Los Angeles, CA — CHIRLA, in partnership with the City of Los Angeles, was given the Gateways for Growth (G4G) research award by the New American Economy (NAE) and Welcoming America this week. The award will provide research support and technical assistance to Los Angeles to assist in assessing the impact of COVID-19 in immigrant communities and improve immigrant inclusion as COVID-19 recovery efforts are underway.
In light of the scale and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Gateways for Growth Challenge this year prioritized localities that demonstrated a public-private commitment to better integrating immigrants into recovery efforts and emergency management systems. As the country looks to rebuild and set a more inclusive path forward nationally, Los Angeles, as part of the G4G 2020 cohort, will lay the groundwork and build the infrastructure for economic, civic, and social inclusion at the local level.
"CHIRLA is pleased to be part of this project. The research and data resulting from CHIRLA’s participation in the G4G cohort will inform our work to serve undocumented and mixed-status families. With the findings we hope to highlight the need for resources and opportunities for immigrants’ inclusion in various protections and services, including COVID-19 relief programs that serve all residents regardless of their immigration status,” said Angelica Salas, CHIRLA Executive Director.
“In order to build a stronger Los Angeles in the wake of this pandemic, we need to ensure our immigrant families have the resources and support to stay healthy now, safe in the recovery, and secure in the years to come,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. “CHIRLA is an extraordinary partner and a tireless advocate for immigrant Angelenos -- and I know that, together, this opportunity will give us essential tools to better serve our immigrant and refugee neighbors.”
“We are thrilled to see the Gateways for Growth Challenge expand to another set of localities that reflect the diversity of our nation,” said Christina Pope, Senior Network Director at Welcoming America. “With each cohort, there is an opportunity to support and connect local leaders making their communities more welcoming and resilient places where everyone, including immigrants, can prosper and belong.”
“The Gateways for Growth program helps communities quantify what many people already know -- that immigrants play a key role in driving growth,” said Mo Kantner, Director of State and Local Initiatives at New American Economy. “We’re excited to see how these communities can use data and technical assistance to support their work to ensure that all residents are welcome and have pathways to success.”
As in previous years, G4G awardees will receive a combination of:
- Customized quantitative research reports from NAE on the demographic and economic contributions immigrants make in their communities; and/or
- Tailored technical assistance from NAE and Welcoming America to help communities draft, execute and communicate a multi-sector immigrant inclusion strategy.
Year-round, NAE and Welcoming America maintain an interactive map at gatewaysforgrowth.org that serves as a clearinghouse for the successes of all current and prior G4G awardees.
Los Angeles joins a national network of 17 localities who have been given this distinction. This year’s awardees include:
- Dayton, Ohio
- Cleveland, Ohio
- Columbus, Ohio
- Contra Costa County, California
- Erie, Pennsylvania
- Gainesville, Florida
- Lancaster County, Nebraska
- Mercer County, New Jersey
- Miami-Dade County, Florida
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Ottawa County, Michigan
- Passaic County, New Jersey
- Reno/Washoe County, Nevada
- Saint Paul, Minnesota
- San Mateo County, California
- Southwest Kansas
- Spokane, Washington
- Washtenaw County, Michigan
About New American Economy
New American Economy (NAE) is a bipartisan research and advocacy organization founded to educate, empower and support policymakers, influencers, and citizens across the country that see the economic and social benefits of a smart approach to immigration reform. NAE has created a coalition of civic, business, and cultural leaders who span the political spectrum and represent all 50 states. NAE makes the case for smart immigration reform in four ways:
- We generate and use powerful research to demonstrate how immigration impacts our economy;
- We organize champions at the grassroots and influencer levels to build support for immigration;
- We partner with state and local leaders to advocate for policies that recognize the value immigrants add locally; and
- We show immigrant contributions to American culture through film, food, art, sports, comedy, and more.
Visit NewAmericanEconomy.org to learn more.
About Welcoming America
Welcoming America leads a movement of inclusive communities from across the world in becoming more prosperous by making everyone feel like they belong. Through a membership network of 200+ local governments and nonprofits, Welcoming America connects and supports place-based initiatives that work to reduce divisions and support greater civic, social, and economic participation among new and longtime residents alike. Through the Welcoming Network, participating members access peer learning opportunities, technical assistance, tools, and training to help transform their communities into more welcoming places.
Visit WelcomingAmerica.org to learn more.