Welcoming America's executive director, Rachel Perić, was in Paris on #WorldRefugeeDay last week. The #welcoming movement is truly global! Cities and communities across the world are, in Rachel's words, "ensuring that new and longtime residents alike can thrive and belong together, in abundance rather than scarcity." Read Rachel's full thoughts below.
Last week, I traveled to #Paris to speak with mayors about their leadership and role capitalizing on #migration as an opportunity for cities. Hosted by Paris Mayor Ann Hidalgo, in partnership with Bloomberg Associates, the gathering was an opportunity to share lessons learned and explore common themes that link city leaders globally as problem solvers and positive role models. “As a mayor,” said Mayor Hidalgo, "it is my role to unite people against the spread of hate and fear. There is no life possible without recognizing the humanity in each other.” I especially enjoyed sitting down with Deputy Mayor Beatriz Ponce de León and hearing about #Chicago’s community-wide efforts to be a #welcoming city and the importance of ensuring that new and longtime residents alike can thrive and belong together, in abundance rather than scarcity. Joining the panel was also #Casablanca Deputy Mayor Abderrahim Outass, who shared how the city's current efforts are rooted in an historic arc as a city of trade with people from many backgrounds, and the legacy of that identity today in helping the city flourish, culturally and economically. I enjoyed learning from organizations working to address homelessness, and from smart leaders like Ruth Owen with FEANTSA, and see great opportunity in continuing to connect the dots between migration and homelessness to ensure that #status and #origin aren't barriers to shelter or basic human dignity. As #migration reshapes our world - and the #narratives that drive our politics - the #leadership of mayors - and of cities and towns - is crucial in ensuring our #values, not our fears, determine our future. A huge thanks to Linda Gibbs and Tamiru Mammo, and to the City of Paris, for the invitation to join this wonderful and inspiring gathering. Welcoming America Welcoming International photo credit: Henri Garat and Guillaume Bontemps and the City of Paris
