The YMCA has opened a New American Welcome Center at its North YMCA
facility, 1640 Sandalwood Place, Columbus, Ohio to help immigrants – also referred to as
newcomers – fully integrate into American society and prepare receiving communities
to be welcoming and inclusive.
The Executive Director, Social Responsibility for the
YMCA of Central Ohio, Malik Moore said ”the New American Welcome Center will
achieve this through a combination of integration services, collaborations with
community leaders and businesses, and strategies to connect and build
cross-cultural understanding between immigrants and U. S-born residents.
“We believe communities are at their strongest when everyone
feels valued, has support to reach their potential and can fully participate in
society,” he added.
In his speech, Ohio House Representative David Leland
commended the YMCA for the project. He presented a commemorative certificate to YMCA "to
memorialize the day and the wonderful welcome center”.
Also Franklin County Commissioner Kevin Boyce said “the ‘Y’ (YMCA) is really a
macrocosm of what central Ohio and America look like. We are a nation of
immigrants and it’s really the root of why the United States was founded. This
says a lot about the mission and the direction of the ‘Y’.
“The dedication of the room shows the investment in that
effort, investment in our community and that is something that is unique, valuable and is something that we all should embrace as part
of our community,” he said.
The CEO of YMCA, Central Ohio, Steve Ives said that “People
chose to come to the U.S. because this is where they want to be. They come to
central Ohio because they heard something. The ‘Y’ is blessed and that blessing
should be shared and put to use. Our purpose in the community is changing and
evolving. This is meant to be a model for what we will have in other of our
facilities.”
No comments:
Post a Comment