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During Omaha Diversity Week and the first ever National Welcoming Week, activities in Omaha and around the country recognized efforts of inclusivity and inspiring others to welcome immigrant neighbors into the workplace and the community.

Throughout Omaha, in business, in city government, and in community celebrations and social groups, Omahans recognized the contributions of immigrant community members.  Hundreds of beautiful You’re Welcome posters created by Omaha artists went up in Omaha Public Schools, on college campuses, in the Omaha Public libraries, businesses and local coffee houses.

Throughout the week, the people of Omaha promoted the contributions of new Americans and the value of cultural customs. South Sudan Community Association (SSCA Omaha) held open houses, Mayor Jim Suttle gave speech about the economic benefits of family-owned businesses in the south Omaha neighborhood that has long been enriched by immigrant families, and the El Grito festival invited people of all cultures to come together in celebration of shared independence.

Jack Koraleski, President and CEO of Union Pacific Railroad, said attracting the most capable people, regardless of gender, race or ethnicity has been critical to the success of his company.  Similarly, Kirk Kellner, Wells Fargo Regional President, said successful and competitive companies value each person for their culture, skills and talent.

Later in the week, Mayor Suttle spoke of the vitality and productivity of South 24th Street.  He said the efforts of hardworking families and new entrepreneurs who have immigrated to Omaha has brought millions of dollars of revenue to the city.

Bookending the week, the 2012 National Immigrant Integration Conference drew hundreds of community leaders to Baltimore this year to discuss the social and economic benefits of integration as well as creative strategies for communities, institutions, and local governments to promote inclusion and a stronger future for all.

This week, You’re Welcome in Omaha will join Welcoming America affiliates across the country to celebrate the first National Welcoming Week. Across Omaha, throughout schools, public places and businesses, posters designed by local artists will spread a message of “Welcome” in many languages. Other community activities will be posted at NebraskaIsHome.org

More than 20 Omaha organizations and businesses have signed on in support of this growing movement recognizing and promoting the contributions immigrants bring to the city and developing efforts to welcome them.

Omaha Public Schools will be posting You’re Welcome posters throughout the district’s 85 schools in honor of National Welcoming Week. Volunteers will also post the colorful designs in public places and businesses around town.

During the week of September 15-22, across the country, longtime residents and immigrant neighbors will join together in local activities promoting meaningful connections and a spirit of unity.

National Welcoming Week is coordinated by Welcoming America, an Atlanta-based national nonprofit collaborative that works to promote mutual respect and cooperation among foreign-born and U.S.-born Americans. Welcoming Week will bring together efforts around the country that recognize our communities are strongest when everyone who lives in them feels welcome.

You’re Welcome celebrates diverse communities that welcome both immigrant and non-immigrant neighbors. But it’s not just our communities that are enriched when all people are welcome, it is also true that local businesses and economies thrive when all people are able to work together.

Forbes magazine recently published an article discussing the business opportunities that immigrants contribute to in our communities. David Lubell, founder of Welcoming America, is quoted in the article stating, “we want to recognize communities that welcome newcomers because we know that those places will be better positioned to attract global workforces and global investment. They’ll be better positioned to succeed in a 21st-century economy. They’ll be better able to help the public understand that our communities are strongest when everyone who lives in them feels welcomed. And as Americans, that’s something that we can all benefit from.”

The article discusses immigrant Americans’ contributions as entrepreneurs and business owners, employees, investors, and consumers. It also highlights the unique leadership opportunity for businesses to pave the way for integration in communities – uniting everyone as vital contributors.

The same concept is true here in Omaha – more than 20 non-profit organizations and professional groups have already partnered with You’re Welcome in Omaha to promote inclusion, diversity, and connectedness. For more information or to get involved, contact Christa Yoakum at cyoakum@neappleseed.org

Thanks to everyone who made it out to House of Loom Friday night for Omaha’s You’re Welcome kick-off event! The evening started off with DJ Brent Crampton mixing some tunes as early arrivers viewed vibrant, original screen-prints and art created by Omaha artists. Christa Yoakum, coordinator of You’re Welcome and Nebraska is Home, welcomed the diverse crowd, encouraging them to mingle and enjoy the festivities. It wasn’t long before the venue was filled with people from all over the city as well as from numerous community organizations who co-sponsored the event.

Felicia Webster roused an emphatic response from the crowd with her spoken word poetry, which included themes such as community, togetherness, and change.

Conversations abounded, and people congregated around delicious food catered by Itzel Lopez of Taqueria El Palenque / Maria Bonita and by Marlon Okereke and his family of Sholiz African Restaurant.

Designer Justin Kemerling brought together graphic designers and other artists for a visual display of what makes Omaha a welcoming and inclusive community, with screen prints by Megan Bergman, Nicholas Burroughs, Tyson Reeder, and Joe Sparano, and other mixed-media art by Sally Deskins, Shane Bainbridge, Wendy Jane Bantam, John Henry Muller, John Hobbs, Rachel Boshart, Carrie Ratcliff, Jester Thakolo, and Justin and Katie Kemerling. As they enjoyed the art and music, guests also created their own welcoming messages.

And it wasn’t only art, food, and conversation that made the event. People got out on the floor for gypsy jazz trio Manouche Moustache. The party was well underway by then. Following Manouche Moustache, Portland/Kansas City DJ duo TACTIC turned out beats late into the evening, and the dance floor was full.

At the conclusion of the night, more than 200-300 guests had met new people and learned more about their Omaha neighbors. The one question repeatedly asked was, “How can we be involved in the next steps?” To get involved, contact Christa Yoakum at cyoakum@neappleseed.org.

See more event photos from Christine Elizabeth

More about You’re Welcome:
You’re Welcome — part of Nebraska is Home — is an locally-led initiative founded on the idea that immigrants settling into a community have a far better chance of integrating if the others in that community are receptive to welcoming their new neighbors.

Nebraska Is Home is affiliated with Welcoming America, a national grassroots-driven collaborative to promote mutual respect and cooperation among foreign-born and U.S.-born Americans.

This evening, more than 20 community organizations, numerous Omaha artists, and other welcoming Omahans will gather for You’re Welcome at House of Loom starting at 8:00pm for a night of art, music, and inclusion.

This evening’s kick-off event marks the beginning of You’re Welcome’s work to celebrate Omaha as a diverse and connected community through artistic expression, community engagement, and service. You’re Welcome is based on the simple notion that immigrants settling in a community have a far better chance of integrating if the others in that community are receptive to welcoming their new neighbors.

Many Omaha organizations and community members already welcome immigrant neighbors. The following are thoughts from just a few of them:

“When people come to our country for a better life, just as most Americans’ ancestors did, we should figure out the best way for them to be assimilated and integrated into our community so that they can begin to be active and vibrant contributors as quickly as possible,” said Rachel Jacobson, Director of Film Streams at the Ruth Sokolof Theater.

Film Streams is a nonprofit organization that promotes cultural celebration through the art of film in Omaha. Jacobson continued, saying, “The Welcome campaign is great because as individuals, we have an opportunity to set a different tone than our legislators and politicians.”

Calvin Smothers, the Community Center Director at inCOMMON Community Development, speaks to the importance of welcoming immigrants.

“Many immigrants play on an unfair playing field in terms of resources or education that have been available to them,” Smothers said.  “Welcoming helps in terms of integrating immigrants and grants better access to such resources.”

inCOMMON utilizes community-based initiatives to unite and strengthen vulnerable neighborhoods. While inCOMMON and other organizations and individuals work to integrate immigrants, Smothers warned that there is still work to be done. Though many Omahans are accepting and welcoming, others are more resistant.

The Greater Omaha Young Professionals use the values of inclusion, collaboration, and innovation to create a diverse professional community.

“The opportunity for our community to see the world from different eyes leads to unique ideas and solutions that benefit our city,” said Kyle Tautenhan of the Omaha YP.  Being challenged with these diverse ideas opens the door for Omaha workplaces and communities to compete with cities from across the globe.  Most importantly, it makes our community stronger and more committed to the steady march into Omaha’s positive future.”

Susan Mayberger is the Coordinator of English as a Second Language, Migrant and Refugee Education for Omaha Public Schools. Mayberger said her work includes support for not only OPS students, but also immigrant families as a whole. Mayberger identified integration and inclusion early in a student’s academic career as a contributor to future success.

“If we are a welcoming community…it’s good for everyone,” Mayberger said.  “If we did not have our immigrant and refugee families, it would have a negative effect on our economy and community.”

Share your own welcoming message at House of Loom in Omaha tonight.  The event will feature artists and musicians celebrating the cultural richness and other contributions new neighbors bring to our community. You’re Welcome will include live music and an unveiling of new screen poster prints and mixed-media art with welcoming themes by Omaha artists. It’s free and open to the public (21+), 8pm.

Seeking political asylum, refugee Joseph Bakura came to the United States in December of 2000. Having initially lived in Maine for six years, he says Nebraska is a very welcoming place.

“Nebraska has a large number of Sudanese,” he said. “That’s a good indication that Nebraska is a welcoming place.”

Bakura moved to Nebraska for two reasons: 1) he had a sibling who was in Cairo, Egypt, and had moved to Nebraska, and 2) It was very expensive to live in Maine.

Economic opportunity, lower costs of living, and a large Sudanese population are three reasons Bakura cites for moving to Nebraska. Bakura not only has his sibling in Nebraska, but also members of his tribe. As a Roman Catholic, he attends St. Patrick’s Sudanese mass every Sunday at 11:00 a.m.

Though Bakura has been living in the United States for twelve years now and has a career as a behavior services technician, he said seeking political asylum was not an easy process.

“When I left the country, it took two days to get to the border,” Bakura said. He initially didn’t know anyone on the train and had to fear being caught by Sudanese officials. Eventually, he met someone from his tribe and they were able to sit together. To enter Egypt, they had to take a steamboat for 24 hours. Then they took another train for 24 hours to reach Cairo.

Once in Cairo, Bakura applied for political asylum at the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. He was lucky that it took only three months for him to get his status. Many people wait years or even decades before receiving their status. (Fewer than one percent of refugees are ever resettled in a third country.)

Bakura then had to be interviewed by a U.S. government immigration lawyer and meet with the International Organization for Migration (IOM).  After passing the interview, Bakura took a one-way flight from Cairo to the United States. He ended up in Portland, Maine, where Catholic Charities first assisted him. (Refugees to the U.S. have to repay their plane ticket, and they are expected to find employment and become self-sufficient in a short period of time.)

Bakura said the three-day orientation he had to go through when first coming to America went easier for him than some because he already spoke English.

“In Sudan, I studied philosophy and theology,” he said.

Growing up in a Southern Sudan town, Bakura said youth and the educated were especially targeted for persecution — both racial and religious — by the North.

Bakura is happy to now be living in Nebraska. “I’m just grateful for being here,” he said. “It is a home for me.”

For more information and resources relating to refugees in Omaha, visit the Southern Sudan Community Association.

Nebraska’s summer cultural festivals create a perfect opportunity to recognize and appreciate the diversity in our state. By sharing music, food, and art — as we have for generations — communities come together and begin to create a culture of inclusiveness.

Throughout the summer, we’ll be presenting photos of Nebraskans sharing why they believe Nebraska is and should be a welcoming place.

This photo blog — compiled from events throughout the summer such as the Omaha Heritage Festival, the Santa Lucia Festival, and the Summer Arts Festival — illustrates Nebraskans’ shared interest in building a vibrant, welcoming state.

Send us your photo and look for more photos to be posted here soon!

Immigration to Nebraska is bringing exciting opportunities and new neighbors to our communities. Nebraska is Home, a locally led effort affiliated with Welcoming America, brings together Nebraskans from all walks of life to promote a strong, shared future.