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On Tuesday, June 24th, 2025, host George Cadman interviewed Paul Johnston of the Santa Cruz Welcoming Network, a 100% volunteer-run community network that is dedicated to welcoming and supporting asylum seekers and other refugees in Santa Cruz County. Paul Johnston is a sociologist and labor/community organizer. He has been an advocate for immigrant rights in the Monterey Bay region for decades. As a young man he was an organizer against the Vietnam War, both in the army and among veterans, and also an organizer for the United Farm Workers and for the Service Employees International Union. More recently he served as executive director of both the Central Coast Citizenship Project in Salinas and the Central Labor Council for the Monterey Bay region. In between, he earned a doctorate in sociology at UC Berkeley and was a professor at Yale University, where he directed the organizational behavior program. He subsequently held research appointments at UCSC. In the past few years he helped to develop the Santa Cruz Welcoming Network and the new Interfaith Network. In this interview, Paul and George talk about the history of the Santa Cruz Welcoming Network, how and why it was created, the “new neighbors” they support, the types of support they offer, and why their efforts – and our new neighbors – are important and valued in our community. They also discuss new challenges facing asylum seekers and other refugees in the current political climate, and how community members can support our new neighbors and the work of the SC Welcoming Network.
