The Y is Celebrating Welcoming Week and Reminding our Community That Belonging Begins With Us
The YMCA of the Fox Cities will be joining Welcoming America, other organizations and YMCAs across the country to celebrate Welcoming Week, September 13-22. Each year, Welcoming Week elevates the growing movement of communities that fully embrace new Americans and their contributions to the social fabric of our country.
This week-long celebration is an opportunity for neighbors – both immigrants and US-born residents – to get to know one another and celebrate what unites us as a community. In the Fox Cities, the YMCA of the Fox Cities will host will open its doors to community members for free between September 13-22. Registration will be needed and can be done in advance at ymcafoxcities.org or on the day of your visit.
“At the YMCA of the Fox Cities, we truly believe that belonging begins with us and that our community is stronger when everyone feels welcome and collaborates for the common good,” said Tracy Cook, Associate Executive Director of the Appleton YMCA. “We are proud to participate in Welcoming Week, showcasing how people from all backgrounds come together in communities both large and small to build stronger connections. This is a time to celebrate the shared values that unite us as neighbors, parents and colleagues, making our community more welcoming to all.”
About the Y
Driven by its founding mission, the Y has served as a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community for more than 175 years. The Y empowers everyone, no matter who they are or where they’re from, by ensuring access to resources, relationships and opportunities for all to learn, grow and thrive. By bringing together people from different backgrounds, perspectives and generations, the Y’s goal is to improve overall health and well-being, ignite youth empowerment and demonstrate the importance of connections in and across 10,000 communities nationwide. ymca.org
About Welcoming Week
Welcoming Week is an annual campaign and celebration to showcase the movement of communities striving to be more welcoming places for all, including immigrants. Launched in 2012 by Welcoming America and its members, Welcoming Week provides individuals and communities the opportunity to proclaim welcoming values through events and local initiatives that foster mutual understanding between immigrants and non-immigrants, as well as deeper belonging for all.
About Welcoming America
Welcoming America is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that leads a movement of inclusive communities becoming more prosperous by ensuring everyone belongs. Through the Welcoming Network, we work to change systems and culture by providing communities the roadmap they need to create welcoming policies and share new approaches to inclusion to create an environment where everyone can truly thrive. Learn more at welcomingamerica.org