Welcome Dayton, launched in 2011, supports integration of immigrants into the Dayton community by encouraging business and economic development, providing access to education, government, health and social services, ensuring equity in the justice system, and promoting arts and culture.

Welcome Dayton is a community initiative that reflects our country’s core philosophy: People with diverse backgrounds, skills and experiences fuel our nation’s success. 

Government, non-profit, and business sectors engaged in a series of extensive community conversations regarding immigration in the region. As a result of the conversations, the Welcome Dayton Plan was created and the City of Dayton Commission unanimously adopted it in October of 2011. However, Welcome Dayton encourages commitments and engagement by the broader community, as opposed to being just another government-run program.

During its short life span, Welcome Dayton has a list of community-wide accomplishments. Highlights include increasing positive community police relations, building community through the arts, supporting English language learners through additional academic and family programming, increasing access to City of Dayton services for limited English proficient residents, changing perceptions of immigrants through positive media coverage, and building awareness of existing immigrant friendly services offered throughout the private and public sectors.

Welcome Dayton is the first city in the United States to become "Certified Welcoming" in 2017 by the national non-profit organization Welcoming America. To learn more about Welcoming America, click here: Welcoming America