Welcome.US | About
hearts color

Welcome to the largest coalition
in refugee resettlement history.

Welcome.US is a new national initiative built to inspire, mobilize, and empower Americans from all corners of the country to welcome and support those seeking refuge here. We began with our new Afghan neighbors and have expanded to those fleeing Ukraine, while also building a durable capacity and ability to welcome other newcomers. We operate on the evidence that direct participation with newcomers transforms both the welcomer and those being welcomed. Our ultimate ambition is for every American community – and the nation as a whole – to have the resources and willingness to welcome newcomers, now and in the future.

Honorary Co-Chairs

Resettling our newest neighbors requires a whole-country response. That’s why four former Presidents and four former First Ladies have joined us as leaders of this effort – above all, to lift up our collective efforts and remind us that this is our opportunity, in a time of too much division, for a common purpose.

President Barack Obama

President Barack Obama

Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama

President George W. Bush

President George W. Bush

Laura Bush

Laura Bush

President Bill Clinton

President Bill Clinton

Secretary Hillary Clinton

Secretary Hillary Clinton

President Jimmy Carter

President Jimmy Carter

Rosalynn Carter

Rosalynn Carter

Welcome Launch Team

Welcome.US emerged from a non-partisan, non-profit incubator for projects that turn common pain into common purpose. A team of all-in collaborators, including the leaders below, helped bring it to life over the course of several weeks. But the long-term team is still in formation. If you are interested in joining, please write to jobs@welcome.us immediately.

Nazanin Ash

Nazanin Ash

CEO

Anya McMurray

Anya McMurray

President & COO

Cecilia Muñoz

Cecilia Muñoz

Co-Chair

John Bridgeland

John Bridgeland

Co-Chair

Denise Bell

Denise Bell

Partnerships Director

Alan Khazei

Alan Khazei

Senior Advisor

Andrew Mangino

Andrew Mangino

Senior Advisor & Head of Launch

Rachel Quint

Rachel Quint

VP Operations & Strategy

Sediqa Fahimi

Sediqa Fahimi

Director Project Operations & Strategy

Kari McDonough

Kari McDonough

Fund Advisor

Lauren Gray

Lauren Gray

Chief Development & Partnerships Officer

Monna Kashfi

Monna Kashfi

VP Content & Communications

Collin Director

Collin Director

Sr Manager Corporate Partnerships

Dianna Truong

Dianna Truong

Senior Director of Development

Kit Taintor

Kit Taintor

Vice President of Policy and Practice

Serina Khan (they/them)

Serina Khan (they/them)

Sr. Project Manager of Operations & Strategy

Xavier Castillo

Xavier Castillo

Lead Developer

National Welcome Council

Our Welcome Council includes a small but diverse selection of the thousands of people contributing to the movement of welcome. While they might not agree on every specific issue, they share a common belief that welcoming newcomers is inherent to who we are at our best and a commitment to lifting up that message in their respective communities.

Ambassador Javid Ahmad

Ambassador Javid Ahmad

Atlantic Council

Mozhgan Wafiq Alokozai

Mozhgan Wafiq Alokozai

Founder/CEO Of Eagle Online Academy

Basma Alawee

Basma Alawee

National Campaign Manager, National Partnership for New Americans

Douglas X. Alexander

Douglas X. Alexander

LCIF Chairperson

Sharif Aly

Sharif Aly

CEO, Islamic Relief USA

Rina Amiri

Rina Amiri

Afghan Senior Advisor, Senior Fellow at NYU’s Center on International Cooperation

Shamail Amiri

Shamail Amiri

Delegate for California. Refugee Congress

Greg Anderson

Greg Anderson

Senior Managing Director – Human Resources, Accenture

José Andrés

José Andrés

Chef & Founder, World Central Kitchen

Brother Luke Armour

Brother Luke Armour

Trappist Monk, Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani, Trappist, KY

Bilal Askaryar

Bilal Askaryar

Influencer and Activist

Joseph Azam

Joseph Azam

Board Member, Afghan-American Foundation

Samadi Bahram

Samadi Bahram

United States Country Director, Women for Afghan Women (WAW)

Rye Barcott

Rye Barcott

CEO, With Honor

Melody Barnes

Melody Barnes

Co-Director for Policy & Public Affairs, Democracy Initiative

Dan Bartlett

Dan Bartlett

EVP, Corporate Affairs, Walmart

Jenna Ben-Yahuda

Jenna Ben-Yahuda

President & CEO, Truman National Security Project

Mayor R.J. Berry

Mayor R.J. Berry

Former Mayor, Albuquerque

Rich Besser

Rich Besser

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Nate Blecharczyk

Nate Blecharczyk

Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer, Airbnb

Rebecca Blumenstein

Rebecca Blumenstein

Deputy Managing Editor, The New York Times

Josh Bolten

Josh Bolten

President & CEO, Business Roundtable

Michael Breen

Michael Breen

President & CEO, Human Rights First

John Bridgeland

John Bridgeland

Co-Chair, Welcome.Us

Connie Britton

Connie Britton

Actor/Activist

Governor Sam Brownback

Governor Sam Brownback

Former Governor and Senator, Kansas

Mary Beth Bruggeman

Mary Beth Bruggeman

CEO, The Mission Continues

Governor Jeb Bush (R-FL)

Governor Jeb Bush (R-FL)

Former Governor, Florida

Sophia Bush

Sophia Bush

Actress, Activist, Co-founder, I am a Voter

Caleb Campbell

Caleb Campbell

Lead Pastor, Desert Springs Bible Church

Bill Canny

Bill Canny

Executive Director, Migration and Refugee Services, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

Bonnie Carroll

Bonnie Carroll

President & Founder, TAPS

Maureen E. Casey

Maureen E. Casey

COO, Institute for Veterans and Military Families

Carolyn Cawley

Carolyn Cawley

President, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation

Oscar Chacon

Oscar Chacon

Executive Director, Alianza Americas

Ray Chambers

Ray Chambers

Ambassador for Global Strategy. WHO

Wendy Chan

Wendy Chan

Co-founder, One Journey

Sasha Chanoff

Sasha Chanoff

Founder & Executive Director, Refuge Point

Cher

Cher

Musician, Actor, and Activist

Brian Chesky

Brian Chesky

Co-Founder & CEO, Airbnb

Alexa Chopivsky

Alexa Chopivsky

Executive Director, Ukraine House Davos; Ukraine Invest; Board, Teach for Ukraine

Deepak Chopra

Deepak Chopra

Founder, The Chopra Foundation

John Culver

John Culver

COO, Starbucks Coffee Company

Bishop Michael Curry

Bishop Michael Curry

The Episcopal Church

His Eminence Archbishop Daniel

His Eminence Archbishop Daniel

Mizgon Darby

Mizgon Darby

Program Manager, Afghan Coalition

Farhad Darya

Farhad Darya

Afghan Singer

Sloane Davidson

Sloane Davidson

Founder & CEO, Hello Neighbor

Mandana Dayani

Mandana Dayani

Creator & Co-founder, I am a Voter

Ambassador Paula J. Dobriansky

Ambassador Paula J. Dobriansky

Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs

Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville

Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville

USCCB Committee on Migration

Margo Drakos

Margo Drakos

Co-Founder, Artist Year

Emal Dusst

Emal Dusst

Impact Investor, Sterling Partners

Allison Duvall

Allison Duvall

Church Relations and Engagement, Episcopal Migration Ministries

Gary Edson

Gary Edson

President, COVID Collaborative

David S. Evangelista

David S. Evangelista

President and Managing Director, Special Olympics Europe Eurasia; Senior Advisor, International Development, Special Olympics, Inc.

Eric Eversole

Eric Eversole

President, Hiring Our Heroes, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Elham Fanous

Elham Fanous

Musician

Geeta Farahmand

Geeta Farahmand

Refugee Congress

David French

David French

Senior Editor, The Dispatch

Andrew Futey

Andrew Futey

President, Ukrainian Congress Committee of America; Vice President, Ukrainian World Congress

Tim Garvin

Tim Garvin

President and CEO, United Way of Central Massachusetts

Joe Gebbia

Joe Gebbia

Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer, Airbnb

Michael Gerson

Michael Gerson

Columnist, The Washington Post

Azita Ghanizada

Azita Ghanizada

Actress, Founder MENA Arts Advocacy Coalition

Don Gips

Don Gips

CEO, Skoll Foundation

Tony Goldwyn

Tony Goldwyn

Actor, Director, and Activist

Metropolitan Archbishop Borys Gudziak

Metropolitan Archbishop Borys Gudziak

Metropolitan Archbishop of Philadelphia; Head of the Department of External Church Relations, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church; President, Ukrainian Catholic University

Reverend Cynthia Hale

Reverend Cynthia Hale

Founder & Senior Pastor, Ray of Hope Christian Church

Cherie Harder

Cherie Harder

President, The Trinity Forum

Nadia Hashimi

Nadia Hashimi

Pediatrician and Novelist

Stephen Heintz

Stephen Heintz

President, Rockefeller Brothers Fund

Becca Heller

Becca Heller

Executive Director, IRAP

Wade Henderson

Wade Henderson

Interim President & CEO, The Leadership Conference for Civil and Human Rights

Gov. Gary Herbert (R-UT)

Gov. Gary Herbert (R-UT)

Former Governor, Utah

John E.  Herbst

John E. Herbst

Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine

Mark Hetfield

Mark Hetfield

President & CEO, HIAS

John Hewko

John Hewko

General Secretary/CEO, Rotary International

Marielena Hincapie

Marielena Hincapie

Executive Director, National Immigration Law Center

Khaled Hosseini

Khaled Hosseini

Afghan-American novelist

Dave Isay

Dave Isay

CEO, StoryCorps

Laleh Ispahani

Laleh Ispahani

Co-Director, Open Society Foundations

Natalie Jaresko

Natalie Jaresko

Former Minister of Finance for Ukraine; Aspen Institute Trustee, Chair, Aspen Kyiv

Irene Jarosewich

Irene Jarosewich

Ukrainian National Association

Laurene Powell Jobs

Laurene Powell Jobs

President, Emerson Collective

Secretary Jeh Johnson

Secretary Jeh Johnson

Former Secretary, Department of Homeland Security

Guerline Jozef

Guerline Jozef

Co-founder & Executive Director, Haitian Bridge Alliance

Miranda Kaiser

Miranda Kaiser

President, USAHello

Erol Kekic

Erol Kekic

Senior Vice President, CWS

Victoria Kulik

Victoria Kulik

President, Ukrainian American Bar Association

Governor Dirk Kempthorne (R-ID)

Governor Dirk Kempthorne (R-ID)

Former Governor, Idaho, Former Secretary of Interior

Sean Kennedy

Sean Kennedy

Executive Vice President, Public Affairs, National Restaurant Association

Alan Khazei

Alan Khazei

Co-Founder, City Year

Walter Kim

Walter Kim

President, National Association of Evangelicals

Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum

Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum

Senior Rabbi, Congregation Beit Simchat Torah

Sarah Krause

Sarah Krause

Co-Founder & Executive Director, Community Sponsorship Hub

Jina Krause-Vilmar

Jina Krause-Vilmar

President & CEO, Upwardly Global

Matthew La Corte

Matthew La Corte

Government Affairs Manager, Niskanen Center

Padma Lakshmi

Padma Lakshmi

Activist

Nila Latif

Nila Latif

Virginia Council Muslim Organization (VCMO) and Afghan Refugee Crisis Committee (ARCC)

Jack Leslie

Jack Leslie

Senior Advisor, Weber Shandwick

Mark B. Levin

Mark B. Levin

Executive Vice-Chairman and CEO of NCSEJ: National Coalition Supporting Eurasian Jewry

David Linde

David Linde

CEO, Participant

Michael Linnington

Michael Linnington

CEO, Wounded Warrior Project

Eric Liu

Eric Liu

CEO, Citizen University

Yo-Yo Ma

Yo-Yo Ma

Musician

Imam Mohamed Magid

Imam Mohamed Magid

Board of Trustees, All Dulles Area Muslim Society

Katherine Maher

Katherine Maher

Former CEO, Wikimedia Foundation

Gregory Maniatis

Gregory Maniatis

Director, International Migration Initiative, Open Society Foundations

Ryan Manion

Ryan Manion

CEO, Travis Manion Foundation

Anita McBride

Anita McBride

Fmr. Chief of Staff to Laura Bush & US-Afghan Women's Council

General Stan McChrystal

General Stan McChrystal

Commander, Joint Special Operations Command

Nadia McConnell

Nadia McConnell

Co-Founder & CEO, U.S.-Ukraine Foundation

David McCraw

David McCraw

VP & Deputy General Counsel, New York Times

Nicole Melaku

Nicole Melaku

Executive Director, National Partnership for New Americans

Debra Messing

Debra Messing

Actress & Activist

David Miliband

David Miliband

President & CEO, International Rescue Committee

Rabbi Jack Moline

Rabbi Jack Moline

President, Interfaith Alliance

Cecilia Munoz

Cecilia Munoz

Co-Chair, Welcome.Us

Janet Murguia

Janet Murguia

President & CEO, UnidosUS

Dr. Kerry Murphy Healey

Dr. Kerry Murphy Healey

President, Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream

Zainab Nazary

Zainab Nazary

Co-Founder, FreshStart Refugee Assistance Center

Eskinder Negash

Eskinder Negash

President & CEO, USCRI

Ali Noorani

Ali Noorani

President & CEO, National Immigration Forum

Michelle Nunn

Michelle Nunn

President & CEO, CARE

Nadia Nynka

Nadia Nynka

Vice President, Ukrainian National Women’s League of America

Paul O'Brien

Paul O'Brien

Executive Director, Amnesty International USA

Edafe Okporo

Edafe Okporo

Activist & Author

David Paine

David Paine

Co-Founder, 9/11 Day

Chris Palusky

Chris Palusky

President & CEO, Bethany

Farah Pandith

Farah Pandith

Former Special Representative to Muslim Communities, U.S. Department of State

Governor Deval  Patrick (D-MA)

Governor Deval Patrick (D-MA)

Former Governor, Massachusetts

Nillab Pazhwak

Nillab Pazhwak

Co-founder, Board Member, Afghan-American Women Association

Rachel Perić

Rachel Perić

Executive Director of Welcoming America

Ai-jen Poo

Ai-jen Poo

Co-founder & Executive Director, National Domestic Workers Alliance

Farhat Popal

Farhat Popal

Advisor, Women's Initiative, George W. Bush Institute

Dina Powell McCormick

Dina Powell McCormick

Global Head, Goldman Sachs

Secretary Steve Preston

Secretary Steve Preston

President & CEO, Goodwill Industries International

Chris Purdy

Chris Purdy

Director, VFAI

Secretary Condoleezza Rice

Secretary Condoleezza Rice

Former Secretary of State

Jeremy Robbins

Jeremy Robbins

Executive Director, New American Economy

Kenneth Roth

Kenneth Roth

Executive Director, Human Rights Watch

Kathy Roth-Douquet

Kathy Roth-Douquet

CEO, Blue Star Families

Reverend Gabe Salguero

Reverend Gabe Salguero

President & Founder, National Latino Evangelical Coalition

Rabbi David Saperstein

Rabbi David Saperstein

Former Ambassador for International Religious Freedom

Michael Sawkiw, Jr.

Michael Sawkiw, Jr.

Executive Vice President, Ukrainian Congress Committee of America; Director, Ukrainian National Information Service

Eric & Wendy Schmidt

Eric & Wendy Schmidt

Co-founders, The Schmidt Family Foundation

Liz Schrayer

Liz Schrayer

President & CEO, US Global Leadership Coalition

Sheri Kersch Schultz

Sheri Kersch Schultz

Co-founder & Chair, Schultz Family Foundation

Howard Schultz

Howard Schultz

Former CEO & Chairman Emeritus, Starbucks Coffee Company

Steve Schwab

Steve Schwab

CEO, The Elizabeth Dole Foundation

Eric Schwartz

Eric Schwartz

President, Refugees International

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D-KS)

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D-KS)

Former Governor, Kansas

Ed Shapiro

Ed Shapiro

Trustee, Shapiro Family Foundation

Brian Sheehan

Brian Sheehan

International President, Lions Club International

Sarah Sheffer

Sarah Sheffer

Interim Director, Refugee Advocacy Lab

Lisa Sherman

Lisa Sherman

President & CEO, Ad Council

Billy Shore

Billy Shore

Founder & CEO, Share our Strength

Maria Shriver

Maria Shriver

Journalist & Author

Tim Shriver

Tim Shriver

OAP, Special Olympics, UNITE

Michael Singh

Michael Singh

Managing Director and Senior Fellow, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy

Anne-Marie Slaughter

Anne-Marie Slaughter

CEO, New America

John Slocum

John Slocum

Interim Executive Director, RCUSA

Brad Smith

Brad Smith

President, Microsoft

Jay Snyder

Jay Snyder

Founder & Chairman, Open Hands Initiative

David Solomon

David Solomon

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Goldman Sachs

Patricia de Stacy Harrison

Patricia de Stacy Harrison

President & CEO, Corporation for Public Broadcasting

Stephanie Summers

Stephanie Summers

CEO, Center for Public Justice

Yuriy Symczyk

Yuriy Symczyk

COO, Ukrainian National Association

William B. Taylor

William B. Taylor

Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine

Tsehaye Teferra

Tsehaye Teferra

President & CEO, ECDC

Cardinal Joseph Tobin

Cardinal Joseph Tobin

Archdiocese of Newark

Natalie Tran

Natalie Tran

Executive Director, Creative Artists Agency Foundation

Hamdi Ulukaya

Hamdi Ulukaya

CEO, Chobani

Ambassador Melanne Verveer

Ambassador Melanne Verveer

Executive Director, Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security

Krish O'Mara Vignarajah

Krish O'Mara Vignarajah

President & CEO, LIRS

U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Alexander Vindman

U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Alexander Vindman

Former Director, European & Russian Affairs, White House National Security Council

Bradley Whitford

Bradley Whitford

Actor, Producer, & Activist

Hon. Doug Wilson

Hon. Doug Wilson

Co-Founder & Board Chair, Vets’ Community Connections

Heather Wilson

Heather Wilson

President, The University of Texas at El Paso, former U.S. Secretary of the Air Force

Jim Winkler

Jim Winkler

President & General Secretary, National Council of Churches

Jay Winuk

Jay Winuk

Co-Founder, 9/11 Day

Jake Wood

Jake Wood

Co-Founder & Executive Chairman, Team Rubicon

Jocelyn Wyatt

Jocelyn Wyatt

CEO, Alight

Jenny Yang

Jenny Yang

SVP of Advocacy & Policy, World Relief

Nili Sarit Yossinger

Nili Sarit Yossinger

Executive Director, Refugee Congress

Wendy Young

Wendy Young

President, KIND

Marie Yovanovitch

Marie Yovanovitch

Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine

Marianna Zajac

Marianna Zajac

First Vice-President, World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations (WFUWO) and Honorary President, Ukrainian National Women’s League of America (UNWLA)