This past Friday, the City of San Diego kicked off their annual ‘Welcoming Week’ from Sept. 9-18, with activities at City libraries and recreation centers to demonstrate the inclusivity and sense of community within San Diego.
As part of the Welcoming Week festivities, the City’s Office of Immigrant Affairs is hosting a welcome note drive for San Diegans to decorate butterfly-themed cards for newly arrived refugees and immigrants. The notes will be available at Welcome Stations located in all San Diego Public Library locations and several City recreation centers for people to decorate.
Starting today, Balboa Park will be illuminated in teal, orange, red and green— the colors of the Welcoming Week campaign.
“Welcoming Week is an opportunity for our region to come together to remind newly arrived immigrants and refugees that they are welcome here in San Diego,” said Rita Fernandez, Executive Director of the Office of Immigrant Affairs.
“Welcoming Week events that take place throughout the country and in other parts of the world celebrate immigrants and promote a sense of belonging for newcomers,” Fernandez continued. “The welcome notes that we will be preparing are a way for us to demonstrate our support for the many immigrants and refugees that come here from all parts of the world, and let them know as a welcoming city, that they are accepted and embraced in this community.”
Launched in 2012 by Welcoming America and its members, Welcoming Network is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that leads a movement of inclusive communities becoming more prosperous by ensuring everyone belongs. The Welcoming Network works to change systems and culture by sharing new approaches to creating an environment where everyone can truly thrive.
After Welcoming Week, the notes will be delivered to partner community organizations, including the International Rescue Committee in San Diego, Jewish Family Services, Catholic Charities and Alliance for African Assistance. The organizations will distribute them to the individuals and families they assist through their immigration programs.
“The San Diego Public Library is proud to partner with the Office of Immigrant Affairs to celebrate Welcoming Week,” said library director Misty Jones. “As a place of inclusion and a community resource for all residents, each of our 36 library locations features in-person and online resources for recent immigrants, including welcoming stations, library cards, an international language book collection and materials on citizenship and learning English.”
During Welcoming Week, participants of all backgrounds are encouraged to come together to build a more inclusive community. To learn more about San Diego Public Library programs and events, visit sandiego.gov/public-library/news-events. To learn more about Welcoming Week, visit welcomingamerica.org.
