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“We are not so different.”

The boy writing on the dry-erase board had asked about You’re Welcome, a new collaborative effort in Omaha to promote a welcoming, inclusive community. The idea is that immigrants resettling in a community have a far better chance of integrating if the others in that community are receptive to including their new neighbors. One current project is collecting comments from Nebraskans about why they care about welcoming immigrants. That’s when the boy’s mother turned to him.

“What do you think?”

He wasn’t quick to respond. Hakim took the time to think about what he wanted to say. The result was simple and profound.

“We are not so different.”

Hakim was exactly right, and his statement fit his environment. At World Refugee Day at Omaha Benson High School last Saturday, there were a lot of things that made every individual unique, but to the core, we are not so different.

Since its establishment in 2000 by the United Nations, World Refugee Day celebrates brave individuals who flee persecution in search of a safer life. The Omaha event included cultural presentations from refugee groups represented in the area. Karen, Bhutanese, Birundian, Acholi, Nepali, and other group performances demonstrated the talents and traditions that contribute to a diverse society. It also included a naturalization ceremony where 27 Omahans became new U.S. citizens. The day of festivities proved that while our differences are worth celebrating, so are our similarities.

If there is one thing that all Nebraskans share, it is just that: we are all Nebraskans. And the label isn’t an empty one. Nebraskans are hard-workers with a commitment to actualizing the state’s promise of “the good life.” Regardless of birthplace, neighbors in Nebraska can carry out the responsibility of actively contributing to their communities, and including one another in the process.

How can we welcome new neighbors? Over twenty-five young people met last week in Omaha to get to know each other and to talk about just that.

They laughed together, ate together and found they have a lot in common. Some of the students were born in Sudan or Ethiopia, others were born in Texas or Lincoln. Many were born in Omaha. Some found they like the same music, some like sports. As they talked, most knew what it felt like to be the new person in the school or in the neighborhood.

They worked through real ways to welcome newcomers, identifying approaches that would work well for any of us, young or old: being proactive about saying a friendly hello, inviting a new friend to play football, or introducing them to friends and neighbors.

These students can now go back to their schools and be ambassadors to share what they learned together about getting to know new neighbors.

The boys and girls also celebrated the joy of cooking and eating together.  Many had never cooked more than microwaving a frozen meal. With some wonderful guidance from Nisha Brown, now they were mashing avocados, mincing garlic, snapping pea pods and shredding cooked chicken. There were kids who tasted guacamole, shrimp, bok choy and mushrooms for the first time.

Being hesitant to try a new food is much like being hesitant to meet new people.  These young people discovered they liked doing both.

This event was collaboratively planned by North Omaha Community Cares Council, Omaha Public Schools, City of Omaha Parks and Recreation, South Sudan Community Association, Girls’ Inc., Miss Nisha’s Little Buddies, and Nebraska Is Home.