These are the three key building blocks for a good quality of live and we want all of the children in our community to
have equal access to them.
Other volunteers are working with the Chamber of Commerce to help stimulate economic growth by developing
stronger relationships with the foreign born leaders and entrepreneurs of our community. Tracy Hatch, president and
CEO of the greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce is a member of the leadership team of One Greater Nashua. Asa
direct result of the OGN Business and Civic goal group activities, Tracy has introduced welcoming strategies to her board
of directors. The chamber has adopted One Greater Nashua goals into the Chamber’s strategic plan because they see
social inclusion and integration as imperative to driving their mission of economic growth and prosperity for our
community. | know she is reaching out to you directly, and will share important data driving the Chamber’s involvement
in One Greater Nashua.
The third group of volunteers is focused on promoting civic engagement for new comers. Residents of Greater Nashua
from all walks of life with diverse cultural, racial and ethnic backgrounds as well as “mainstream” Nashuans gather
regularly to learn and share with each other at the Nashua Public Library. This group of volunteers is actively reaching
out to all members of our community that may feel isolated and disconnected and are actively welcoming them into our
civic life. Jen McCormack, Director of the Nashua Public Library is anchoring this effort along with the Adult Learning
Center and the Community College. The goal is to connect with people that feel disconnected or isolated by cultural
barriers and help them discover how best to achieve their goals and utilize the skills and innovations they bring to our
community. Transformations are happening every day as these residents learn, share and develop mutual understanding
of each other. They challenge and inspire each other to take the next steps toward their goals. Participants are finding
jobs, forming businesses and becoming more engaged in the broad community of Nashua.
Our coalition members understand that when people see Nashua as their home and feel welcome, this sense of
belonging empowers them to achieve their goals. By participating in this network of neighbors, these volunteers are
strengthening our community and building a positive atmosphere that promotes safety for all. Police Chief Andrew
Lavoie along with Ed Lecius and Officer Carlos Camacho are taking important steps in civic engagement that promote
strong and safe neighborhoods. Support for the welcoming resolution will help to propel their work and the work of
others toward our shared goals for safety and reduced violence. We want Nashua to remain a leader in this effort.
We appreciate the aldermen’s desire to fully understand what is being asked of the City through the adoption of this
resolution. This is an important part of their role and we applaud them for their diligence.
We believe that the hesitations raised at the committee hearing are founded in mis-information and we would like to
share some additional information and resources to help the aldermen feel satisfied in the value of the full original
resolution.
We have submitted to you and Kimberly Kleiner, a statement from Welcoming America officials confirming the
organization as non-partisan. The position confirms that there are no explicit requirements in our membership around
what cities must do beyond those on the Welcoming Cities and Counties Commitment Form. Rather, the Welcoming
America movement is a network of communities across the US that share Our One Greater Nashua goals and will be
competing with us for that vibrant, diverse workforce of the 21* Century which we all need and desire and which will
attract employers to our city. More and more cities like ours are joining the welcoming movement because they are
facing the same workforce challenges we see in Nashua. Shortly, it will not be enough to simply say we are welcoming.
