Welcoming Week 2017 will be held September 14-24 with the theme of “Bring a friend, make a friend.”
For the last six years, Welcoming America has encouraged cities to host at least one “welcoming event” during this time. During this annual series of events, communities bring together immigrants, refugees and native-born residents to raise awareness of the benefits of welcoming everyone. The F-M metro has participated for the last four years and the 30 events in 2016 made Fargo-Moorhead one of the five most active welcoming communities in the nation.
This year’s F-M Welcoming Week boasts 23 events designed to help improve the social integration of refugees, immigrants and newcomers to the community.
The F-M area has immigrants arriving not only through refugee resettlement, but also international students and scholars, health care workers, technology and manufacturing. These events are educational and social. They feature storytelling and story exchanges while building empathy and understanding among all attendees.
The events include:
- World Flags will be displayed on Broadway between 1st and 4th Avenues from September 14-24
- Community Table/Potluck – September 14 from 5-8 p.m. at the Plains Art Museum
- Red River Market: Welcoming Day! – September 16 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Cultural Presentation: China – September 17 from 2-3 p.m. at Fargo Public Library
- World in Fargo-Moorhead Gallery Talk – September 17 from 4-6 p.m. at the Fargo Public Library. Photo exhibit will be displayed from Sept. 5-Oct. 1.
- Come with Me Early Childhood Readiness (YMCA) - September 18, 12:30-2:30 p.m. at Grace United Methodist Church in Moorhead
- Immigrant Entrepreneur Panel – September 18th from 4-6 p.m. at International Market Plaza
- Welcoming Week Happy Hour – September 18 from 5-9 p.m. at Fargo Brewing Company
- New American Employer Workforce Panel – September 19 from 3-5 p.m. at Fargo Ramada Inn (formerly Baymont)
- Green Card Voices Reading – September 19 from 3:30-5 p.m. at Weber Reading Room, NDSU Library
- Community Conversation about Race co-hosted by North Dakota Human Rights Coalition and YWCA – September 19 from 7-8:30 p.m at Fargo Public Library
- CHARISM Family Movie Night – September 20 from 6-8 p.m. at CHARISM Family Center
- English Language Tutors Volunteer Orientation – September 20 from 7-8:30 p.m. at Fargo Public Library
- Gardening at the Gathering – September 21 from 4-7 pm, 3910 25th Street S Fargo
- “Warehoused” Film Showing – September 21 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Lutheran Social Services
- Being at Home in the World: Reading, Discussing, & Signing – September 21 from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. at Zandbroz Variety
- Lutheran Social Services Potluck – September 22 from 5-7 p.m. at Lutheran Social Services
- Immigration and Community Story Exchange – September 22-24 at Lutheran Social Services
- Adult Basketball Tournament – September 23 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m at Rustad Rec Center in West Fargo
- International Day of Peace Celebration – September 23 from 12-2 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Moorhead
- World in Fargo Moorhead exhibit and talk —September 23 from 3-5 p.m., Prairie St. John’s Convent Chapel.
- World Café at the World Gardens – September 24 from 1-4 p.m. at Rabanus Park
- International Day of Peace Celebration – September 24 from 4-6 p.m. at Ed Clapp Senior Center
National Welcoming Week is a project created by Welcoming America six years ago. “Welcoming America” is a nonprofit organization based in DeCatur, Georgia, that facilitates welcoming efforts nationwide. They invite cities and counties to become “Welcoming Cities” and Fargo has done so.
Visit www.WelcomingFM.org for more information and a full schedule of events.