The City of Erie will receive a new grant of $100,000 from the Open Society Foundations to support efforts to meet the needs of new Afghan arrivals who want to settle in Erie.

“In the spirit of welcoming all immigrants and refugees, I am pleased to announce that the City of Erie will receive a new grant of $100,000 from the Open Society Foundation. These funds will support our efforts to welcome Afghan arrivals to Erie. It is our wonderful diversity that we treasure deeply and are constantly trying to grow,” said Mayor Joe Schember.

There are currently an estimated 65,000 Afghan new arrivals who will resettle in host communities across the country over the coming months. 

“Local government leaders are playing a critical role in welcoming Afghans and helping them to settle into new communities,” said Laleh Ispahani, Co-Director, Open Society-U.S. “We are proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with them in welcoming these newcomers. In making this grant and others like it, we recognize that partnerships between local government and community groups are essential in building inclusive communities, and contributing to a growing welcoming movement across the country.”

The City of Erie will also be joining a group facilitated by Welcoming America, which works to support communities building a welcoming society where every person, including immigrants, can fully contribute and shape our shared prosperity. The American Immigration Council, which works to create a more fair and just immigration system, will partner on this effort.