Updates & Opportunities for Inclusive Communities
I’m happy you are here. This is my favorite time of year, when the days are sunny and breezy, music and cultural festivals are in full swing, and Welcoming Week is just around the corner!
Welcoming Week: “Where We Belong” Sept. 9-18
Welcoming Week is a national initiative that Nebraskans participate in each year in September. It’s a time for cities, organizations, and communities to hold events that bring neighbors from different backgrounds together to get to know one another and celebrate what unites us as a community. This year, Welcoming Week is September 9-18.
The theme for Welcoming Week this year is “Where We Belong.” By focusing on the places and spaces that foster belonging (ie. cities, workplaces, neighborhoods, etc.), we can go deeper and spark individual reflection on how and why belonging occurs, and ways we can break barriers so that places can foster belonging for all community members, including immigrants and refugees.
What’s happening across Nebraska?
Each September, people across Nebraska seize the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to inclusiveness by hosting dozens of cultural and bridge-building events!
Events can be big or small, virtual or in-person. Find ideas, inspiration, and a toolkit on the official Welcoming Week website. You can also check out this recap of last year’s Welcoming Week festivities across Nebraska.
Already planning your Welcoming Week event? We’d love to hear about it and help get the word out. Email me!
We’ll start to add local events to our Nebraska Is Home Blog soon, so check back on the blog and help spread the word by sharing it on social media.
In the meantime, check out Belonging Begins With Us, where community members share their thoughts on ‘belonging.’ You can also share your story!
I can’t wait to hear about what’s happening in your community!
Beyond Welcoming Week
If you haven’t started planning your event yet, it’s not too late! We are extending Welcoming Week to the entire month of September and beyond. Send me a message, and I would be happy to help you plan an event to showcase what makes your community welcoming. The Welcoming Week Toolkit has lots of useful ideas, information, and even social media graphics to help you get started.
Thank you for making Nebraska a place where we all belong.