Receptivity and the Welcoming Cities Movement: Advancing a Regional Immigrant Integration Policy Framework in Metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia

Abstract

Welcoming America is a nonprofit organization based in Decatur, Georgia. Their focus is on making communities more inclusive for everyone, including racially and ethnically diverse foreign-born residents. In recent years, Welcoming America has developed an affiliate network throughout the United States comprised of institutions including nonprofits and municipal governments. Our research documents their evolution and how these efforts serve as a resource and cultural broker for native- and foreign-born residents. Our examination of four “welcoming cities” in the Atlanta Metropolitan Statistical Area (Atlanta, Clarkston, Decatur, Norcross) describes how these initiatives were established and what substantive policy changes have taken place. We examine whether such criteria are useful for advancing a regional welcoming platform for the Atlanta region. We use geographic information systems to determine whether, and to what extent, other municipalities within the Atlanta metropolitan area beyond the current four welcoming cities could potentially be part of such a welcoming region. Recommendations are made within the broader context of state- and federal-level immigration policy.