NASHUA — Welcoming America, a national nonprofit organization, announced Monday that five U.S. cities and counties achieved or were redesignated as Certified Welcoming places. Nashua, NH was among the designees and is the first city in New Hampshire to attain it, and one of the first in the Northeast.
“We are pleased to announce a new round of leaders in the growing movement to create communities where everyone — including people who migrate — can belong and prosper,” said Rachel Perić, executive director of Welcoming America. “Today, we recognize the cities of Portland, Maine and Nashua, New Hampshire as newly Certified Welcoming, as well as redesignate the City of Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Louisville Metro Government; and Salt Lake County as Certified Welcoming. These local governments are leading the way, and showing how cities and towns can partner with Welcoming America to put their welcoming values into action.”
Nashua, New Hampshire and Portland, Maine are the first two cities in the New England region to become Certified Welcoming.
Said Nashua Mayor Jim Donchess: “The City of Nashua, New Hampshire, is so pleased to officially receive this designation. 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.”
For cities or counties to become Certified Welcoming, they first undergo a rigorous audit that evaluates existing policies and programs for how well they meet the Welcoming Standard, a set of framework areas that define what welcoming communities should be, particularly in how effectively they include immigrants. Based on the audit, the city or county may receive an action plan to resolve any gaps and work toward full compliance of the Welcoming Standard to achieve the designation. For example, the City of Nashua has continually invested in language access services to ensure that all of its community members can receive government services and information.
There are now 18 Certified Welcoming cities and counties across the United States, with nine in progress to achieve the designation. By 2026, Welcoming America aims to see 50 communities become Certified Welcoming places.
An official roll-out event is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 12, from noon-2 pm. Adult Learning Center at 4 Lake Street has graciously agreed to host the City of Nashua for this celebration. There will refreshments and the Mayor will speak on the Welcoming City designation. More information will be announced at a later date.
About Certified Welcoming
Certified Welcoming is a formal designation for cities and counties that have created policies and programs reflecting their values and commitment to immigrant inclusion and met the high bar set by the Welcoming Standard. This innovative program assesses city and county governments on their efforts to include and welcome immigrants in all areas of civic, social, and economic life in their communities. Learn more at certifiedwelcoming.org
About Welcoming America
Welcoming America is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that supports communities building a welcoming society where every person, including immigrants, can fully contribute and shape our shared prosperity. Through the Welcoming Network of 300+ local governments and nonprofits, we work to help communities develop the roadmap they need to create welcoming policies and share new approaches to inclusion that create an environment where everyone can truly thrive. Learn more at welcomingamerica.org
Article written by Ellen Grimm and published by Seacoastonline, a member of the Granite State News Collaborative.
This story is part of an occasional Granite State News Collaborative series focusing on immigration issues and the experiences of immigrants settling in New Hampshire, including what it’s like seeking asylum here and finding work as an immigrant — the challenges involved, as well as efforts underway to help remove barriers and create more opportunities for advancement.
In a tight labor market, employers have been proposing some novel ways to fill positions. According to Andrew Cullen, career service manager at the International Institute of New England in Manchester, one manufacturing company is considering providing a van on a temporary basis for a group of potential employees that need transportation in order to work.
“We’ve had a lot of employers reaching out to us, looking for help filling labor shortages,” Cullen said.
New Hampshire Voter Education & Awareness – A helpful guide on voter rights, registration, eligibility and access, common terminology, who is on the ballot, and more.
Multilingual Election Information
Basic information for New Hampshire voters in Spanish, French and Chinese:
The Civics Center – A nonprofit program dedicated to building the foundations of youth civic engagement and voter participation in high schools
Rock the Vote – a non-partisan nonprofit dedicated to building the political power of young people
Bolder Advocacy – promotes active engagement in democratic processes and institutions by giving nonprofits and foundations the confidence to advocate effectively and by protecting their right to do so.
Article written by Ellen Grimm and published by Manchester Ink Link, a member of the Granite State News Collaborative.
Bruno D’Britto left his home in Rio de Janeiro as a teenager, arriving in Nashua to join his father, who had left Brazil for the United States years earlier after his parents divorced. Coming to the U.S. was a chance to seek better opportunities, he said, and to leave a neighborhood beset by violence.
“I saw many people being shot. Like a month before I came (to the United States), this kid got shot, killed pretty much in front of my school as we were leaving. When you are living with that, you kind of become numb to it,” he said. “It actually took me a couple of years after I came to realize that wasn’t the norm.”
D’Britto said his father was able to bring him to the United States under the family reunification program, the leading immigration pathway for foreign nationals (citizens of a foreign country), according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Other pathways: employment-based immigration, refugee resettlement, asylum, and the diversity lottery.
As with much of immigration policy, family reunification – also called family-based immigration – can be a complicated process involving multiple eligibility categories and qualifications. Now an immigration attorney, D’Britto helps others hoping to bring family members to the United States.
D’Britto is also founder and member of the N.H. Brazilian Council, which provides a variety of legal and social services to the Brazilian population and other immigrants in New Hampshire, including promoting language access.
In the last few months, governors Greg Abbott (Texas), Doug Ducey (Arizona), and Ron DeSantis (Florida) have bussed and flown asylum seekers to cities beyond the southern border region in an attempt to push an anti-immigrant agenda and infuse fear and hate in receiving cities. These cities include Washington DC, New York, Chicago and Martha’s Vineyard.
We are saddened and outraged to see political leaders play with the health, safety and dignity of migrants. PEOPLE ARE NOT PAWNS.
This political stunt, however, is failing. We have seen communities, organizations, advocates, health workers, lawyers, churches and more RISE UP TO WELCOME and lend a hand to these migrants and asylum seekers. The welcoming spirit of communities will prevail. Welcoming NH and the NH Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees, alongside organizations and advocates across the state and nation, will continue to fight for inclusivity and for the rights and wellbeing of immigrants.
How do these recent events concern New Hampshire? NOW is the time for our state and local officials to show what it means to be a welcoming community. This is a moment when our leaders should step up as examples of how to grant fair, dignified and humane treatment to people in need of support and protection. We need to push for more inclusive policies and actions in our state, now!
En septiembre, son las elecciones primarias, un tipo de elecciones donde cada partido elige a los candidatos para las elecciones de medio mandato, que serán en noviembre. Esta es una guía para que estés más informado al votar. www.collaborativenh.org/vota2022
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