City of St. Louis Earns Certified Welcoming Designation by Welcoming America

The City of St. Louis is pleased to announce its achievement in becoming a 2-star Certified Welcoming community, reinforcing its role as a leading, inclusive economic ecosystem that actively supports immigrant residents' participation in civic life, economic opportunity, and essential services.

"St. Louis is and has always been a place shaped by the energy and hard work of new Americans", said Mayor Cara Spencer. "We are honored to receive this star designation. It's a testament to the work our entire community, both city government and a strong network of nonprofit and private-sector partners, put into making sure every person is welcomed and included here."

Certified Welcoming is a formal designation by Welcoming America for cities that have created policies and programs that reflect their values and commitment to immigrant inclusion and belonging. Since launching in 2017 and introducing a new star designation system in 2023, Certified Welcoming and its framework, the Welcoming Standard, has served as a roadmap for local governments seeking to build truly welcoming communities.

"St. Louis is a city shaped by migration and has long understood that its future depends on helping newcomers and longtime residents alike feel at home," said Rachel Perić, executive director of Welcoming America. "This designation reflects that commitment - it shows what welcoming actually looks like when a city builds it into how government operates, how services reach people, and how community institutions work together. We're proud to recognize St. Louis and look forward to what comes next."

Spencer and others praised the tireless dedication of Gilberto Pinela, Director of the Office of New Americans (ONA), whose leadership was instrumental in achieving this certification alongside our community partners, including the International Institute, St. Louis Mosaic Project and Vitendo4Africa. The ONA serves as a foundational hub within local government to build cross-departmental collaborations and community partnerships. It is dedicated to dismantling barriers for foreign-born residents, expanding language access, and fostering a shared regional responsibility for immigrant inclusion. ONA will continue to work towards additional stars with support from strong regional partners.

"The designation of St. Louis as a Certified Welcoming community is the culmination of a decade-long effort to showcase St. Louis as a national leader, " said Blake Hamilton, President and CEO, International Institute of St. Louis. "St. Louis has long been a region others have looked to as an example of how collaboration among welcoming institutions grows our impact. This certification lights the way as to how we can continue to create equitable access to our region's amenities for all who call St. Louis home."

St. Louis is one of more than 50 Certified Welcoming communities across the country. Each star designation reflects the depth of a community's progress across the seven areas of the Welcoming Standard. The city underwent a rigorous audit process and was evaluated on criteria including civic engagement, connected communities, economic development, and equitable access. Through its work and its coordinated partnerships spanning city departments, local nonprofits, and community organizations, Welcoming America found that St. Louis is paving a clear path forward for all residents to thrive. Highlights from the certification report include:

• Civic Engagement: St. Louis achieved perfect compliance for three-star status in this framework. Programs like the Monarch Immigration Services Citizens Program were applauded for offering specialized, in-home naturalization support for older adults. ONA was also highlighted for effectively connecting immigrant leaders and residents to vital civic resources.
• Connected Communities: St. Louis was found to excel in building trust and relational bridges through arts and multicultural celebrations. The Latinx Art Network's public Art Map and the Missouri History Museum's rich ethnic exhibits were singled out as major inclusion successes. Furthermore, immigrant inclusion work was successfully integrated with broader regional equity initiatives, such as the STL Regional HIV Community Coalition.
• Economic Development: Celebrated by the report as a major regional strength, St. Louis was recognized for successfully addressing the priorities of immigrant job seekers and entrepreneurs. Landmark initiatives include the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's intensive Hispanic Business Success Program, the International Institute's Workforce Solutions, Welcome Neighbor STL's ServSafe Program for female immigrants, and Washington University's Empower Program, which bridges English literacy with workforce certification.
• Equitable Access and Safety: St. Louis demonstrated full compliance and delivering accessible medical, legal, and emergency information. Casa de Salud's GUIA program was recognized for exceptional healthcare case management. Additionally, the ONA successfully partnered with the City Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) to expand NotifySTL emergency alerts into six additional languages.

"St. Louis is at its best when everyone who calls this city home has the opportunity to feel welcomed, valued and connected," said Suzanne Sierra, Executive Director, St. Louis Mosaic Project."

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that approximately 7.1 percent of city residents are foreign-born, and come from diverse global regions, including Asia, Latin America, Europe, and Africa. St. Louis has continued to proactively make strides to make the city more welcoming to these communities. Recently, St. Louis was selected to be part of the Gateways for Growth program through the American Immigration Council and Welcoming America. The initiative will further strengthen the city's efforts to attract and retain international residents.

"This Certified Welcoming 2-star designation is a true testament to the power of collaboration across St. Louis. Building a community where everyone belongs is a continuous, collective task, and this milestone proves that our city leadership, regional partners, and neighbors are working hand in hand. The Office of New Americans is proud to share this achievement with everyone dedicated to ensuring that every single resident feels valued, supported, and truly at home."- Gilberto Pinela, Director of the Office of New Americans

The 2-star designation and plaque were unveiled today as a part of the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month at St. Louis City Hall. September 10-19, 2026 also marks Welcoming Week across the nation.

The certification report is available upon request.

About Certified Welcoming

Certified Welcoming is a formal designation for local governments that have created policies and programs reflecting their values and commitment to immigrant inclusion. This innovative program assesses local governments on their efforts to include and welcome immigrants in all areas of civic, social, and economic life in their communities. With a Certified Welcoming designation, communities distinguish their local efforts, build a competitive advantage, and gain access to opportunities to share their welcoming practices on a regional, national, and global stage. Learn more at certifiedwelcoming.org.

About Welcoming America

Welcoming America is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that leads a movement of inclusive communities becoming more prosperous by ensuring everyone belongs. We believe that all people, including immigrants, are valued contributors and vital to the success of our communities and shared future. Learn more at welcomingamerica.org.

Media Contacts

• For Welcoming America: Leslie Nguyen-Okwu, [email protected]
• For the City of St. Louis: Holly Roberts, [email protected]