City of San Jose, CA
03/16/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/16/2026 15:08
NEWS RELEASE: San José is Recertified as 4-star Certified Welcoming Community
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT
Zulma Maciel, Director of the City Manager's Office of Racial and Social Equity
408-535-8146; [email protected]
Leslie Nguyen-Okwu, Director of Strategic Communications, Welcoming America
[email protected]
"San José has always been a city built by people who came here with hope, determination, and a belief in opportunity," said City Manager Jennifer Maguire. "Being recertified as a 4-star Welcoming City reflects the values we live every day, working together to ensure that every resident, regardless of where they come from, feels respected, supported, and able to thrive. Our diversity is not only something we celebrate; it is the foundation of our innovation, resilience, and shared future as one community."
San José's 4 out of 5-star recertification reflects the shared work of community-based organizations, service providers, residents, faith and education leaders, and City departments. Together, they demonstrated how welcoming is practiced across civic life. This achievement is especially meaningful in today's climate and underscores San José's decision to stay the course on its community commitments.
"San José works best when everyone who calls this city home has the opportunity to contribute and succeed," said Mayor Matt Mahan. "This recognition reflects the work our community partners, residents, and city staff do to make San José a place where everyone feels welcome and has access to opportunity. By prioritizing civic and economic inclusion, we make San José stronger and better for everyone."
The Welcoming Standard evaluates local policies and programs across seven framework areas to ensure they reflect measurable action on the city's values of inclusion and belonging.
"San José's 4-star recertification shows what happens when communities build welcoming infrastructure that works for everyone," said Welcoming America's Executive Director Rachel Perić. "Local leaders and residents have partnered to remove barriers so all community members, including immigrants, can contribute their talents and strengthen the economy. By working alongside neighboring cities and counties to create a regional welcoming hub, San José is demonstrating how this work drives prosperity and innovation across entire regions-especially in times where cities are taking the lead."
This designation reflects the City's coordinated approach to immigrant inclusion in local government and community systems. San José shows a steady commitment to welcoming through the leadership of the City Manager's Office of Racial and Social Equity (ORSE), which has ensured that welcoming is not limited to one office, but rather that it is a shared responsibility that shapes everyday City operations and decisions and across the broader community. The City's Welcoming San José Plan further reflects this commitment. The City has released three versions of the plan, each spanning several years and shaped by community feedback, with the purpose of supporting collaboration across City departments, community organizations, and other partners to strengthen immigrant inclusion.
About the City of San José
With almost 1 million residents, San José is one of the most diverse large cities in the United States, Northern California's largest city, and the 12th largest city in the nation. San José's transformation into a global innovation center has resulted in one of the largest concentrations of technology companies and expertise in the world.
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 www.welcomingamerica.org.
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 www.certifiedwelcoming.org.
CONTACT
Zulma Maciel, Director of the City Manager's Office of Racial and Social Equity
408-535-8146; [email protected]
Leslie Nguyen-Okwu, Director of Strategic Communications, Welcoming America
[email protected]
San José is Recertified as a 4-star Certified Welcoming Community
Reaffirming commitment to inclusion, belonging, and full participation for all residents
"San José has always been a city built by people who came here with hope, determination, and a belief in opportunity," said City Manager Jennifer Maguire. "Being recertified as a 4-star Welcoming City reflects the values we live every day, working together to ensure that every resident, regardless of where they come from, feels respected, supported, and able to thrive. Our diversity is not only something we celebrate; it is the foundation of our innovation, resilience, and shared future as one community."
San José's 4 out of 5-star recertification reflects the shared work of community-based organizations, service providers, residents, faith and education leaders, and City departments. Together, they demonstrated how welcoming is practiced across civic life. This achievement is especially meaningful in today's climate and underscores San José's decision to stay the course on its community commitments.
"San José works best when everyone who calls this city home has the opportunity to contribute and succeed," said Mayor Matt Mahan. "This recognition reflects the work our community partners, residents, and city staff do to make San José a place where everyone feels welcome and has access to opportunity. By prioritizing civic and economic inclusion, we make San José stronger and better for everyone."
The Welcoming Standard evaluates local policies and programs across seven framework areas to ensure they reflect measurable action on the city's values of inclusion and belonging.
"San José's 4-star recertification shows what happens when communities build welcoming infrastructure that works for everyone," said Welcoming America's Executive Director Rachel Perić. "Local leaders and residents have partnered to remove barriers so all community members, including immigrants, can contribute their talents and strengthen the economy. By working alongside neighboring cities and counties to create a regional welcoming hub, San José is demonstrating how this work drives prosperity and innovation across entire regions-especially in times where cities are taking the lead."
This designation reflects the City's coordinated approach to immigrant inclusion in local government and community systems. San José shows a steady commitment to welcoming through the leadership of the City Manager's Office of Racial and Social Equity (ORSE), which has ensured that welcoming is not limited to one office, but rather that it is a shared responsibility that shapes everyday City operations and decisions and across the broader community. The City's Welcoming San José Plan further reflects this commitment. The City has released three versions of the plan, each spanning several years and shaped by community feedback, with the purpose of supporting collaboration across City departments, community organizations, and other partners to strengthen immigrant inclusion.
About the City of San José
With almost 1 million residents, San José is one of the most diverse large cities in the United States, Northern California's largest city, and the 12th largest city in the nation. San José's transformation into a global innovation center has resulted in one of the largest concentrations of technology companies and expertise in the world.
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 www.welcomingamerica.org.
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 www.certifiedwelcoming.org.
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City of San Jose, CA published this content on March 16, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on March 16, 2026 at 21:08 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]