Partner with ONA through the VCESL Program

Are you an employer, small to mid-sized business, or workforce development center? Interested in partnering with New Americans? Learn more about the Virtual, Career-Aligned English as a Second Language Program by signing up at our VCESL Interest Form below.

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Request Feedback from the New Americans Community Advisory Committee (NACAC)

State agencies can request programmatic, policy, or other input from refugee and immigrant leaders statewide.

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Colorado Migrant Welcome Guide

The Colorado Migrant Welcome Guide is now available! (Spanish translation is now uploaded)
This welcome packet is intended to assist asylum seekers and migrants who do not yet have an immigration legal status but are intending to call Colorado home.

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Inaugural State Integration Plan

The Colorado Office of New Americans Inaugural State Integration Plan is now available.

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Office of New Americans Annual Report 2021
Sign up for our Newsletter!

Keep up with the Office of New Americans.

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Office of New Americans

What Is the Office of New Americans?

The Office of New Americans serves as the point of contact for state agencies, private sector organizations, and the public to advance the integration and inclusion of immigrants and refugees in Colorado communities.

In recognition of New Americans’ significant economic, cultural, and civic contributions to Colorado, on June 25, 2021, Governor Jared Polis signed HB 21-1150, creating an Office of New Americans in Colorado’s Department of Labor and Employment. The bill expands the work of the New American Integration Initiative, which launched in November of 2019. The bill also requires that the office implement a statewide strategy to facilitate economic stability and promote successful economic, social, linguistic, and cultural integration by investing in the success of immigrants in Colorado.

People in the community working together in a garden
children of different ethnic backgrounds

Who Are New Americans?

New Americans are Coloradans who arrived to the US as immigrants or their children. 

This population includes refugees, asylees, Special Immigrant Visa holders, victims of trafficking, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients, and all other immigrants and aspiring citizens seeking opportunity, safety, and/or reunification with their families. 

New Americans are children, parents, teachers, students, patients, doctors, contractors, homeowners, entrepreneurs, family members, friends, coworkers, and neighbors. Learn more about Colorado's New Americans here.

What Is Integration?

Integration is a dynamic, two-way process in which newcomers and the receiving society work together to build secure, vibrant, cohesive communities (Source: Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees). 

Immigrant integration benefits us all, and an intentional, responsive process to engage and welcome transforms all community stakeholders, enriching our collective social, economic, and civic life. Effective integration is inclusive and fosters a sense of belonging in newcomers and receiving community members alike. 

people discussing, in consultation
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  • Future
    Implementation of statewide strategic plan, investment in community-based organizations
  • 2022

    21-1150 recommendations submitted

    The Office hires its first staff and publishes first statewide immigrant integration plan

  • 2021

    Workgroup established to discuss organizational structure per 21-1150

    The New American Community Advisory Committee established

    New American Initiative codified into the Office of New Americans through HB 21-1150

  • 2020
    The New American Initiative determines priority areas of economic development, access, and education/outreach
  • 2019-2020
    The New American Initiative holds over 100 stakeholder meetings and interviews
  • 2019

    Governor Polis establishes the New American Initiative at CDLE

    Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition convenes state and national partners to envision a Colorado Office of New Americans