I have often heard it said that Louisville is a welcoming city.

In fact, Louisville was the second city in the U.S. to become a certified “Welcoming City” for immigrants and refugees by the independent non-profit organization, Welcoming America. More than 150 languages are spoken in our public schools.

I hear fellow Louisvillians extol our diverse restaurant offerings, celebrate our athletes on the soccer field or on the dirt track, and take pride in the vibrancy of their neighborhoods. And, in less public moments, we live out this shared value of “welcoming” every day.

Immigrants are an intractable part of the fabric of a welcoming Louisville. We eat elbow to elbow with our neighbors at beloved establishments — Cuban food, Vietnamese dishes, Syrian treats. We send our kids to school to play and learn with kids from families who speak languages from around the world, but share the same hopes for their children as we do.  We spend our weekends cheering with pride for world-class athletes with roots across the globe.

There are countless neighbors of ours who didn’t start life in Louisville but now call our city home. Many followed established legal pathways created to help those fleeing war and oppression start over in the United States. They brought their families here; rented homes; started jobs; and bought cars to take their kids to school, church and soccer practice.

Today, rapidly shifting government policy has limited their ability to keep a job, put food on their table and seek essential medical care, but the work of welcoming continues.

I am lucky in my job at Catholic Charities of Louisville to get a front row seat to the acts of welcome that make all the difference to our newest neighbors. Our professional English Language teachers support adults in navigating their community with confidence. Caseworkers help parents access mental health services, and children register for school. Our employment specialists connect workers with businesses in need of their skills.

In every corner of our building and our city, staff and volunteers empower our newest neighbors to reach their goals and strengthen their families with dignity.

I invite you to join us in this work. Now more than ever, your neighbors need you. Whether that’s through extending a warm greeting to your fellow JCPS parent, patronizing a local business, or directing your resources towards a nonprofit, every action matters.

Together, we can make Louisville a more welcoming city – a city that intentionally harnesses the wealth and vibrancy that comes from diverse talents, backgrounds, and personalities – a city that truly sets itself apart.

Alison Voit is Director of Catholic Charities of Louisville’s Migration and Refugee Services (MRS) program. In 2025, MRS celebrated its 50-year anniversary of welcoming refugees to our community and administering federal refugee support programs. Started in 1975 at the end of the Vietnam War, MRS is the oldest refugee resettlement agency in Louisville.