Denver Mayor Mike Johnston Joins Mayors Migration Council Leadership Board
Denver, United States—On World Refugee Day, the Mayors Migration Council (MMC) proudly announces the addition of Denver Mayor Mike Johnston to its Leadership Board—the governing body providing strategic direction to the organization committed to accelerating ambitious global action on migration and displacement. Mayor Johnston brings a wealth of experience and a steadfast commitment to inclusive urban governance, particularly in addressing migration challenges and opportunities. By joining this global board of mayors, Mayor Johnston will help ensure that the MMC’s mission reflects the priorities of U.S. cities and that their perspectives are represented on the global stage.
“In Denver, we’re focused not on where you were born but on what you bring to the table,” said Mayor Mike Johnston. “Our city stepped up to help families who otherwise could not have secured housing or work not just because it was the right thing to do, but because it was the commonsense thing to do both for our residents and for the betterment of our city. As a member of the MMC Leadership Board, I’m proud to join mayors around the world proving that practical, values-driven city leadership can turn migration into shared opportunity.”
As the 46th Mayor of Denver, Mayor Johnston has prioritized initiatives that support migrant communities and enhance the city’s vibrancy. In response to a rise in new arrivals to the city, Mayor Johnston saw an opportunity to pair eligible workers with companies looking to fill labor gaps. In what has become a blueprint for other cities, Denver launched the Denver Asylum Seekers Program in 2024, providing legal assistance, English language education, temporary housing and job training to hundreds of families,, facilitating their integration into the local economy. Under his leadership, Denver has seen historic reductions in the number of unhoused individuals, enhanced public safety, expanded affordable housing, and investments in revitalizing downtown.
Beyond Denver, Mayor Johnston has been an influential leader on migration on the national stage, as an active participant in national networks such as Cities for Action and in the U.S. Conference of Mayors, where he plays a leadership role as Chair of the Mayors’ Immigration Reform Committee. Internationally he sits on the Mayors of the Americas Task Force on Migration, and has elevated Denver’s local approach to global prominence— informing debates at high-level forums like the Paris Convening on Migration and Homelessness and Bloomberg CityLab 2024 in Mexico City.
“Mayor Johnston represents the kind of bold, practical leadership cities need to turn migration into a force for shared prosperity,” said Vittoria Zanuso, Executive Director of the Mayors Migration Council. “By expanding access to work and housing and restoring dignity to thousands of families—while delivering real benefits for local communities—he’s shown what’s possible when cities lead. We’re proud to welcome him to our Leadership Board and to elevate his example on the global stage to inspire others to follow.”
Mayor Johnston succeeds San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg on the MMC’s Leadership Board, which includes an esteemed group of visionary mayors:
- Yousef Al Shawarbeh, Mayor of Amman, Jordan
- Carlos Galán, Mayor of Bogotá, Colombia
- Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Mayor of Freetown, Sierra Leone
- Erias Lukwago, Mayor of Kampala, Uganda
- Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Mayor of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Giuseppe Sala, Mayor of Milan, Italy
- Valérie Plante, Mayor of Montréal, Canada
- Corine Mauch, Mayor of Zürich, Switzerland
The Mayors Migration Council is a mayor-led coalition that accelerates ambitious global action on migration and displacement to create a world where urban migrants, displaced people, and receiving communities can thrive. Learn more at www.mayorsmigrationcouncil.org.
