Tag: Upcoming Events

A new and growing chorus of voices across the country – from mayors to business owners to everyday residents – recognize the contributions that immigrants bring to our communities and are developing comprehensive efforts to welcome them.

This week, from September 15th to the 22nd, this chorus will grow as immigrants and U.S.-born individuals come together across the the U.S. to create stronger communities during National Welcoming Week.

Close to 80 events are planned in 22 states, including right here in Nebraska, to celebrate the diversity and vibrancy of our communities when we welcome people of all backgrounds and origins.

Thursday, September 19 is World Day on the Mall, where Nebraskans will celebrate food, music, art, and culture from around the world inside Lincoln’s Pershing Center, located on Centennial Mall.

Also on Thursday, people are invited to Schuyler, Nebraska, for a tour of small businesses owned by both immigrants and long-time Schuyler residents.  This tour will showcase the richness of the Schuyler business community, bring neighbors of all backgrounds together, and celebrate how diversity continues to strengthen this small-town Nebraska economy.

Throughout this Welcoming Week, Lincoln High students and Lincoln area quilters are sharing stories and learning about each other as they create a story quilt of memories and dreams together at the Sheldon Museum of Art. The completed quilt will be be displayed publicly in the Spring.

The Omaha Diversity and Inclusion Conference on Monday, September 23 will bring together immigrants and Omaha community members, businesses, and employers to share stories and learn and develop strategies to create a culture of inclusiveness and embrace the rich diversity of Omaha’s workforce. The conference is 8:30-4:30 at the Omaha Hilton Hotel, 1001 Cass Street. To register, contact Laura de Rosier at lderosier@sscaomaha.org.

We hope you can join in one of these events to continue to promote Nebraska’s nationally recognized spirit of welcoming people from all over the world and continue to grow our state’s welcoming atmosphere for all.

National Welcoming Week includes other events across the country:

From Alabama and Florida to Colorado and California, immigrants and U.S.-born residents will come together in a spirit of unity to participate in volunteer service projects that benefit their local communities, including projects focused on collecting and packaging food and supplies, building community gardens, and cleaning up public spaces.

Local government officials will be affirming their commitment to welcoming immigrants already.  Michigan Governor Rick Snyder issued a proclamation in honor of 2013 Welcoming Week and seven Michigan communities have passed similar resolutions. In Iowa, mayors Buck Clark and Jon Crews and Rep. Anesa Kajtazovich have joined with local residents and business leaders to sign similar welcoming pledges.

Welcoming Indianapolis is bringing the community together through approximately 20 events all across the city, and during Welcoming Week’s kickoff, Mayor Gregory Ballard will share his vision on how to make Indianapolis more inclusive to immigrants.

In Indiana and Missouri, immigrants eager to contribute to their new hometowns will become U.S. citizens during naturalization ceremonies, while immigrants in Massachusetts and Tennessee will learn how to apply for U.S. citizenship through clinics.

Meet The Quilted Conscience director Sunday at the Ross

Documentary also airs statewide Friday on NET

A locally produced documentary about the welcoming of cultural diversity in Nebraska will air this weekend in Lincoln with a chance for you to participate.  The Quilted Conscience will be screened at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center (313 N. 13th St., Lincoln) as part of NET’s Coffee and Conversation series.

Following the film, you can participate in a discussion with the film’s director, John Sorenson, as well as several of the quilters featured in the movie.

The Quilted Conscience portrays a remarkable bond formed between a group of 16 Sudanese-American girls and a local quilter’s guild in Grand Island, coming together to create something spectacular.  The film shows the incredible experience of two groups of women coming together and understanding that they have more similarities than differences through the work in their hands.

Peggie Hartwell, a master quiltmaker, helps to “stitch” these two groups together in creating a quilt, depicting the girl’s memories of Africa and their dreams of America.

A community discussion will follow the screening of the one-hour film with panelists including director John Sorenson, NET Executive Producer Christine Lesiak, and several of the quilters featured in the film.

This screening is also shown in partnership with Nebraska Appleseed, Center For People in Need, and the Clyde Malone Community Center.

The Quilted Conscience also will air statewide this week on NET Friday night at 7 p.m.  Omaha residents will have their chance to view the film and meet the director, master quiltmaker, and some of the girls featured in the film at a screening Thursday, June 20th at Aksarben Cinema and Saturday, June 22nd for a pair of screenings on World Refugee Day at Omaha Benson High School.

We encourage you to watch this film to see a beautiful story about how creating a sense of welcoming strengthens our communities and makes Nebraska thrive.