By Wendy Feliz www.immigrationimpact.com
Welcoming Week 2019 has arrived. Communities around the nation are spending the week of September 13 – 22 bringing together immigrants, refugees, and longtime residents in a spirit of unity and celebration.
Despite the daily news on immigration, Americans are far more welcoming than one might think. In fact, average Americans (the ones born here and the ones who weren’t) come together each day to build lives, provide for their families, and realize their American dream.
Welcoming America encourages every community in the nation to celebrate that inclusive spirit in all of us.
The events taking place across America include book talks, civil dialogues, art installations, and community-based improvement projects.
Americans increasingly recognize that building welcoming communities and a nation where everyone feels like they belong makes us stronger economically, socially, and culturally.
In fact, the movement is growing. Last year there were over 2,000 events in 400 communities with more than 80,000 people participating.
This is an important moment in our nation. At a time when political rhetoric has deepened divisions and hate crimes are on the rise, Welcoming Week 2019 reminds us to get involved and help build the kind of country we can all be proud of.