Welcoming Dallas- Dallas, TX

Problem/Rationale:  Between 2011 and 2016, immigrants accounted for over 40% of Dallas’s population growth, and two in five Dallas children have at least one immigrant parent. Recognizing this demographic shift, the city committed to creating an inclusive environment where newcomers can fully participate in civic, social, and economic life. Many immigrants face barriers such as fear of enforcement, limited English proficiency, poverty, and lack of transportation, housing, and access to services. The Welcoming Dallas Strategic Plan, adopted unanimously by City Council in 2018, addresses these barriers and promotes inclusion, equity, and shared prosperity.

Goals: 

• Build a welcoming, inclusive city for immigrants and refugees through coordinated citywide action.
• Strengthen civic engagement, trust, and collaboration between newcomers, government, and long-term residents.
• Reduce barriers to education, transportation, housing, and public services.
• Promote economic opportunity, health, and safety for all residents.
• Celebrate immigrant contributions and foster cross-cultural understanding.

Project Summary: 

In 2017, the Office of Welcoming Communities and Immigrant Affairs (WCIA) was created to promote the economic, civic, and social engagement of Dallas’s immigrant and refugee populations. A year later, City Council approved the Welcoming Dallas Strategic Plan, developed in collaboration with an 85-member Task Force representing business, education, healthcare, grassroots, and faith-based sectors.

The plan identifies five overarching goals:

1. Leadership & Communications – Advance inclusion within local government and highlight immigrant contributions.
2. Safe, Healthy, and Connected Communities – Strengthen relationships between diverse residents, law enforcement, and city services.
3. Equitable Access – Reduce barriers to services and ensure all residents can participate fully in city life.
4. Civic Engagement – Expand immigrant participation in leadership, citizenship, and community activities.
5. Economic Opportunity & Education – Leverage immigrant talent to strengthen the workforce and ensure access to education.

The City collaborates across sectors—government agencies, nonprofits, philanthropy, academia, and business—to embed immigrant inclusion into municipal operations. WCIA continues to operationalize the plan through partnerships, training, and multilingual engagement.

Engagement Strategies:

• Creation of an 85-member Welcoming Task Force representing diverse community sectors.
• Community listening sessions in multiple languages to inform priorities and shape the City’s Racial Equity Plan.
• Partnerships with nonprofits, schools, faith-based groups, and businesses to promote inclusion.
• Citywide events and campaigns such as Welcoming Week and Ramadan Youth Dinner to build trust and celebrate diversity.
• Public information tools like the Community Resources Hub and Dallas Language Map to connect residents to services.
• Embedding immigrant inclusion and equity training across city departments.

Outcomes: 

• Certified Welcoming City (2019): Dallas became the first city in Texas to earn this national designation from Welcoming America.
• Leadership & Communications:
  • 25 events hosted for Welcoming Week 2022; 16,000+ individuals engaged.
  • Spanish bilingual proclamation issued by the Mayor’s Office.
• Safe, Healthy, and Connected Communities:
  • 58 hours of multicultural and Spanish-language training embedded in Dallas Police Academy curriculum.
  • Collaborations with DPD Unidos and the Asian American Unit on culturally competent outreach.
• Equitable Access:
  • 10,870 searches conducted through the Community Resources Hub in 2022.
  • Launch of the Enhanced Library Card—a free alternative photo ID accepted at multiple city facilities.
  • Dallas Language Map created to improve multilingual emergency outreach.
  • 90% completion rate for Equity 101 training among city department directors.
• Civic Engagement:
  • First naturalization ceremonies held at City Hall since 1992; over 65 new citizens from 15 countries sworn in during 2022.
  • $250,000 allocated for the Community Ambassador Program to expand immigrant civic leadership.
  • $75,000 in annual contracts for pro bono legal assistance and civics education.
  • Partnerships with Mi Familia Vota and League of Women Voters for voter registration; free public transit to polling sites.
• Economic Opportunity & Education:
  • Partnerships with Upwardly Global and Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas to connect immigrants to living-wage jobs.
  • Collaboration with DISD, Catholic Charities, and Dallas County Health to host school enrollment and vaccine events for migrant families (500+ families served).
  • Initiatives to combat fraudulent immigration services with multilingual PSAs and QR-coded resource lists.
  • Internet access expanded for immigrant families through Digital Inclusion Week partnerships.

Resources

• Welcoming Communities and Immigrant Affairs Division
• Dallas’ AAC Presentation