Ohio rewarded for embracing immigrants
As Congress takes up the issue of immigration, the lives of millions of Americans hang in the balance, and the very idea of America as an immigrant nation is being challenged at the highest levels. While Congress so far remains unable to pass sensible immigration reform that will provide stability to American communities and families, municipal leaders are quickly becoming the standard-bearers of American ideals by advancing inclusive agendas that make communities more welcoming places for immigrants and U.S.-born residents alike.
Take the case of Ohio, which is fast becoming a microcosm of what’s possible when it comes to immigration.
In 2011 — the year Alabama passed the harshest state anti-immigrant bill in the nation — the city of Dayton instead embraced inclusion through the Welcome Dayton Immigrant Friendly City Plan, an innovative agenda to make sure all people, including immigrants, felt welcome.
Adopted unanimously by the city commission, the Welcome Dayton plan includes programs to help immigrants learn English and naturalize as U.S. citizens; soccer tournaments and arts programming to build bridges between newer immigrants and long-time residents and encourage social cohesion; and an innovative program in Dayton Public Schools to create a welcoming environment for children.
The Welcome Dayton plan also achieved something imminently practical: Dayton had been losing population and its tax base for the better part of the century, and without an influx of new residents, it was destined for further economic decline. In the past few years, Dayton has seen revitalized neighborhoods and business corridors, along with a significant increase in the number of immigrants settling in the city, which has helped to offset more than 50 years of population decline. According to research published by New American Economy, between 2009 and 2013, foreign-born households in Dayton contributed more than $15 million in state and local taxes.
While Alabama’s economy suffered because of its stance, Dayton’s grew.
Dayton has received numerous accolades for its work, including becoming the first in the country to become “Certified Welcoming,” a new designation introduced by Welcoming America to distinguish those places that have met a high bar for inclusive policy and culture.
Dayton is not the only city in the state of Ohio to adopt a welcoming agenda. In fact, today in Ohio, every one of the state’s six major cities has a proactive response in place when it comes to immigration and building greater social cohesion.
In Columbus, Cincinnati and Cleveland, investments are made in ensuring that newcomers — among them refugees — are truly able to put down roots and become Americans while also contributing economically. In Franklin County, refugee contributions alone were found to total $1.6 billion dollars annually. To maximize these contributions, local efforts include bringing together newly arrived immigrants with long-time residents to have frank dialogues about the inevitable challenges of local demographic change. These dialogues help to foster understanding and forge intergroup relationships that are foundational for establishing an environment in which trust — rather than fear — prevails.
Ohio cities’ pragmatic response to recovering from economic decline has been embraced by a broad spectrum of local leaders. The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber of Commerce, for instance, has worked closely with the city to define a welcoming strategy and to consider how inclusion — an issue that corporate America is tackling within its own workforce — also becomes part of the DNA of the city.
Ohio has long served as a microcosm of the United States. At a time of rising fears about immigrants and demographic change, these pragmatic efforts rooted in local values offer a counterpoint to the vitriol.
When it comes to immigration, community leaders in Ohio and across the nation are not only light years ahead of Washington but a beacon for what’s possible, responding constructively to demographic change and moving communities forward together.