Two California cities, Redwood City and the City of Oakley, are implementing initiatives to improve understanding and strengthen relationships between immigrant community members and longer-term residents. Both communities have undertaken multi-sector planning efforts, with a substantial partnership role for local officials, to develop their respective immigrant “welcoming” program.

C.A.R.O.N. (Community Alliance to Revitalize Our Neighborhood), an initiative of the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, works to create strong and healthy immigrant families that are integrated into their community.

To better support the integration of immigrants into the community, Santa Clara County established IRIS – Immigrant Relations and Integration Services. Housed in the County Office of Human Relations, IRIS staff members work on projects that promote positive immigrant relations and integration.

Since its inception in 1998, the Pomona Economic Opportunity Center (PEOC) has maximized community resources and build strong collaborative ties to the community in support of their successful programs for day laborers.

Since 2007 the Graton Day Labor Center has opened its doors to workers, employers, and community members to serve as a hiring site for day laborers and a community center to be enjoyed by all. Through a unique process of consensus building between community, government, workers, and business leaders Graton is home to a successful day labor center that serves the entire community.

In 2006, Boulder, Colo., created the Immigrant Advisory Committee (IAC) to encourage immigrant participation in the city’s government and to inform…