FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Regina Carswell Russo
(513)315-1326
regina@rrightnow.com
CINCINNATI CAMPAIGN TAKES ON IMMIGRATION MYTHS THROUGH LOCAL STORIES
New regional campaign invites Greater Cincinnati residents to become #BridgeBuilders
Campaign Launch & Video Premiere
August 20, 2026 | 10:30–11:00 a.m.
Marketing Collaborative
15 E. 14th Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Webpage: Neighbor2Neighbor
CINCINNATI — Immigrants take American jobs. They don’t pay their fair share. More immigration means more crime.
Those are some of the most persistent claims surrounding immigration in America. But THE FACTS tell a different story.
MYTH: Immigrants take American jobs.
FACT: Immigrants help grow the American economy. They work, start businesses, create jobs, and expand
the labor force. Immigrants are also disproportionately represented among entrepreneurs.
Sources: Congressional Budget Office & New American Economy.
MYTH: Immigrants don’t pay their fair share.
FACT: Immigrants pay hundreds of billions in taxes. In 2023, immigrants contributed approximately $652
billion in federal, state, and local taxes.
Sources: American Immigration Council data & Congressional Budget Office.
MYTH: More immigrants mean more crime.
FACT: Research shows the opposite. Immigrants are less likely than U.S.-born Americans to commit
crimes, and communities with larger immigrant populations often experience lower rates of crime and
violence.
Sources: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine & U.S. Department of Justice’s
National Institute of Justice.
On August 20, Cincinnati Compass and the Immigrant and Refugee Law Center will launch Neighbor to
Neighbor, a regional storytelling and community engagement campaign designed to move the conversation
beyond statistics, stereotypes, and assumptions, and introduce Greater Cincinnati to the people behind
them, our immigrant neighbors and community.
The campaign asks one simple question: What happens when strangers become neighbors?
Neighbor to Neighbor will launch with the premiere of a short video featuring immigrant entrepreneurs,
corporate leaders, creatives, and other Greater Cincinnati residents whose stories reflect the contributions,
aspirations, and shared values shaping the region.
More than 30 regional organizations will come together for the launch and introduction of #BridgeBuilders, a
growing network of citizens, influencers, and organizations committed to creating opportunities for greater
understanding, connection and belonging.
A Campaign About Cincinnati’s Future. Neighbor to Neighbor focuses on three themes:
• How immigrants transform Cincinnati
• Honoring the contributions of local immigrants
• Building a thriving economy through immigrant inclusion
The campaign also launches a new digital hub featuring local facts and data, community resources, personal
stories, events, and opportunities for Greater Cincinnati residents to connect with people they may not
otherwise meet. Through storytelling, community conversations, and local events, Neighbor to Neighbor is
designed to replace assumptions with experiences and give residents opportunities to meet, listen to, and
learn from one another.
“Connection Starts With Knowing Each Other”
Bryan Wright, Cincinnati Compass:
“Immigration can become an abstract issue when we talk about it only through headlines and politics.
Neighbor to Neighbor creates opportunities for people to connect, hear each other’s stories, and learn the
facts about the immigrant community. That kind of connection is good for our neighborhoods/communities,
our economy, and the future of our region.”
“These Are Our Neighbors”
Mayra Jackson, Immigrant and Refugee Law Center:
“Facts and statistics alone don’t always change the way we see one another. Neighbor to Neighbor brings
the conversation back to people because when we know someone’s story, it becomes much harder to
reduce them to a stereotype.”
Become a #BridgeBuilder.
The premise behind Neighbor to Neighbor is simple: strong communities are
built when people know, understand, and value one another. A shared meal. A neighborhood event. A
conversation. A personal story. Each can be a bridge.
Neighbor to Neighbor invites Greater Cincinnati residents to take that first step and discover what can
happen when strangers become neighbors.
About Neighbor to Neighbor
Neighbor to Neighbor is a regional storytelling and community engagement initiative led by Cincinnati
Compass and the Immigration and Refugee Law Center. Through authentic stories, community
conversations, local events, and factual information, the campaign works to strengthen connections and
belonging across Greater Cincinnati. NEIGHBOR2NEIGHBORMOVEMENT.ORG
About CINCINNATI COMPASS:
Cincinnati Compass advances the economic and social inclusion of immigrant and international
communities to enhance the overall vibrancy and economic growth of the Cincinnati region. Cincinnati
Compass serves as a trusted connector, catalyst and convener, connecting immigrants and refugees to
resources and opportunities while working with employers, organizations and government partners to build
more inclusive practices and policies. Learn more at cincinnaticompass.org.
About the Immigrant and Refugee Law Center
The Immigrant and Refugee Law Center (IRLC) provides accessible legal services to immigrant and refugee
families throughout the Greater Cincinnati community. Established in 2017 and beginning operations in
2018, IRLC was created to address a critical gap in affordable immigration legal services. Today, the
organization provides legal guidance and representation to help individuals and families navigate the
complex immigration system and works toward equal and trusted access to justice for immigrants and refugees. https://www.irlawcenter.org/
