Mesa Welcome Center for Immigrants Opens to Support Asylum Seekers and Provide Educational Resources

Ghada, a mother of an 11-year-old boy, sits quietly in a Mesa, Arizona, classroom, engaging in weekly tutoring sessions at the Mesa Welcome Center for Immigrants. Her goal is to continue her education, which she hopes will help her pursue her dream of opening a salon and using her skills in hair, makeup, and skin care. Ghada, who applied for asylum in the U.S. and settled in Arizona earlier this year, finds hope and opportunity through the center’s support. Her story reflects the broader mission of the Mesa Welcome Center, which opened in February as part of the Church’s Immigrant Services Initiative.
The initiative, which began in Salt Lake City, aims to provide essential services to non-member immigrants who often face barriers such as misinformation, financial hardship, and lack of trust in systems designed to help them. The Mesa Welcome Center, located in the Mesa Inter-Stake Center near downtown, is the only such center outside of Utah. It serves as a hub for resources, offering tutoring, legal assistance, and cultural adaptation classes. These services are critical for individuals navigating the complexities of life in a new country.
Bret Ellsworth, manager of the Church’s Welfare Department for Immigrant Services, emphasizes that the centers are part of a three-part plan to support immigrants and refugees. The other components include legal clinics and cultural adaptation classes. In Arizona, the Mesa Welcome Center collaborates with the Beus Center for Law and Society at Arizona State University’s Downtown Phoenix campus to provide pro bono legal services on immigration and family law. These sessions have attracted hundreds of individuals seeking guidance and clarity.
The cultural adaptation classes, which help immigrants navigate the social and practical aspects of life in the U.S., have been a vital part of the program. Recently, a 10-week program was held at the Somali American United Council in Phoenix, underscoring the importance of community partnerships in providing comprehensive support. These efforts align with the biblical call to care for the stranger and the marginalized, as seen in Matthew 25:35, where Jesus emphasizes the importance of showing mercy to those in need.
Through these initiatives, the Mesa Welcome Center embodies the principle of neighbor-love, offering practical assistance and hope to those seeking a better life. The center’s work reflects a commitment to justice, accountability, and the well-being of individuals and families, ensuring that no one is left behind in the pursuit of a dignified and fulfilling life.

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