Detroit City-to-City Visit a big hit – WE Global Network
Detroit City-to-City Visit a big hit
Building a welcoming economy—one that is inclusive of immigrants, their talents, their aspirations, and their contributions—can be a daunting endeavor. The Welcoming Economies Global Network (WE Global) brings together over 20 cities across the Rust Belt who have initiated local initiatives to do just that. Most of the WE Global members launched their efforts within the last decade. The WE Global Network provides a space and platform where these local initiatives can learn from each other, share best practices, network, form critical support relationships, and be inspired in the work.
The WE Global City-to-City visit program is one of WE Global’s cornerstone programs, enabling WE Global core members an extended opportunity to dive deep into the peer learning experience. In 2018, WE Global tried something new from the last several years of one-on-one city visits where WE Global core members from one city would visit another core member in a different city. Instead, the 2018 City-to-City visit program facilitated two visits—one to St. Louis in the spring and the other a visit to Detroit on October 25-26.
The Detroit City-to-City visit was scheduled on the heels of Detroit being ranked among the Top Ten cities in America by the New American Economy Cities Index for its welcoming policies and the successful socioeconomic integration of immigrants. Visiting organizations included: Immigration New Zealand, Welcoming America, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce St. Louis, International Institute of Buffalo, Cincinnati Compass, Louisville Metro Government, St. Louis Mosaic, International Institute of St. Louis, and Welcoming Michiana. The visit was co-hosted by Global Detroit, the Michigan Office for New Americans, and Welcoming America.