Recently the Dallas, Texas, skyline lit up gold for the entire city to see in honor of its new campaign, #BeGolden. Sponsored by the Catholic Diocese of Dallas, Catholic Charities and others, this effort aims to bridge the gap between newcomers and the receiving community.

When Bishop Edward Burns came to the Dallas area from Alaska, he noticed the lack of integration among immigrants and other long-time residents. The bishop envisioned a world where immigrants are treated the way all humans want to be treated, so he asked Catholic Charities of Dallas to call attention to the issue in a public way. Inspired by the golden rule–do unto others as you would have them unto you–this initiative seeks to educate and generate action to help welcome immigrants.

Launched this past April, the #BeGolden campaign enjoys outstanding support from every part of the community. Mayor Mike Rawlings, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, many different faith leaders, The  Dallas Morning News, Richards-Lerma Agency, The United Way and CHRISTUS Health are just a few of its many Golden Ambassadors. Their website, begoldenjourney.com, houses information you do not easily find about immigration and how it benefits our nation. Throughout the campaign, awareness will be raised surrounding the positive impact immigrants have in their neighborhoods. For example, immigrants in Dallas were essential to the city’s economic success in 2017. Nineteen percent of the city’s small business owners, in fact, are immigrants. This initiative, also, is preparing to host events and displays, including a Welcome Wall and Walk-a-Mile video that will be available soon.

Overall, #BeGolden wants the community to connect with the human side of immigration, taking the conversation a step above politics. The aim is for everyone to gain a better understanding of the moral imperative of protecting the vulnerable and preserving the unity, health and safety of families. #BeGolden promotes change by improving the way the greater community welcomes immigrants.

“Diversity brings us to another level of richness in our community that can make us better together,” said Jane Koenecke, the director of the #BeGolden campaign. Although it started in Dallas, Texas, the campaign is gaining momentum regionally and in other states, and hopes to expand across the United States.

To learn more, visit the campaign website, follow it on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or contact info@begolden.com to get involved. Then, let CLINIC’s Immigrant Integration Center know how you plan to bring the golden rule into your community! Email us at lspeasmaker@cliniclegal.org or tweet us at @cliniclegal.

Access to information and resources is a crucial factor that affects the health, prosperity and overall well-being of immigrants throughout the United States. Colonias, which are unincorporated communities that often lack access to basic infrastructure such as running water and electricity, are frequently overlooked when resources are being disbursed. More than 30 years, Colonias Development Council of Las Cruces, New Mexico, saw this need and stepped up to address it.

Viewed as “an important bridge between colonia families and services,” their program, Promotoras de Apoyo Familiar, educates and empowers residents through a series of trainings. Specifially, promotoras are special kinds of ambassadors, usually women, that “work in and outside of their own communities and participate in a variety of activities to learn more about mental well-being, community development, social services and health.” Common issues they focus on include labor rights, immigration, the electoral process, home buyer education, CPR and opportunities in higher education.  The project also offers a series of more intensive trainings on issues such as healthy homes and sexual assault. 

The promotoras then share key information about resources and services among the community. Often, they are colonia community members themselves; thus they make sure to communicate with their neighbors in languages that they are comfortable with, and in manners that are culturally sensitive. 

The promotoras also advise the Colonias Development Council about what courses will be most valuable to them and their neighbors. At the end of the year, some promotoras receive a small stipend, depending on funding and if they have attended trainings throughout the year.

Diana Bustamante, the executive director of the Colonias Development Council, describes the goals of the program as being three-fold: first, to create leadership development so that women can help themselves, their families and community; second, to make the promotoras agents of change; and third, to use community mapping to connect resources to those who need them and identify how they help.

“We believe the first transformation is on an individual level and that the individual needs to improve themselves before they can help their families and communities. The program emphasizes the idea that ‘you are the seed of change’ and the focus is on internalizing the idea that development must first happen first internally,” said Bustamante. 

CLINIC applauds Colonias Development Council and the many volunteers who continue to create a welcoming and safe community for immigrants living in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and the surrounding areas.