. This documentary portrays a remarkable bond formed between a group of 16 Sudanese-American girls and a quilter’s guild, coming together to create something spectacular.

Join us at one of two special screenings with John Sorensen, the film’s director, and artist Peggie Hartwell.

Lincoln, NE
Date: Tuesday, November 13
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Student Union, 1400 R Street

Omaha, NE
Date: Thursday, November 15
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Creighton University, at the Center for Service and Justice in the Harper Center, 2500 California Street, Suite 2067

Peggie Hartwell, a master quiltmaker, helps to “stitch” these two groups together in creating a quilt, depicting the girl’s memories of Africa and their dreams of America. Quilted Conscience shows the incredible experience of two groups of women coming together and understanding that they have more similarities than differences through the work in their hands.

The film’s director John Sorensen, director and founder of the Abbott Sisters Project, and master quilt maker Peggie Hartwell are coming to Nebraska for these special screenings of Quilted Conscience next week.

Join us in welcoming and celebrating cultural diversity!

A special thanks to the Creighton Center for Service and Justice and UNL students for hosting the screenings!

Coordinated by You’re Welcome in Omaha and Nebraska Is Home

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Omaha Celebrates National Welcoming Week

During Omaha Diversity Week and the first ever National Welcoming Week, activities in Omaha and around the country recognized efforts of inclusivity and inspiring others to welcome immigrant neighbors into the workplace and the community.

Throughout Omaha, in business, in city government, and in community celebrations and social groups, Omahans recognized the contributions of immigrant community members.  Hundreds of beautiful You’re Welcome posters created by Omaha artists went up in Omaha Public Schools, on college campuses, in the Omaha Public libraries, businesses and local coffee houses.

Throughout the week, the people of Omaha promoted the contributions of new Americans and the value of cultural customs. South Sudan Community Association (SSCA Omaha) held open houses, Mayor Jim Suttle gave speech about the economic benefits of family-owned businesses in the south Omaha neighborhood that has long been enriched by immigrant families, and the El Grito festival invited people of all cultures to come together in celebration of shared independence.

Jack Koraleski, President and CEO of Union Pacific Railroad, said attracting the most capable people, regardless of gender, race or ethnicity has been critical to the success of his company.  Similarly, Kirk Kellner, Wells Fargo Regional President, said successful and competitive companies value each person for their culture, skills and talent.

Later in the week, Mayor Suttle spoke of the vitality and productivity of South 24th Street.  He said the efforts of hardworking families and new entrepreneurs who have immigrated to Omaha has brought millions of dollars of revenue to the city.

Bookending the week, the 2012 National Immigrant Integration Conference drew hundreds of community leaders to Baltimore this year to discuss the social and economic benefits of integration as well as creative strategies for communities, institutions, and local governments to promote inclusion and a stronger future for all.

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You’re Welcome in Omaha Celebrates National Welcoming Week

This week, You’re Welcome in Omaha will join Welcoming America affiliates across the country to celebrate the first National Welcoming Week. Across Omaha, throughout schools, public places and businesses, posters designed by local artists will spread a message of “Welcome” in many languages. Other community activities will be posted at NebraskaIsHome.org

More than 20 Omaha organizations and businesses have signed on in support of this growing movement recognizing and promoting the contributions immigrants bring to the city and developing efforts to welcome them.

Omaha Public Schools will be posting You’re Welcome posters throughout the district’s 85 schools in honor of National Welcoming Week. Volunteers will also post the colorful designs in public places and businesses around town.

During the week of September 15-22, across the country, longtime residents and immigrant neighbors will join together in local activities promoting meaningful connections and a spirit of unity.

National Welcoming Week is coordinated by Welcoming America, an Atlanta-based national nonprofit collaborative that works to promote mutual respect and cooperation among foreign-born and U.S.-born Americans. Welcoming Week will bring together efforts around the country that recognize our communities are strongest when everyone who lives in them feels welcome.

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The Economic Dividends of Welcoming Immigrants

You’re Welcome celebrates diverse communities that welcome both immigrant and non-immigrant neighbors. But it’s not just our communities that are enriched when all people are welcome, it is also true that local businesses and economies thrive when all people are able to work together.

Forbes magazine recently published an article discussing the business opportunities that immigrants contribute to in our communities. David Lubell, founder of Welcoming America, is quoted in the article stating, “we want to recognize communities that welcome newcomers because we know that those places will be better positioned to attract global workforces and global investment. They’ll be better positioned to succeed in a 21st-century economy. They’ll be better able to help the public understand that our communities are strongest when everyone who lives in them feels welcomed. And as Americans, that’s something that we can all benefit from.”

The article discusses immigrant Americans’ contributions as entrepreneurs and business owners, employees, investors, and consumers. It also highlights the unique leadership opportunity for businesses to pave the way for integration in communities – uniting everyone as vital contributors.

The same concept is true here in Omaha – more than 20 non-profit organizations and professional groups have already partnered with You’re Welcome in Omaha to promote inclusion, diversity, and connectedness. For more information or to get involved, contact Christa Yoakum at cyoakum@neappleseed.org