Welcoming Network in the News
“Santa Cruz Embraces Refugees”
In August, 2024, the Good Times’ cover story features the Welcoming Network and shares the experiences of 3 families from Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Colombia. It paints a picture of the difficulties these families have faced in fleeing their home countries, seeking asylum, and beginning to rebuild their lives in a new place and the many ways the Welcoming Network is helping them and others.
WN Receives a Be The Difference Award
In May 2024, The Welcoming Network was honored to receive a Be the Difference award from the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County, for welcoming our community’s newest neighbors.
KSQD’s Talk of the Bay Interviews with Welcoming Network Members
June 2025 - Discussion on how community members can help support immigrants amidst the new deportation tactics.
December 2023 - The Santa Cruz Welcoming Network Helps Immigrants. Featuring members of an Afghan family.
April 2022 - El Salvador to Santa Cruz -Finding Welcome. Featuring an asylum seeker from El Salvador and two of our volunteers.
April 2021 - Welcoming asylum seekers
WN’s Paul Johnston Calls for Local Action to Protect Asylum Seekers in Santa Cruz
WN founding member and sociologist, Paul Johnston, published an opinion piece in Lookout Santa Cruz calling on the local community to resist the Trump Administration's new tactic of arresting asylum seekers and other refugees at courthouses. In his article, Johnston explains how Santa Cruz can establish constitutionally protected sanctuary spaces and why these are essential given the current political climate. He highlights that Santa Cruz County has over 600 pending asylum cases—representing eligible families who have been following legal processes while seeking refuge in our community. Read the full article here.