Author: Christa Yoakum

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Delicious ways to celebrate Welcoming Week!

Welcoming Week

Happy Welcoming Week! It is often said that food is a great connector! The presence of food sets the table for conversation and curiosity — two essential ingredients for building community among people who have different backgrounds and identities. Under the right conditions, food can be a positive entry point for activities and initiatives that unite a community and decrease prejudice between different groups.

One great way to celebrate Welcoming Week is by trying a dish or recipe from a culture that’s different from your own.

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How to best support refugee resettlement agencies

Hate has no home hereNebraska has a long history of welcoming refugees, even having the nation’s largest per capita refugee resettlement rate in 2016. As events unfold in Afghanistan, we stand with our Afghan neighbors who call Nebraska home and make our communities strong and vibrant. 

We support the rapid processing and resettlement of Afghan individuals and families seeking safety, and those who—like the Laotians, Vietnamese, Iraqis, and others before them—protected and worked alongside Americans as translators, engineers, security guards, embassy clerks, and cultural advisors. Evacuations must continue until they are complete, not interrupted or halted by an arbitrary deadline. As we prepare to welcome our new neighbors, we know that belonging begins with us, and we can each do our part to help them feel they belong here. 

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Advancing Racial Equity Benefits Us All

UN Board of Regents LetterWe know that understanding our country’s racial history is a vital step toward ensuring our state is committed to building strong, inclusive communities for all Nebraskans. Which is why we sent a letter in opposition to resolution Addendum VII-1 to the University of Nebraska Board of Regents.

For years, we have worked closely with community partners and educators across the state to build inclusive communities, where everyone can feel safe, respected, and valued.

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Welcoming Week is just around the corner! Let us help you plan!

Now is the time to start planning your Welcoming Week event, and we can help!

Welcoming Week

Welcoming Week is September 10th-19th and we’re ready to help you plan how you want to celebrate your community as a welcoming place!

Each year, Welcoming Week is a chance for neighbors from all backgrounds to come together, get to know one another, and celebrate what unites us as a community.

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Celebrate and recognize the history of Juneteenth

Celebrate and recognize the history of Juneteenth

The impact of recognizing Juneteenth as the federal holiday with the passing of the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act cannot be understated. Yet many people don’t know the meaning and significance of Juneteenth. 

While it took two and a half years for word of the Emancipation Proclamation to reach Texas, it has taken 156 years for Juneteenth to be recognized as historically significant. 

We celebrate Juneteenth and all it means with the knowledge and reality that we have much more work to do. We must seek to know the history and the barriers and structures of racism that carry forward in order to learn from our mistakes as a country and as individuals to do better in the future. This is a day to reflect and to deeply consider the wound of racism. 

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Summer 2021 series: Creating Communities of Belonging

Please note: We are currently in the 4th session of the Creating Communities of Belonging series. Join us by registering at the link below!

Join community leaders from across Nebraska who are building inclusive and vibrant communities

This virtual series will provide collaborative sessions, presentations, and networking with Nebraskans who are committed to creating communities where everyone, including immigrant neighbors, feels valued. 

In lieu of an in-person statewide welcoming convening this year, join us for this monthly series of virtual sessions. The series will continue through the summer on the second Friday of each month. All sessions will be virtual and are free.

We are excited to introduce the speakers for the event series!

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You’re invited! Creating Communities of Belonging and Welcoming Interactive

I hope you can join us virtually for the Welcoming Interactive conference May 5th & 6th, and also for our Nebraska Is Home: Creating Communities of Belonging series beginning in June! See more information below.

It’s not too late to register for the Welcoming Interactive 2021!

Join us and other Nebraskans for the conference & virtual coffee breaks!

Welcoming Interactive

The Welcoming Interactive is virtual this year and open to all those who are seeking inspiration and practical strategies for creating a more welcoming, inclusive society. Join the growing movement of practitioners in local communities across the country, share best practices and connect with a network of peers.  Continue reading “You’re invited! Creating Communities of Belonging and Welcoming Interactive”

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We cannot heal until Black community members are safe

As the trial of Derek Chauvin has captured the attention of many people across the country and around the world, we are feeling a deep sense of grief. One single trial or one verdict cannot erase the rightful grief, fear, and anger experienced by Black men, women, and children across the country, as our communities are ripped apart. The fact that police killings disproportionately impact Black community members is a clear indication of a deep-rooted systemic problem. 

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Join us for the Welcoming Interactive 2021!

Welcoming Interactive

Inclusion. Belonging. Equity.

Welcoming Interactive 2021 is going virtual! That means we’re inviting you to join us to take a deep dive into immigrant inclusion best practices, hear from peers across the country, and be inspired by keynote speakers john a. powell (lowercase intentional) and Dr. Gail Christopher on belonging and equity.

The Welcoming Interactive is open to all those who are seeking inspiration and practical strategies for creating a more welcoming, inclusive society.  Whether you’re an expert or new to the issue, if you are seeking inspiration and practical strategies for creating a more welcoming and inclusive society, the Welcoming Interactive invites you to join the growing movement of practitioners in local communities across the country, and to share best practices and connect with a network of peers.

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