Cheers to a successful Welcoming Week!
Welcoming Week 2020 helped us find new ways to bring people together across lines of difference to develop greater understanding and mutual support. This year, like no other, with COVID-19 and a divisive political climate, creative Welcomers across the state held Naturalization clinics, voter registration drives and even a drive-through tasting party of local ethnic foods.
Here’s a roundup of some of our favorite moments from Welcoming Week 2020. Plus, we love Welcoming Week so much we’re extending it so we can include more awesome activities and events happening all across Nebraska. Don’t miss the Harvest Moon Festival this Saturday, October 10th, streaming live on Facebook. To find events you may have missed, click here.
In Case You Missed It
- What is “bridging,” and what does it have to do with creating cultures of belonging? Get answers to this question and more from this wonderful keynote address by john a. powell. Invitation to a Journey to Belonging was a Welcoming Week event hosted by Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird.
The Karen Society of Nebraska gives a Welcoming Week message, followed by a step-by-step cooking demonstration. Learn how to cook pad kra pao in the Karen Kitchen! (pictured above)- The Midwestern African Museum of Art offered this guided Virtual Tour, and then Nebraska Is Home sat down virtually with the museum’s founder for an insightful Q&A!
- El Centro de las Américas in Lincoln hosted a virtual Latino Benefit Festival with musical performances, interviews, and information on organizations and services available around the city. Watch a recording of the livestream here!
- Lincoln Calling kicked off its Digital Experience, featuring musical acts across all different genres, educational workshops, and a voter registration drive. Watch the local performances from both nights, streamed and recorded live, here and here!
Mary J. Treglia Community House gave members of the community an opportunity to try foods from around the world with their drive-through event, “A Taste of Siouxland’s Culture!” (pictured above)
Centro Hispano Comunitario de Nebraska hosted a Naturalization Clinic, where they helped 20-60 people with the citizenship and naturalization process! (pictured above)
- Nebraska Is Home continued our blog series, Celebrating Nebraska Immigrants. Read the stories we shared during Welcoming Week here and here. Have an immigrant story you want to share on our blog? Let us know by sending us an email!
- We hosted our first virtual Conversation on Race Equity that was open to the public. We were joined by over a dozen people from across the state, to practice talking about race and equity using the video series, Cracking The Codes. If you want to bring this tool to your school, faith, or neighborhood group, email us! We’d be happy to help you plan and facilitate a community dialogue.
Send us photos and information on your local events so we can share and celebrate together!
Thank you!