Riding a I-40 in the Piedmont of North Carolina is beautiful scenery. There is a welcomed change in the progress that North Carolina have made on Immigration and it is being displayed. A giant electronic billboard, with all of its color and visibility, welcomes Immigration to North Carolina!!! That visual is in stark contrast to the usual restaurant, fast food, or hotel accommodation signs that are the norm. A statewide billboard campaign in support of Immigrants continues this month in several cities including Mebane.
The billboards part of an initiative led by Raleigh-based Uniting NC to put a human face on immigration and change negative rhetoric that has been part of public discussion, Uniting NC Director Kristen Collins said. The billboards were first displayed last December in Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte, Asheville, Mebane and Goldsboro.
The pro-immigration billboard in Mebane is located off the eastbound side of Interstate 40/85 just before exit 157 at Buckhorn Road. The billboard is electronically operated by Atlantic Sign Media.
Uniting NC is part of a national movement, led by the Atlanta-based group Welcoming America, that works to build understanding between natives and new immigrants. Uniting NC is one of 19 state affiliates working to build communities that provide areas for all people to achieve their potential, the group says.
Chris Liu-Beers, chairman of the Uniting NC Board of Directors, said in a press release that Uniting NC is about culture change, not policy advocacy.
“Our goal is to invite people outside the polarized policy debate on immigration,” Liu-Beers stated in a press release. “We want to help people see that immigrants are not frightening invaders. They are our neighbors. They are people with stories much like our own, who are trying to make a good life for themselves and their families. The fabric of our state is stronger when we engage with everyone in our communities to see the values that bring us together.”
Collins said that the Billboards have been well received by most communities. The billboards are a tangible sign that many people in North Carolina believe in building an inclusive community that values cultural diversity.
"We told people that, if they wanted to see these messages in North Carolina, they had to pitch in — and they responded,” Collins said. “It was so exciting to see that many people don’t buy into the negative rhetoric about immigrants. These billboards showcase the positive, humane voices that are not usually heard in this debate".
-uncleTom2
The billboards part of an initiative led by Raleigh-based Uniting NC to put a human face on immigration and change negative rhetoric that has been part of public discussion, Uniting NC Director Kristen Collins said. The billboards were first displayed last December in Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte, Asheville, Mebane and Goldsboro.
The pro-immigration billboard in Mebane is located off the eastbound side of Interstate 40/85 just before exit 157 at Buckhorn Road. The billboard is electronically operated by Atlantic Sign Media.
Uniting NC is part of a national movement, led by the Atlanta-based group Welcoming America, that works to build understanding between natives and new immigrants. Uniting NC is one of 19 state affiliates working to build communities that provide areas for all people to achieve their potential, the group says.
Chris Liu-Beers, chairman of the Uniting NC Board of Directors, said in a press release that Uniting NC is about culture change, not policy advocacy.
“Our goal is to invite people outside the polarized policy debate on immigration,” Liu-Beers stated in a press release. “We want to help people see that immigrants are not frightening invaders. They are our neighbors. They are people with stories much like our own, who are trying to make a good life for themselves and their families. The fabric of our state is stronger when we engage with everyone in our communities to see the values that bring us together.”
Collins said that the Billboards have been well received by most communities. The billboards are a tangible sign that many people in North Carolina believe in building an inclusive community that values cultural diversity.
"We told people that, if they wanted to see these messages in North Carolina, they had to pitch in — and they responded,” Collins said. “It was so exciting to see that many people don’t buy into the negative rhetoric about immigrants. These billboards showcase the positive, humane voices that are not usually heard in this debate".
-uncleTom2
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