THE WELCOME QUILT PROJECT

Part conceptual art, part textile craft, part community organizing & all heart.
We want to change the conversation about immigration.

WE ARE STITCHING COMPASSION & BUILDING A MOVEMENT TO REFRAME THE NARRATIVE ABOUT IMMIGRATION.

In the past few years, Americans ranging in age from 3 to 99, from all over the U.S., have drawn heartfelt messages of welcome to immigrants, on fabric squares. The squares are then sewn into Welcome Quilts by volunteer quilters, a collection of uniquely personal messages to immigrants in our country.

The Welcome Quilt Project presents a public counter narrative to the current negative rhetoric. Instead of fearing or demonizing immigrants, this project seeks to create a sense of community, hope, and support for them. Utilizing the symbolic warmth of handmade quilts, it welcomes them as neighbors and friends. Anyone, anywhere can participate.

“If someone sees me welcoming people, then maybe they will welcome people too!”

- A fourth grader, who was part of a school field trip to the Welcome Quilt Exhibit, during a discussion about welcoming newcomers.

“A square of butterflies on the quilt represents new beginnings emerging from a cocoon, from the desert, from a life of struggle, and in the hope of something beautiful. The other squares all come together with colors of sunshine and starlight, of hope and of love to people needing\ an enfolding of welcome.”

- The Rev. Jessica Braxton, who has been utilizing the Welcome Quilt idea in her parish.

Are you concerned about the negative portrayal of people who are immigrating to the United States?

Do you want to let children and families who are seeking refuge and asylum know that you welcome them into your communities?

Do you want to find creative ways to speak out on their behalf? If so, this project is for you.

Welcome Quilts were exhibited at the Arizona History Museum in Tucson, AZ (2023 to 2024). The exhibit tells the story of how the first quilts were created. It also features one or more quilts made from the drawings of children seeking asylum after they were released from detention. As part of the trauma-informed art experience at the Casa Alitas Welcome Center in Tucson, AZ, children drew pictures to the prompt: “Draw what you love.”

  • The mission of the Welcome Quilt Project is to counteract messages of hate and fear directed to people who are refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants in the United States by including in public places messages of hope and welcome created by people of all ages around the country.

  • The vision of the Welcome Quilt Project is to help create a sense of community and belonging for newcomers in society.

  • The Welcome Quilt Project values the soft power of creative activism through art as a means of welcoming and change.

WATCH: Webinar on Social Justice Quilting, which includes the Welcome Quilt Project

Contact Us

To find out how to create a Welcome Quilt that can be displayed in your local community center, hospital, food bank, place of worship, library, school or college campus, please fill out the contact form here or email Gale Hall at  welcomehomequilts@gmail.com