By engaging in civic action through volunteering or in elected or appointed positions, immigrants and refugees can experience leadership opportunities and access more welcoming spaces, services, and resources. They can also bring meaningful insight and representation to local, county, and state governments.
Welcoming Plan Goals
Increase awareness of the benefits of volunteering and establishing connections using professional and social networks.
Develop and expand existing civic and leadership programs to broaden the leadership training experience.
Expand naturalization efforts for eligible immigrants and refugees as well as coordinated measures to become voters, civic participants, and elected officials.
Increase immigrant and refugee employment in government agencies to reflect Central Ohio’s globally diverse population.
Increase immigrant and refugee presence as civic leaders in Central Ohio for example on City and County Boards and Commissions.
Re-imagine service delivery for the immigrant refugee community.
Build government programs that cultivate and support civic participation and leadership development among immigrant and refugees.
Welcoming City Strategies
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Develop a report about the immigrant and refugee communities covering all municipalities in Central Ohio to understand demographics, leadership, cultural understandings, and community methods of communication.
Collaborate with the Board of Election in each county in Central Ohio to engage new citizens on the importance of voting and how to register as voters.
Collaborate with Cities for Citizenship and local financial institutions to provide loans to pay for citizenship classes and exams and build credit for immigrants and refugees.
Revive the City of Columbus funding and support for civic engagement training to organizations that help immigrants and refugees become citizens and expand to other Central Ohio municipalities.
Facilitate a series of conversations in immigrant and refugee communities on the importance of running for office.
Hire multicultural liaisons.
Utilize data and personal stories to improve policies and practices on immigrant integration.
Develop standard operating procedures for government departments and agencies to use for utilizing tools, programs, and resources that aid in immigrant integration.
Enhance city and county websites to provide access to bilingual information and critical documents.
Increase opportunities for immigrants and refugees to serve on city and county boards and commissions.
Create a long-term outreach plan to leverage every opportunity to engage with the community and build trust and interest in civil service and governmental agencies.
Increase budget to expand government programs and policies and support local partners.
Create educational workshops outlining the local government structure and procedures for accessing government services and programs and partner with organizations that serve immigrants and refugees to deliver workshops.
Coordinate with city and county to recognize multicultural holidays and cultural celebrations through a master calendar.
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Develop a coordinated plan to create an Immigrant led Global Ambassador certification to meet the desire of many immigrants and refugees to ""give back"" and serve others.
Collaborate with existing civic and leadership programs to expand opportunities for immigrants and refugees.
Create an exploratory committee representative of the immigrant and refugee community to develop a curriculum and training program that will identify the benefits of volunteering and avenues for service.
Provide direct incentives and capacity-building instruction on how to operate civic administration effectively.
Explore the creation of an Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs serving Central Ohio communities to identify their needs and concerns and to foster a spirit of welcoming and belonging.
Support existing multicultural leadership programs and expand capacity through local government administrative programs.