Welcoming San Diego is a multi-sector effort to advance the civic, social and economic integration of immigrants and refugees. We envision a vibrant, inclusive, and safe binational region that attracts families and businesses from around the world and that all San Diegans can flourish in.
As the birthplace of California, San Diego is a gateway for newcomers searching for freedom and opportunity. Our strength and future is tied to our ability to ensure New Americans can fully participate in civic life, access public resources, and contribute their skills.
San Diego was recently awarded the Gateways for Growth grant to bring together local government, nonprofits, educational institutions and businesses to develop a strategic plan on immigrant integration. We will convene residents and community leaders to contribute ideas throughout first half of 2018 that will culminate in a plan that includes recommendations on policies, practices and innovations to create a more welcoming environment and improve the quality of life for all in our dynamic binational region for the next three to five years.
STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Mary Abad
San Diego International Affairs Board
Abdi Abdillahi
County of San Diego
Paola Avila
San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce
Karim Bouris
Business for Good
Ciria Brewer
San Diego Unified School District
Dwayne Crenshaw
RISE San Diego
Carlos Turner Cortez
San Diego Continuing Education
Joel Day
City of San Diego
Dale Fleming
County of San Diego
Denice Garcia
Office of Mayor Kevin Faulconer
Erin Tsurumoto Grassi
San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium
Stephen Groce
San Diego Human Relations Commission
Andrea Guerrero
Alliance San Diego
Linda Caballero Sotelo
New Americans Museum
Mark Tran
The California Endowment
Samuel Tsoi
UC San Diego; RISE San Diego
Eduardo Velasquez
San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation
Tom Wong
UC San Diego
Photo by: San Diego-Union Tribune/ZUMA Press