Stories

Building community and healing societal divides in America

A letter from Nasra Ismail, Alight’s US Enterprise Executive Director, about our Clinton Global Initiative Commitment to Action to make communities across America more inclusive.
No items found.

I am saddened by the racist wave of anti-immigrant rhetoric we’re seeing in the United States. Fueled by fears about the impact of newcomers on resources, identity, and community stability, this xenophobic rhetoric is misleading and dangerous. While it's natural for people to be concerned about these issues, the reality is that migration is essential to the vitality of many cities across the country.

As highlighted by a study from FWD.us and George Mason University, “immigration policy that responds quickly to market shifts can stabilize prices for consumers and offer relief to employers, while also providing new workers an opportunity to contribute their skills and knowledge to the U.S. economy.”  

Moreover, global challenges like climate change, civil unrest, and economic instability are likely to drive even more migration, making it crucial to address these fears constructively.

We believe that creating opportunities for positive interactions between newcomers and long-time residents is key to healing societal divides.

Nasra Ismail, Alight’s US Enterprise Executive Director

At Alight, we want to inspire a more inclusive national dialogue. Evidence shows that when people have direct, meaningful interactions with those from different backgrounds, they become more invested in shared causes and more understanding of each other's experiences. Friendships formed across cultural divides can transform hearts and minds, reducing fear and building trust.

We believe that creating opportunities for positive interactions between newcomers and long-time residents is key to healing societal divides. These include community-building activities, collaborative projects, and facilitated dialogues—all designed to promote mutual understanding and respect. Our goal is to nurture cross-cultural integration, helping new arrivals and established citizens alike feel more connected and valued within their communities.

To make this vision a reality, Alight is partnering with communities in Minnesota, Ohio, Tennessee, and Utah to roll out a year-long program focused on these intergroup-contact interventions. We'll be organizing a range of activities to bring people together and encourage meaningful connections. By the end of this project, we aim to directly impact 1,000 individuals, creating more inclusive and resilient communities in the process.

Page: /

Our approach is rooted in co-creation and human-centered design, ensuring that everyone involved has a voice in shaping the project. We'll be working closely with new arrivals, diaspora community members, and naturalized citizens.  

We'll also be conducting rigorous evaluations to measure the impact of these interventions on social determinants of health, education, workforce participation, and perceptions of belonging. By partnering with experts in social and political science, we're confident that we can refine and scale these interventions to build resilience in individuals as well as in entire communities and systems.

This commitment builds on the successes of our previous projects, including sponsorship programs with Welcome Corps, support for Afghan families, and community-building events for Afghan women and children. Now, we are shifting our focus to two key groups: Spanish-speaking asylum seekers and humanitarian parolees entering through the southern border, as well as long-time U.S. residents who hold negative views on immigration. We'll also continue working with Afghan, Ukrainian, and East African communities, as well as residents with more neutral or favorable views on immigration. By engaging with a diverse range of perspectives, we aim to broaden our impact and contribute to a more cohesive society.

Since Alight started offering services to displaced communities in the United States in 2021, we have been dedicated to running intergroup-contact interventions. Alight's Commitment to Action "Bridging Divides: From Fear to Solidarity through Cross-Cultural Integration" represents an enhancement of those efforts, adding rigor, evidence, and collaboration to ensure success and scalability. We're excited to see the impact this initiative will have and are intent on making communities across America more inclusive, connected, and resilient for years to come.

Tags

No items found.

Stay in the loop
join our newsletter

Stay connected and learn how we respond to emergencies, amplify displaced voices, and provide sanctuary for those facing adversity.