Global Detroit is not a new organization, but its mission and strategies are worth a look to any community that understands that attracting, integrating, and supporting immigrants will strengthen local economies and quality of place for everyone. Drawing on its experience in Southeast Michigan, Global Detroit now leads a national initiative called E Pluribus to share experience and resources.
If you are local, please check them out and consider lending your support if you don’t already. I also encourage economic developers across the country to learn more if you don’t already know of their work and to share it with your stakeholders. Though I have only followed the work from afar, it is gratifying to know this initiative is hard at work in the place I grew up and that three generations of my family still live, led by a family friend, Board Chair Jim Becker.