Aurora is home to immigrants and refugees from around the world. To help them succeed, the city created an integration plan, one of the first local governments in the country to do so. Aurora has made a conscious decision to welcome foriegn-born residents but should the city get all the credit for embracing newcomers?
“I think it just happens to be the city that people were relocated to,” said Mathew Mengesha, a policy advocate who works on city and state level policies that support the successful integration of immigrant and refugee communities. “Like it more so had to do with the affordability of Aurora, in my opinion, than it had to do with Aurora wanting immigrants and refugees in their city.”
The Colorado Dream: Newcomers Welcome episode five explores what stands in the way of Aurora being a welcoming home for all immigrants. Also, Salwa Mourtada Bamba achieves one more big milestone.
A look at historic Aurora
Credits and links
Salwa on social media:
- Salwa Rita Mourtada on Facebook
- @Aunty_Salwa on Instagram
Also in this episode:
- U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services: @USCISMediaCntrl
- CU College of Nursing: @NursingCU
- Rep. Naquetta Ricks: @NaquettaR, Facebook, and Instagram
- Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition: @CIRCimmigrant
The Colorado Dream: Newcomers Welcome is a production from KUNC. It was written and reported by Stephanie Daniel. Editing by Johanna Zorn. Fact-checking by Cat Jaffee with additional help from Adam Rayes. This season's theme song was composed by Jason Paton, who also sound designed and mixed the episode. Additional audio is from NPR’s Morning Edition. Ashley Jefcoat is the digital editor. Special thanks to Chandra Thomas Whitfield, Robert Leja, Kyle Cunningham and Kim Race. Sean Corcoran is KUNC’s executive news director. Tammy Terwelp is KUNC’s president and CEO.
