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Creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for New Americans, Immigrants, and Refugees in West Michigan.

WELCOME PLAN UPDATES

Click for Event Flyer!

We are thrilled to announce our latest Grant Writing Workshop: "Where are the Grants?" Discover how to utilize the free resources at the Grand Rapids Public Library to access grant databases and find the perfect funding opportunities for your business or non-profit organization! We will also be learning best practices for collaborating on a grant!

Immigrants, Refugees, and New Americans are encouraged to apply!

click on Image for Event Flyer

Call to Action: Join Us at the Michigan Immigrant Youth Conference!

The upcoming Michigan Immigrant Youth Conference is organized by a collaborative of ethnic-based community organizations, immigrant leaders, allies, and supporters of immigrants. To ensure the success of this important event, you can support and engage in many ways. Your support will help us provide valuable resources, workshops, and networking opportunities for young immigrants. 

How to get Involved

Sponsors Link: Support the next generation of resilient leaders by providing resources for a memorable conference experience.

Volunteers Link: Make a difference and connect with passionate individuals by helping with event logistics and attendee support. 

Youth Registration: If you're 15-30, register now to gain insights, share experiences, and build lasting connections in a community that values resilience.

Global Gathering Volunteers! We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help make this year's Global Gathering a huge success! There are a variety of time slots and roles available, so you can choose a schedule and task that best fits your interests and availability. Volunteer Here! Help us reach more volunteers by sharing this opportunity with your friends, family, and social networks. Discover ways to participate at the Global Gathering as a vendor here! If you or your organization share our passion in creating a space that welcomes everyone and would like to join us in making this event even more extraordinary, be sure to check out our Sponsorship Packet and Sponsor Form.

A Glimpse of Africa is looking for volunteers for their Gala Planning Committee. The committee meets weekly on Monday evenings, 6-7pm virtually. The Gala is scheduled for Friday October 18 at the Pinnacle Center. email fkanini@aglimpseofafrica.org to join! See flyer for more details.

_{The WMWPC is asking you to nominate local leaders that help our Refugee/ New American/ Immigrant population to be featured in a monthly special recognition in our communications and online platforms. This highlight would be a great way to spotlight their work in our community and inspire others to do the same!}

_{Please fill out this form to enter your nominee's information}

Voter Education

Local Elections - August 6th

Kent Election Candidate List

Kent County State District Map

Kent County Commissioner District Map

Ottawa Election Candidate List

Ottawa County State District Map

Ottawa County Commissioner District Map

Organizations for Voter Education

Hispanic Center - Helping clients with voting navigation (such as requesting an absentee ballot, making a voting plan, confirming a voting poll site, registering to vote, locating early voting sites, drop boxes). Voting Navigation will be walk-in days every Thursday morning or by appointment. Contact Emmy at the Center (616-742-0200) Facebook

LAUP- Offering classes on how and where to vote. Contact Blanca blanca@laup.org or call 616-888-7225 Facebook

Grand Rapids PROACTIVE - Focusing on making the maximum positive effort for our community. Our members and volunteers provide the momentum that helps us affect change. Using data driven models, we provide solutions that make a long-lasting difference. Facebook - Instagram

All Voting is Local - All Voting is Local is a multistate, nonpartisan organization that fights against state and local voting policies that silence voters of color and other historically marginalized communities and advocates for pro-voter policies that expand access to the ballot – not just in election years but every year. Contact Daniel Rivera drivera@allvotingislocal.org  X - Facebook

Promote the Vote - Promote the Vote cuts through the partisan noise to advance voting rights for the people of Michigan. From formulating and passing pro-voter ballot initiatives, to drafting and advancing legislation, to co-leading Michigan’s statewide nonpartisan Election Protection Program, Promote the Vote brings our steadfast dedication and unparalleled expertise to ensuring that Michigan’s elections are secure and accessible.  X- Facebook

Documents

Community Engagement

Wine, Food, and Fun with a Purpose Thursday, July 25 · 4 - 8pm EDT Tanglewood Winery, 15811 Riley Street Holland, MI 49424 $40 fee Empowering Youth Global Connection (EYGC) is inviting you to spend a night out with us at Tanglewood Winery! $40 gets you a Drink ticket from Tanglewood, a meal ticket from Wok Me Up Food Truck AND a game ticket for Global Trivia!!  All sales help support EYGC in their efforts to empower the youth of the world! Enjoy this night out with friends and family. Music by Unwind (Matthew and Megan Abbott). Follow the link below and reserve your ticket today!!

Celebrate 60th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act! Thursday July 25th 6:00-7:00pm Grand Rapids Public Library, 111 Library Street NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 Join MDCR for the MI Response to Hate (MIR2H) Campaign July 25 event celebrating the 1964 Civil Rights Act. This commemoration will feature community conversations in Grand Rapids, Flint, and Detroit. Residents from each city will share inspiring stories about their participation in the civil rights movement and reflect on where we stand today.

Whistlestops for Ukraine Wednesday July 31st 250 Monroe Ave Grand Rapids Chamber, MI 49503 The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) with support of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation invite you to a discussion about Why a Free and Sovereign Ukraine Matters to America A Luncheon with Members of the Grand Rapids Chamber featuring special guests Heather Conley, President, German Marshall Fund Her Excellency Oksana Markarova, Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S.

Hispanic Festival August 2nd - 4th, Friday through Sunday Calder Plaza - 320 Ottawa Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 Hispanic Festival 2024 is the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan's premier annual celebration of our community's rich heritage

National Night Out. That's why National Night Out is going to the Dogs! Tuesday August 6th, 6:00pm-8:00pm Lincoln Park,1120 Bridge NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504 We want to ensure all our furry friends keep up with the best health and safety tips. So, we are asking vendors to join us and bring a "gift to pass out" to our neighborhood walkers and pet owners (cats, birds, bunnies, etc). We ask that no merchandise be sold at this event, but we are happy for you to promote your services. Please bring your table, chairs, and tent and donate $25 to John Ball Area Neighbors to help fund future events at Lincoln Park. You can mail the check to 1120 Bridge NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504 (mailing) or drop it off at 321 Marion Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI. Please feel free to bring your furry friends too!

A Glimpse of Africa's Annual Cultural Festival Friday thru Saturday / August 9th, 10th and 11th  Calder Plaza, 300 Ottawa Avenue NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503  Last year's festival had approximately over 10,000 attendees with an array of free entertainment, fashion shows, art, and food from various African cultures!  As this festival continues to grow every year, organizers expect a high number of attendees, and hope that together, we can make it a great, successful, safe event!  Registration deadline for vendors is Monday July 15th Food Vendor Registration             Merchandise Vendor Registration

Family Fiesta August 16, from 4:30-7:30 pm Clemente Park, 546 Rumsey St SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 Roosevelt Park Advocates will be hosting the 11th annual “Family Fiesta”. Celebrate an amazing decade of Family Fiesta events as well as include many fun, free, and family-friendly activities. This exciting event brings together families from SW Grand Rapids and throughout the city to enjoy food, local vendors, live entertainment, and outdoor activities.

Research Shows: Immigrants Make Societies More Successful Webinar, Tuesday August 20th 7:00pm University of Pennsylvania professor Zeke Hernandez will talk about his new book, The Truth About Immigration: Why Successful Societies Welcome Newcomers. He draws from nearly 20 years of research to answer all the big questions about immigration. Originally from Uruguay, Zeke has a personal view of immigration to share. He also shares his ideas for fixing our broken immigration system.

Upcycle Bikes Pedals for Progress $75 Ticket Fee Wednesday, September 18th, 6pm-8:30pm Embassy Suites 710 Monroe Ave. Join Upcycle Bikes for our annual fundraising event to support greater access to community resources through the power of a bike. Together we'll provide community members with enhanced independence and opportunity as they ride refurbished bikes on the road to greater stability. The Pedals for Progress program will highlight Upcycle Bikes' efforts and growth, individual and partner impact stories, and opportunities to support the large community need for an affordable mode of transportation. To become a Pedals for Progress sponsor, please contact rick@upcyclebikes.org.

2024 Health Equity Conference Thursday, September 19, 2024 8:00am-3:00pm The Health Equity Council, in collaboration with Grand Valley State University’s Master of Public Health Program, are pleased to invite you to the Health Equity Conference. At the heart of this event is a commitment to community engagement and collaboration as the foundation for creating a community in which everyone can thrive. Join us on September 19 as we work together to advance health equity in Kent County through education, collaboration, and actionable solutions!  Click on image for more event poster!

Education Resources

Welcome Back Center Event Thursday, July 25 from 1:30-3:00 p.m. Michigan Health and Hospital Association's Advocacy Center office - 110 West Michigan Avenue, Suite 1200, Lansing, MI 48933.   The Michigan Global Talent Coalition invites you to the release of some promising research from the Michigan Health Council on the prospects of developing a Welcome Back Center (or centers) in Michigan to better prepare and connect foreign-trained, educated and experienced health care workers living in Michigan for health care careers, helping to fill critical talent gaps in health care and improving the quality of care for Michigan's growing immigrant communities.   This meeting is designed to be a working meeting for key stakeholders, including health care employers, economic development organizations, and State officials to hear about the Michigan Health Council's research; provide feedback about the viability of launching a Welcome Back Center (or centers); and to potentially develop a coalition of supporters who may be interested in assisting in this process. Please RSVP to Shanea Condon at shanea@globaldetroitmi.org

Narrative Bootcamp Webinar - Friday, July 26, 2024 2-3:30 pm This webinar will introduce narrative change and how it can help us achieve long term success in immigration advocacy! The Narrative Bootcamp series is the first set of offerings from TOA’s (The Opportunity Agenda) newly launched Immigrant Narrative Strategy Table which aims to create a 50 year vision for immigrant justice.

Kent ISD English Classes Classes begin August 26th. Classes are offered - mornings, afternoons and evening and everything is NO COST!! Sign up Here to be notified about registration times and dates.

Funding Opportunity

Opportunity Empowered $5,000 - $15,000 in funding opportunity  Opportunity Empowered is a program launched by the Urban League of West Michigan in partnership with Heart of West Michigan United Way. Residents with grassroots ideas can participate in this opportunity to empower community voices by ideating, identifying and prioritizing solutions to community identified issues. More information here!

Refugee Social Service

Proposals and subsequent attachments must be submitted via email to LEO-RefugeeServices@michigan.gov by 11:59 p.m. EDT, July 26th, 2024

Estimated Total Funding: $5,000,000
Estimated Average Award: $500,000
Award Ceiling: $1,000,000
Award Floor: $50,000

Refugee Social Services (RSS) funds this program and is intended to assist eligible populations with preparing, applying, obtaining, retaining, and upgrading employment in the American workforce to achieve self-sufficiency. The funding is also intended to assist eligible populations with successfully socially integrating into their new communities.
Note: Grantees who apply and are awarded for the employment preparation and placement component/option of this grant will serve as the Employment and Training Refugee Contractor for Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) recipients in their region.

Click Here for RFP Submission Template

Remote Refugee Social Services

Proposals and subsequent attachments must be submitted via email to LEO-
RefugeeServices@michigan.gov by 11:59 p.m. EDT, July 31st, 2024

Estimated Total Funding: $500,000
Estimated Average Award: $250,000
Award Ceiling: $500,000
Award Floor: $50,000

This program and is intended to assist eligible populations and
relevant community organizations remotely with preparing, applying, obtaining, retaining, and upgrading employment in the American workforce to achieve self-sufficiency. It is also intended to assist eligible populations and relevant community organizations remotely with successfully socially integrating into their new communities. Grantees will provide technical assistance for Employment and Training for Michigan Works! Agencies and may provide virtual services to meet requirements for the employment and self-sufficiency activities. Some services and technical assistance associated with this grant may be provided virtually, but some travel may be necessary to develop relationships, identify available resources, conduct community needs assessments, and develop partnerships in new or rural areas of the state.

Click Here for RFP Submission Template

Midwest Culture Bearers Award Applications close at 11:59 pm CST on Monday, July 29 Arts Midwest is now accepting applications for the Midwest Culture Bearers Award, a $5,000 award that celebrates and supports the work of Midwest culture bearers and folk arts practitioners.  ​Culture bearers keep their cultural traditions alive through craft, storytelling, dance, performance, visual arts, foodways, language preservation, and more. They are deeply connected to their communities and share their knowledge with new generations. Applicants must: Live in the Arts Midwest region. This includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and the Native Nations that share this geography.  Have been practicing arts and culture rooted in their heritage and ancestry for over 10 years and share their practice with their community The first awards will be made in September 2024. Click here to learn more about the opportunity and how to apply.

2025 Our Town Grants The application deadline is Thursday, August 1 The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is pleased to announce more than $110 million in recommended grants in all 50 states and U.S. jurisdictions. These grants fall under three NEA funding categories, including the Our Town grant program. Through project-based funding for cross-sector partnership work, the Our Town program supports activities that integrate arts, culture, and design into local efforts that strengthen communities. For FY2025, the NEA is continuing to encourage projects that work at the intersection of arts and transportation/infrastructure, health, and/or climate. Click here to learn more about the grant opportunity.

Statewide Michigan Migrant Farmworker Enumeration Study

Proposal Submission: Proposals and subsequent attachments must be submitted via email to LEO-GLOBALMICHIGAN@michigan.gov by 11:59 p.m. EDT, August 2, 2024

Estimated Total Funding: $800,000

Global Michigan is seeking proposals from qualified contractors to conduct the
Michigan Statewide Migrant Seasonal Farmworker Enumeration Profile Study.

• Objective: The primary objective of this study is to holistically capture the evolving landscape
of MSFWs in Michigan. The study aims to examine demographic and social characteristics of
MSFWs and their households; identify the locations and migration patterns of MSFWs across the
state; and assess the emergent needs of this population to inform state policy.

Click Here for RFP Submission Template

Refugee School Impact (RSI), Childcare and Early Education

Proposals and subsequent attachments must be submitted via email to LEO-
RefugeeServices@michigan.gov by 11:59 p.m. EDT, August 7th.

Estimated Total Funding: $1,000,000
Estimated Average Award: $300,000
Award Ceiling: $500,000
Award Floor: $100,000

The RSI’s program goals are to facilitate education access, promote academic performance, and increase school district capacity to support ORR-eligible students and families. The RSI program services ORR-eligible children from birth to the age of 18. Currently, there is a demonstrated need for greater services that support children between birth and age 5 (or the age they start school) and their parents.

Click Here for RFP Submission Template

Refugee Health Promotion (RHP)

Proposals and subsequent attachments must be submitted via email to LEO@RefugeeServices@michigan.gov by 12:00 p.m August 30th

Estimated Average Award (first year): $125,000 RHP
$125,000 AHP
Award Ceiling (first year): $200,000 RHP
$200,000 AHP
Award Floor (first year): $50,000 RHP
$50,000 AHP

Refugee Health Promotion (RHP) programs support a holistic approach to healthcare and emotional wellness while addressing health literacy and providing equitable access to ongoing health services for refugees and other ORR-eligible populations. RHP funding is intended to build capacity within communities to address all health and social service needs of refugee populations, including helping to overcome stigma associated with mental health care and domestic violence, and creating opportunities for social engagement to reduce isolation.

Click Here for RFP Submission Template

Job Opportunities

Kent District Library - Community Engagement Manager

Under the general direction of the Programming & Outreach Manager, the Community Engagement Manager creates opportunities to bring the library to the community through innovative approaches. The Community Engagement Manager coordinates efforts of those they supervise, develops strategic partnerships, provides outreach guidance, and facilitates relevant staff training.

Refugee Education Center - People and Culture Manager (HR)

This position will bring a people-first perspective and an objective point of view to lead and manage the routine functions of the People & Culture department including: the staffing process; administering payroll, compensation, benefits and leave; employee performance, development, and retention; and cultivating a workplace culture that supports the values, operations, programs, and mission of the Refugee Education Center.

Program Leader The role of the Program Leader, in cooperation with the EYGC Director and entire Empowering Youth Global Connection (EYGC) Team is to further the EYGC mission by:  Providing leadership to the New American Community through holistic engagement,resource and opportunity connections, and deep relationship that leads to theachievement of specific goals communicated by the program participants Growing in leadership through professional development in order to activate sustainable community impact  Increase sense of belonging and connectedness to their new community through the fostering of new Click on image for more detailed information

Director of Equity 

Muskegon Community College is seeking a dynamic and passionate Director of Equity to join our team.  This is an incredible opportunity for someone who is committed to fostering a more inclusive and equitable environment within our community.

Please Contact Ken at kenneth.james@muskegoncc.edu with any questions or requests for additional information.

Apply Here!

Come Work with Welcoming America!

Welcoming America is seeking summer and fall interns to support our Development, Communications, and Events/Network teams. If you know of a college student looking for an internship, who is passionate about supporting belonging and welcoming initiatives, please share these opportunities with them. View all our job openings here.

Michigan United Action 

Now Hiring for the Following positions:

• Relational Organizer
• Relational Organizer Program Manager
• Electoral Data Manager
• Canvassing Fellowship Deputy Director
• Canvassing Fellowship Manager
• Canvassing Fellow

With multiple positions available all across Michigan, you can join our diverse and inclusive team.

Be part of a movement that changes lives while using your skills and dedication to make a real impact in 2024.

If you're ready to take the next step, visit bit.ly/MichiganUnitedJobs to explore our openings and apply today!

Looking for a rewarding career? Consider Kent County!

Working for the County, you will have the opportunity to serve the public and contribute to your community. We have employment opportunities in general government, health, public safety, judicial, recreational, and much more. To view our open positions and apply, please visit accesskent.com/jobs.

Want to Join the Collaborative?

Completion of this interest form will connect you with our coordinator to learn more about the Welcome Plan Collaborative and get connected to a workgoup.

_{Please share communications with Marcial Benavidez (marcial.benavidez@kentcountymi.gov) any communications that you would like to include on Tuesdays by 9am to be shared on the Weekly Wednesday Communication.}

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