Welcoming Week 2026
Stories We Share: The Courage to Connect
Welcoming Week: September 10-19 and beyond!

Each year, people and communities across Nebraska, the country, and globe – come together to celebrate what makes our neighborhoods stronger: connection, belonging, and the people who call them home. This is a wonderful time to connect with both new and longtime neighbors, celebrate diverse cultures and embrace the universal value of inclusion. Join the celebration by participating in an event centered around the arts, learning and understanding, celebration of cultures & identity, and the values that unite us during and beyond Welcoming Week!

This year’s Welcoming Week theme “Stories We Share: The Courage to Connect” reminds us that welcoming starts with a simple but courageous act: reaching out. It takes courage to introduce yourself to someone new, to share your own story and to ask a question with curiosity. These simple everyday moments are what transform strangers into neighbors, friends, and communities where everyone knows they belong. 

Our stories help us understand one another. They reveal not only our different journeys but also that we share so much in common like values, hopes, and dreams. When we choose connection over assumption, curiosity over fear, and conversation over division, we create stronger communities where everyone thrives.

Here’s how to get involved & plan your event:

Explore the Welcoming Week Toolkit! This toolkit contains resources and guidance to support you in planning and promoting Welcoming Week events. You can find social media templates, media relations support, logos and other graphics, event planning guides and event examples.

Host a gathering that fits your community! Ideas you can do are: cultural celebrations, neighborhood dinners and shared meals, community conversations, volunteer projects, storytelling events, art activities, small business tours and so much more.

Share your event with us! Let us know what you are planning so we can add it to the Nebraska Welcoming Week calendar we will be sending out ahead of Welcoming Week. You can also upload your event on the national Welcoming Week map. (Keep up to date with this calendar to see events in communities across the state and country be added as Welcoming Week approaches!)

Please email your event information to Christa (cyoakum@neappleseed.org) & Eric (egarciamendez@neappleseed.org)

Connect with other Welcoming Week organizers!

Not sure if your community or anyone near you is hosting a Welcoming Week event? Or interested in collaborating with others in your area? We would love to connect you with other individuals and organizations that are planning Welcoming Week activities nearby. 

Can’t host an event this year? Join a virtual event or participate in a Welcoming Week event here in Nebraska or outside the state if you are traveling – Welcoming Week is being celebrated around the world! Print a Welcomer sign for your office/business, post on social media, or use it during your next video call! 

Help spread the message! Share your photos and experiences with welcoming on social media using the hashtag #WelcomingWeek2026. Follow Nebraska Is Home and Welcoming America on Facebook.

We are here to help!

Whether you are planning your first Welcoming Week event or your tenth, we’re here as a resource. If you’d like to brainstorm ideas, find partners, connect with others planning events nearby, or talk through plans, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. 

This year, we are offering some one-on-one options for you to schedule a short 15 minute virtual meeting with us so we can chat more! Click here to book a time to chat. 

Together, we can continue building communities where everyone knows they belong.

NEW Resource to have meaningful conversations!

As we gather together over the remainder of the year, you might be looking for some simple tools to have some meaningful conversations. Try the Six Questions conversation guide from America, the Beautiful.

1. What is the American dream?
2. What is the American promise?
3. When in your American life have you felt most free?
4. Who are this country’s founding mothers? What would this country be if it were founded by women?
5. If money were light, how much would the U.S. have to spend?
6. For whom America, the beautiful?

The guide features six thought provoking questions designed to spark curiosity, encourage listening, and help people connect across different backgrounds and experiences. These questions can be incorporated into community conversions, shared meals, book clubs, classrooms, workplaces, faith communities or Welcoming Week events of any size.

Need some examples of how to gather? Explore the Recipe Box, which offers creative ideas and simple activities – including conversation guides and community gathering ideas. The resources are designed for schools, businesses, faith communities, organizations, libraries and neighborhoods looking to create welcoming spaces for all.

Join community leaders from across Nebraska who are fostering inclusive spaces of connection and growth! 

The beginning of a new year is a great time for new learning. In January, join Nebraska Is Home: “Through our Neighbors’ Eyes”, a virtual film series, bringing together a collection of short films that highlight immigrant and refugee stories, and experiences of belonging.

These three films feature local Nebraskans’ stories! Following each film, we will speak with the filmmakers and people who have this lived experience – all with the aim of enhancing our understanding of our neighbors. Make a cup of cocoa, turn on your virtual fireplace, and join us on the following Tuesday evenings as we work toward building belonging for all.

Save the dates now and register for the series!

(You can register for the series and attend whichever dates work for you!)

January 21, 7-8 PM CT (6-7 PM MT)
Film 1: To the State of the Good Life

To the State of the Good Life is an intimate exploration of the American Dream through the eyes of Raúl Arcos Hawkins, a community leader and DACA recipient in Grand Island, Nebraska. The film delves into Raúl’s journey, weaving his personal aspirations, contributions to his community, and his work ethic with the uncertainty he and other Dreamers across the country face.  

Raúl Arcos Hawkins, executive director of the Multicultural Coalition of Grand Island, and Robert William Stevens, storyteller, filmmaker will join us for discussion following the film screening! 

January 28, 7-8 PM CT (6-7 PM MT)
Film 2: Cultures in the Crossfade: Lincoln

This 20-minute documentary Cultures in the Crossfade tells the story of the international musicians who found a home and new life paths in Nebraska. The “crossfader” is a tool of DJ mixing, used to mix without erasing, to combine without destroying, to juggle and sustain difference similar to these musicians who bond over making music together. Musicians who had not played together nor shared the same styles of music bond over new music created as they bring their experiences and cultures together.

Hasan Khalil, musician, barber and community builder and Josh Kun, author, academic and music critic will join us for discussion following the film screening. 

February 4, 7-8 PM CT (6-7 PM MT)
Film 3: The Healing of Harman

The Healing of Harman follows a Kurdish refugee named Harman Doski who has made a new life for himself in the heartland of America. Halfway across the world, his past catches up with him when he meets a mysterious man who asks for help with life and death consequences. A short film about hope, faith and forgiveness.

Julie Uribe, writer, will join us for discussion following the film screening. 

Please let us know what you need to be able to participate!

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that allow all participants to engage fully. To request an accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact Christa Yoakum (402-438-8853 x114, cyoakum@neappleseed.org) or Eric Garcia-Mendez (402-438-8853 x113, egarciamendez@neappleseed.org). We will try our best to accommodate requests. 

We’re All In for Lived Expertise on Local Boards!

Friday, August 9th from 10:00-11:30 am CT (9:00-10:30 am MT) on Zoom

We are excited to see you Friday for Session 3 of the (Virtual) Statewide Welcoming Convening! 

For the third and final session of the annual Nebraska summer welcoming convening we will welcome three Nebraska voices to the table. What will be the table discussion?…everything about lived expertise on local boards! Learn more about the work being done in Columbus with Karina Perez (Centro Hispano), in Omaha with Mohammed Sahil (Nebraska Afghan Community Center), and in South Sioux city with Stephanie Rodriquez (board member, Unity in Action). They will provide a personal lens into what it truly means to bring all of our lived experiences to the table – and how to do so effectively – when serving the community. 

Join us to learn more about lived expertise and to connect with welcoming leaders across the state on August 9th starting at 10am CT (9AM MT)! 

Meet the people at the table:

Karina Perez was born in Los Angeles, California, she and her family migrated to Nebraska in 1999 seeking work opportunities in the Midwest. Her parents are immigrants from El Salvador who found Columbus to be their forever home. She is the Executive Director for Centro Hispano in Columbus, Nebraska and focuses on diversity, equity, and inclusion in rural Nebraska through storytelling and shared experiences. Karina serves as a board member to CASA Connections in Columbus, Center for Rural Affairs, Nebraska Community Foundation, and is an Ex-Officio board member to the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce.

Mohammad Sahil is the founder and executive director of Nebraska Afghan Community Center. Mohammad served with the U.S. military for nearly a decade in Afghanistan. He and his wife immigrated to the United States through the Special Immigrant Visa program. He has almost nine years of experience working with refugee and immigrant populations in various roles with nonprofit organizations and Omaha Public Schools. Mohammad currently serves on the Great Plains IDeA-CTR Community Action Board and is the chair of the Omaha Refugee Task Force which consists of over 200 organizations and individuals dedicated to the successful resettlement and inclusion of refugees in the Omaha area.

Stephanie Rodriguez grew up in South Sioux City and recently relocated to Columbus, Nebraska. She is a Mortgage Loan Officer at BankFirst with nearly a decade of experience in the banking industry. Her parents are from the beautiful state of Chihuahua, Mexico and she is very proud of her Mexican heritage. In her spare time, she enjoys cheering on her two little ones at their sporting events and being their biggest supporter. She has served on the Centro Hispano board and is currently serving on the board of Unity in Action. 

During this session, you will have the opportunity to hear and learn from experienced local leaders and network with peers, all with the aim of enhancing our collective knowledge and skills. Hope to see you on Friday! 

It’s not too late to register!

Please let us know what you need to be able to participate!

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that allow all participants to engage fully. To request an accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact Christa Yoakum (402-438-8853 x114, cyoakum@neappleseed.org) or Eric Garcia-Mendez (402-438-8853 x113, egarciamendez@neappleseed.org). We will try our best to accommodate requests. 

Join us in welcoming our new Welcoming Coordinator, Eric Garcia-Mendez!

Hi, my name is Eric Garcia-Mendez! I am excited to begin working at Nebraska Appleseed as the new Welcoming Coordinator. After four years in the non-profit sector working on welcoming and belonging in Grand Island, I will now be using my experience to connect and elevate the welcoming and belonging work across the state. Growing up in rural Nebraska in an immigrant family, I lived in a very culturally rich and diverse community that has shaped my understanding of belonging. I am very fortunate to have been able to attain a public school education and later a bachelor of science in Environmental Economics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. I have worked professionally as a Conversation Director with Conservation Nebraska and as a Director of Community Connections at the Heartland United Way in Grand Island.

As I begin working at Nebraska Appleseed I will be traveling to visit community partners, local leaders and welcoming communities all across the state. If you have any local restaurant food recommendations or would like to tell me what’s really special about your community, I would like to meet with you! 

In the meantime I want to let you know about some upcoming learning opportunities for you! Check them out:

Race Forward, November 20-22 in Saint Louis, MO: This is the nation’s largest multiracial, intergenerational racial justice conference and is a vital intersection where community organizers, activists, and movement makers converge to build power and strategies to advance racial justice. Attendees have unprecedented access to resources, information, and collaborative opportunities geared towards advancing racial equity for all.

National Immigrant Inclusion Conference, December 8-10 in Houston, TX. The National Immigrant Inclusion Conference (NIIC) is the nation’s largest gathering of the entire sector working on behalf of our country’s immigrants and refugees. The conference is an inspiring, intersectional and collegial space that showcases the expertise and innovation of a wide range of leaders, organizations, and networks all working on behalf of America’s immigrants and refugees and towards a shared vision of a welcoming, inclusive and equitable democracy.

Panhandle Welcoming Communities Conference, June 20 9:00-4:00 (MT), Gering Civic Center, 1050 M Street, Gering, NE. This conference, hosted by Empowering Families, focuses on providing professionals and community leaders a forum for awareness, dialogue, and skill-building to create welcoming and inclusive environments. National and statewide experts will discuss topics including arts & public health, healthcare disparities, cross cultural communication, Latinx/Hispanic identity in the Midwest, and overcoming community divisions through mindful response.

Let’s Keep Celebrating Welcoming Week!
September 8-17 and beyond!

From citizenship ceremonies to multicultural storytimes, to celebrating immigrant entrepreneurs, we’re loving all the ways Nebraskans are celebrating Welcoming Week 2023! There are still lots of local events to come! Take a look and invite a friend or family member to join you! 

Here’s how to participate:

Find local events NEAR YOU! From festivals and parades, to learning events, cultural performances, and sharing food and stories of belonging, there’s still time to join a Nebraska Welcoming Week event in a community near you! 

You can also join a virtual event or participate in a Welcoming Week event outside Nebraska if you are traveling – Welcoming Week is being celebrated around the world!

Print a Welcomer sign for your office, business or to post on social media or use a virtual Welcomer background in your next video call! 

Don’t forget to engage on social media! Share your photos and experiences with welcoming on social media using the hashtag #WelcomingWeek2023 Follow Nebraska Is Home and Welcoming America on Facebook or @WelcomingUSA and @NebraskaIsHome on Instagram and Twitter. 

Enjoy these photos of a few of the Welcoming Week events that have happened so far across the state:

Hser Hae Htoo singing the National Anthem during the Citizenship Ceremony at Lincoln Unites.

Celebrating Hispanic Entrepreneurs event in Scottsbluff. Photos from Empowering Families.

Multicultural Storytime hosted at the Grand Island Public Library. Photos from the Grand Island Area Welcoming Initiative.

Thank you for celebrating Welcoming Week with us!

In March we celebrate women in two ways. Today, March 8th is International Women’s Day and in the United States we recognize Women’s History Month throughout the month.

Continue reading “Women’s History Month: From Challenge Comes Change”

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is on Monday, and here at Nebraska Is Home, we like to think of this as a day on rather than a day off of work. It’s a day of service, reflection, and education, as we commit ourselves to fostering a welcoming Nebraska, where everyone feels they belong – no matter their background or country of origin. We feel that building a more just and equitable society is the best way to honor the legacy of Dr. King Jr., a Black man who inspired people to fight against injustice of all kinds. Continue reading “Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, Reflection, and Education”

We witnessed an attack on our Capitol and on our democratic process last week. This act was intended to disrupt our democratic process. This act also revealed very publicly the deep and historically long chasm of racism in our country. Continue reading “We Cannot Tolerate Hate, Nativism, and American Exceptionalism”

We must be actively non-racist.

It is not enough to be concerned. It is not enough to be tolerant. It is not enough to consider yourself not racist.

Again. Again we witness an unarmed Black man shot by police and the effects have rippled through the country.

This past Sunday, when Kenosha, Wisconsin police shot Jacob Blake multiple times in the back and that graphic video showed up in all of our social media accounts, we were reminded that little has changed since our communities rose up in protest following George Floyd’s murder by police in Minneapolis. Still reeling from that grief, we are concerned about the trauma experienced by Jacob Blake’s sons who witnessed the shooting, the trauma felt by the people who caught the incident on camera, and certainly the physical and emotional trauma Jacob Blake has and will continue to experience as he heals. And we are also concerned about continued trauma to our country.

At the beginning of the summer we saw protests across our nation and across our state. Not only in Omaha and Lincoln but also in McCook, South Sioux City, and in Harvard community members came out to say “Black Lives Matter” and to call for meaningful police oversight and investing in community supports.

The solidarity, the increased awareness of  inhumane systemic inequities, gave many of us hope. We are not naive to the amount of time and work it takes to achieve racial justice, but we cannot be the country we idealize as the “land of opportunity” when Black people fear for their lives everyday. We cannot consider ourselves Welcoming or inclusive while policies and laws continue to harm our Black and brown neighbors, generation after generation.

Yet, here we are again.

It is not enough to be concerned. It is not enough to be tolerant. It is not enough to consider yourself not racist. We must be actively non-racist. We must not only have the hard conversations, we must denounce racism and we all need to take responsibility for creating systemic change.

Here’s how you can learn more, engage with your co-workers, faith group, friends and neighbors.

• • Cracking the Codes Let us know if you’d like help facilitating a virtual conversation with this video series. No cost. We are glad to share this interactive resource and facilitate a training that works for your group. 
  • Race Forward is a convening that takes place every two years and this year is available to a broader audience as it goes virtual. There are varied levels of registration costs. 

Additional resources for your own learning and tools for talking with family, friends, and neighbors:

• • America Needs All of Us (Welcoming America) – a toolkit for messaging about race, bias, and change
  • Ten Lessons for Talking About Race, Racism and Racial Justice (Opportunity Agenda)
  • Profile of Othering & Belonging Institute Associate Director Denise Herd’s work linking COVID-19, racism, and police violence – analysis to inform statements (UC Berkeley)
  • NAACP
  • Black Lives Matter
  • Responding to Everyday Bigotry – Southern Poverty Law Center
  • America Needs All Of Us (a tool kit for talking about race and unconscious bias)
  • Black and Pink – Unpacking Solidarity Toolkit

Support, donate, volunteer with local organizations:

• • NAACP Lincoln Branch, NAACP Omaha Branch 
  • YWCA Lincoln, YWCA Grand Island or YWCA Adams County
  • The Malone Community Center
  • Malcolm X Memorial Foundation
  • OutNebraska
  • Inclusive Communities
  • Multicultural Coalition of Grand Island
  • One Siouxland
  • Culxr House
  • Union for Contemporary Arts
  • Black and Pink
  • Cultural associations across the state 
  • Join the social justice committee of your faith group.

What is going on in your community? Share your favorite tools and local organizations to combat racism and promote inclusion. We would like to hear from you. You can contact me at cyoakum@neappleseed.org or (402) 438-8853 ext 114.

Christa Yoakum
She/Her/Hers
Senior Welcoming Coordinator
Nebraska Is Home

Note:This piece was written by Katie Hile, U.S. Citizenship Instructor for the Asian Community and Cultural Center with quotes and contributions by Hieu-Bui, citizenship student and New Nebraskan.

 

As a part of Welcoming Week 2018, History Nebraska hosted a dynamic evening at the Nebraska History Museum for twenty-five students currently enrolled in citizenship preparation classes at the Asian Community and Cultural Center and El Centro de las Américas. The twelve-week program provided by the two community centers is funded by the office of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). In partnership with the Center for Legal Immigration Assistance, this collaborative initiative provides legal permanent residents (LPRs) with citizenship instruction and naturalization application services.

Together, students, interpreters, teachers, and docents explored exhibits of Nebraska’s state history together with thoughtful conversation about the students’ family histories that are helping to create this most recent chapter of Nebraska history and shared experience. In addition to being moved by many artifacts and Standing Bear’s powerful story, one student recounts his experience in interacting with exhibits at Nebraska’s History Museum:

“I saw many things about the history of Nebraska, including the Constitution of State and Certificate of 1865. I saw the motorcycle made by Kawasaki in Lincoln and I saw the picture that talked about Nebraska’s electrical system introduced by Senator Norris. …I thought my trip was rich for my knowledge. I discovered many things about my state.”

It will always take courage to make our communities, cities, and country a home for every American: to be a home for those seeking safety and a new life. Equally, too, it is a privilege to welcome those who have so much to share – dreams, talents, family, and a commitment to making our communities strong. As we embrace a new generation of Americans, let’s celebrate the tremendous gift we have that is to welcome the immigrant.

———-

For information on the USCIS-funded program in Lincoln, Nebraska, please contact Katie Hile at katie@lincolnasiancenter.org or Kelly Ross at El Centro de las Americas at kelly@elcentrone.org