Embrace and Integrate Newcomers: Promote migration through a narrative that emphasizes common goals, values, and opportunities
When migrants and refugees are viewed as a burden for host communities, practices of exclusion and segregation can grow common, undermining the ability of cities to integrate newcomers and build social cohesion. By reframing the narrative with stories that connect migrants and their neighbors through their commonalities, cities can change the perception of migrants from competitors to agents of change for building stronger communities for everyone.
To dispel the rumors, misconceptions, and prejudices that locals may hold about minorities and immigrants, city and civil society leaders are using different storytelling formats, from social media and advertising campaigns to public video screenings and cultural festivals.
Examples from the 100RC Network
Barcelona — The Anti-Rumor Campaign
As part of its long-term strategy to improve relations between new immigrants and native residents, the Barcelona City Council launched an innovative public campaign to dispel rumors, misconceptions, and prejudices that local people have about minorities and newcomers. Modeled on successful campaigns that made drinking and driving, and smoking, urgent public issues, the initiative includes a series of videos that satirize various stereotypes, such as losing cultural identity because of immigrants. To publicize its message, the campaign also used a comic book series written by an acclaimed Spanish illustrator, distributed for free at social service centers and libraries. To further entrench the campaign, the city recruited and trained hundreds of ‘anti-rumor agents’ to dispel myths and spread the message through local organizations and the city’s neighborhoods.
Practitioner Resources
Communication for Integration Project — Council of Europe
Cities Free of Rumors: How to build an anti-rumor strategy in my cityBased on the experience of Barcelona and other European cities that implemented anti-rumor strategies, this handbook provides useful step-by-step guidelines to inspire cities interested in building a more inclusive, open, and intercultural community.
While this guide is mainly intended for the use of local governments, it may be also useful to other organizations and institutions seeking to integrate the anti-rumor approach in their daily work.
Welcoming America
Reframing Refugees Message ToolkitThe “Reframing Refugees” message toolkit is designed to help those working with and on behalf of refugees to deliver strong messages encouraging community leaders and policy makers to take action to support refugees in their area. The toolkit includes the following elements to help develop and deliver successful messages:
· A framework to assess and understand one’s audience.
· Winning Message Themes proven across broad audience testing and the experience of practitioners.
· Storytelling Tools and guidance on how to employ them.
· Examples and Samples: sample press materials, a letter to the editor and talking points for addressing the hard questions.
· A selection of Tools and Resources that will further support efforts to gather and tell stories within the new framework.
