FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 06, 2025

Media Contacts:

Welcoming America: Leslie Nguyen-Okwu, leslie@welcomingamerica.org

Global Detroit: Julién Godman, julien@globaldetroitmi.org

City of Detroit Mayor’s Office: Alexis Ware, alexis.ware@detroitmi.gov

National ‘Welcoming Interactive’ Conference Comes to Detroit

800+ attendees in the fields of welcoming and immigration converge in Southeast Michigan

DETROIT, MI – Global Detroit, in partnership with Welcoming America and the City of Detroit Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, will host the 2025 Welcoming Interactive from May 20–22 in Detroit, Michigan.

As a Certified Welcoming city, Detroit provides a fitting backdrop for this global gathering, which brings together more than 800 local government, nonprofit, and community leaders working to make sure that everyone, no matter where they come from, can belong, thrive, and fully participate in civic life.

Welcoming Interactive is a nationally recognized, multi-day conference that features practices, policies, and partnerships that make communities stronger and more inclusive. From rural towns to major cities, and from long-time residents to those newly arrived, the event centers on the idea that welcoming is about building neighborhoods where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued, particularly in a challenging moment.

Global Detroit Managing Director Dr. Alaina Jackson said: “As we strengthen our efforts to welcome and support immigrant communities, we’re not just investing in individuals, we’re fueling regional growth and setting a national example of inclusive prosperity. The momentum we’re building locally is sending a powerful message across the region: welcoming works. As a representative of the first Certified Welcoming city in the state of Michigan, Global Detroit is incredibly proud to co-host the Welcoming Interactive Conference with the City of Detroit to show everybody how Detroit does welcoming.” 

Welcoming America Executive Director Rachel Perić said: “In a time of uncertainty and division, coming together is more important than ever. The Welcoming Interactive offers a community for local welcoming leaders to learn, strategize, and stand together in our shared commitment to creating places where everyone can belong.”

City of Detroit Deputy Mayor Melia Howard said: “Detroit has been a home to me and many others for decades. Recently, for the first time in decades, Detroit has seen historic population growth from people who are now calling Detroit home as well. That’s what Welcoming Interactive is all about. Making sure everyone feels like they belong, whether they’ve been here their entire lives or moving here for the first time.”

Highlights of the 2025 program include:

• Breakout sessions featuring topics such as language access, safe communities, civic engagement, and economic opportunity.
• Pre-conference workshops, offering hands-on training in targeted focus areas, including leadership in divisive times and language access.
• A new Peer Connection Program that matches participants with shared interests to encourage deeper networking and learning.
• Local community tours offering a firsthand look at how Detroit puts welcoming values into action.
• A documentary film screening exploring the American Dream, followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker and community organizers.

Keynote and featured speakers include:

• Carlos Andrés Gómez, an award-winning poet, actor, and author whose work explores identity, masculinity, and belonging. Gómez has appeared on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam and in Spike Lee’s Inside Man.
• Dr. Mona Hanna, a pediatrician, environmental justice advocate, and one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People, recognized for her pivotal role in exposing the Flint water crisis.
• Eric K. Ward, a nationally recognized civil rights leader, strategist, storyteller, and the only American recipient of the Civil Courage Prize whose work bridges grassroots activism, governance, philanthropy, and pop culture.

Now in its ninth edition, Welcoming Interactive has become one of the leading conferences on inclusion and belonging. The event offers a space for people to connect, share, and strengthen the welcoming movement that recognizes every resident’s vital role in shaping their communities, whether they’ve been here for generations or just arrived.

To learn more or register, visit: welcominginteractive.org.

Watch official promotional video, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7chrMQiLNM4

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About Global Detroit

Global Detroit is a community and economic development organization. With a focus on immigrants and global talent, Global Detroit develops and implements inclusive strategies to drive the growth, revitalization and broadly shared prosperity of Detroit, Southeast Michigan and Michigan. To learn more about Global Detroit, visit globaldetroitmi.org

About Welcoming America

Welcoming America is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that leads a movement of inclusive communities becoming more prosperous by ensuring everyone belongs. We believe that all people, including immigrants, are valued contributors and vital to the success of our communities and shared future. Learn more at welcomingamerica.org

About Welcoming Interactive

The Welcoming Interactive is a conference that highlights successful practices and inspiring stories about immigrant inclusion, programs, policies, and partnerships on economic development, civic engagement, government leadership, and more. Attendees learn about local innovations from peer communities and come away with new ideas and energy to foster welcoming places for all. Learn more at welcominginteractive.org

About the City of Detroit Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs

The Office of Immigrant Affairs (OIA) helps immigrants integrate into the community and promotes economic development within immigrant communities across Detroit. OIA works to support new and existing immigrant communities and residents by creating programs and ensuring access to resources and programs. Learn more at detroitmi.gov/departments/housing-and-revitalization-department/office-immigrant-affairs