Welcoming Week / Welcoming Salt Lake 2022
Welcoming Salt Lake is an annual celebration bringing together people and local events that celebrate the contributions of immigrants and refugees and highlights the role communities play in ensuring everyone feels welcome.
Where We Belong
By focusing on the places and spaces that foster belonging (ie. cities, workplaces, neighborhoods, etc.), "Where We Belong" aims to go deeper and spark individual reflection on how and why belonging occurs, and ways we can break barriers so that places can foster belonging for all, including immigrants and refugees.
Cities, towns, counties, and nations - and the institutions within them - can lean into what makes their communities welcoming places and showcase how it helps foster belonging for all people, especially immigrants.
By doing this, we demonstrate the scale and breadth of Welcoming Week spreading across the globe, leaning into the universal values of welcoming places and individuals by helping others belong and feel at home.
Salt Lake County is Certified Welcoming, one of 15 such cities and counties across the U.S. Strong communities intentionally connect and include people of all backgrounds. As places look to harness the wealth and vibrancy that comes from diverse talents and a global workforce, truly welcoming places can set themselves apart.
Links for Welcoming Week 2022 Events
Updated Schedule of Events
ToshoCon - 2022 ToshoCon Teen Anime
When: September 9 from 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Where: Library’s Viridian Event Center, 8030 South 1825 West, West Jordan, Utah
What: Teens will experience anime with cosplay, comic, and art contests. Teen-led panel discussions; and anime and magna products sold by teen vendors!
More Info » https://www.slcolibrary.org/toshocon/
Hispanic Heritage Parade - Take Care Utah’s Hispanic Heritage Parade & Street Festival
When: September 10 from 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
Where: The Gateway: 18 N Rio Grande St, Salt Lake City, Utah.
What: Come celebrate the annual Hispanic Heritage Parade hosted by Take Care Utah to build relationships with Hispanic Utahns. Enjoy a Parade in the morning, Street festival in the afternoon, live dancing, music, food and more!
More Info » http://www.healthpolicyproject.org/hispanic-heritage-parade/
Produce Swap
When: September 10 from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Where: Whitmore Library (2197 East Fort Union Blvd., Cottonwood Heights, Utah) & Riverton Library (12877 South 1830 West, Riverton, Utah).
What: Is your garden overflowing with fruits and vegetables? Bring your extras to the library to share with others. Or come and pick up some tasty produce. Tables will be set up inside the library.
More Info » https://slcls.libnet.info/event/6722173
ESL Class
When: September 12 from 10:00 am – Noon
Where: Tyler Library, 8041 South Wood Street (55 West), Midvale, Utah.
What: Emergent Readers Free Literacy and ESL Class for ALL ages! Presented by the English Learning Skills Center.
Clase de Alfabetización e ESL gratis para todas las edades. Presentado por English Skills Learning Center.
More Info » https://slcls.libnet.info/event/6595185
Let’s Be Neighbors Online Event
When: September 13 from 7:00 – 8:30 pm
Where: Virtual
What: Have you ever wanted to adventure more of Utah but just don’t know where to start? Discover hidden gems, life as a park ranger, and principles for lasting memories in the wild places of Utah. “Let’s Be Neighbors” is a series from local experts on topics of community interest. This online webinar will provide you with fun ideas and safe practices to explore Utah! (Presented by West Jordan Library.)
More Info & Register » https://events.slcolibrary.org/event/6926832
Mayors Welcoming Week Proclamation Signing/Naturalization Ceremony
When: September 14 from 10:00 am – Noon
Where: Kearns Library, 4275 West 5345 South, Kearns, Utah.
What: Come Experience a Special day of proclamation signing by Salt Lake County Mayor Wilson and mayors of cities in Salt Lake County. That will be followed by a citizenship ceremony so that the mayors in attendance will have the opportunity to welcome our newest naturalized US citizens.
More Info » Salt Lake County Mayor’s Office: https://slco.org/mayor/
South Salt Lake Music and Cultural Interfaith Showcase
When: September 15 from 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm.
Where: Columbus Center, 2531 S 500 E South Salt Lake, Utah.
What: The South Salt Lake Music and Cultural Interfaith Showcase will bring together groups and individuals of different faiths and backgrounds to share their talents and special traditions with one another and the community.
More Info » https://welcomingamerica.org/welcoming-week-events/south-salt-lake-music-and-cultural-interfaith-showcase/
Lessons learned from climbing Mt Everest at age 61
When: September 15 from 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Where: Granite Library, 3331 South 500 East, South Salt Lake, Utah.
What: Carol Masheter is the oldest woman in the world to summit the highest peak on each continent, making her a world record holder. Her presentations are truly inspirational.
More Info » https://events.slcolibrary.org/event/6964672
Citizenship Day Application Forum
When: September 16 from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm.
Where: Salt Lake Community College Miller Conference Center, 9750 South 300 West, Sandy, Utah.
What: Come fill out N400 (Application for Naturalization) applications and fee waivers, determine your eligibility for Citizenship/review, and have questions answered!
Bookcliff Mural Grand Opening
When: September 17 from 5:30 – 8:00 pm.
Where: 74 South Carbon Ave, Price, Utah.
What: Southeastern Utah Association of Local Governments is partnering with the Price Downtown District for the Bookcliff Mural Grand Opening. The mural showcases Carbon County’s history and will showcase people migrating from every area of the word to make their home in Carbon County. The Lt. Governor will provide the opening remarks for this event, and Congressman Curtis, and Dr. Jill Love, Director Utah of Tourism, will also be in attendance. Julie Rosier from Southeastern Utah Association of Local Governments will present Southeast Utah’s Welcoming and Belonging Plan at this event. There will be live music, free food, a 40 foot inflatable slide, games, and lots of activities for everyone.
More Info » https://pricedowntowndistrict.com/
** Discover Food Festival **
When: September 17 from 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Where: Little City 349 West 700 South, Salt Lake City, Utah.
What: Festival presented by the International Rescue Committee in Salt Lake City. The event will support entrepreneurs participating in the IRC's Spice Kitchen Incubator program that works to assist refugee and new American culinary businesses to start, scale and sustain their efforts in Utah. Enjoy food from around the globe, live entertainment, and entrepreneur food demonstrations as part of Salt Lake County's 2022 Welcoming Week celebrations!
More Info » https://spicekitchenincubator.org/eventslist/2022/09/17/the-discover-food-festival
For additional information please visit:
Welcoming Salt Lake - Salt Lake County New Americans
Welcoming America – Welcoming Week
About National Welcoming Week 2022
Welcoming America is proud to lead the growing network of hosts and partners around the United States and world who strive to make their communities a more welcoming place for all.
What is Welcoming?
When places describe themselves as welcoming, what does it mean?
Being welcoming is much more than being friendly, tolerant, or peaceful. We believe that truly welcoming places have intentional, inclusive policies, practices, and norms that enable all residents to live, thrive, and contribute fully — including immigrants.
Welcoming places are made possible by welcoming people and leaders, including immigrants themselves. Whether you’re a student, librarian, government worker, or business owner, each of us is empowered to foster more welcoming places at work, in our neighborhoods, and places of gathering.
Communities that have worked for many years to become more welcoming have helped us shape the Welcoming Standard. Together, welcoming places, communities, and individuals can create the conditions for a thriving community that embraces, harnesses, and fully leverages the contributions of all residents.
Why does being welcoming matter?
Being welcoming can be a challenge when communities undergo significant changes, but especially with demographic change. Whether it’s due to the economy, immigration policies, or climate disasters, communities experiencing an influx of newcomers may not be prepared, causing misunderstanding and tension, and in some cases, outright violence and hostility.
But when communities recognize the value being truly welcoming and intentionally work toward the inclusion of newcomers, they can create a culture and policy environment where all residents feel empowered to work with each other in strengthening the social, civic, and economic fabric.
When we find strength in our diversity — and actively resist fear and division — we can build a resilient community that fully harnesses the talents, skills, and contributions of every resident so that all can thrive.
The Welcoming Standard
As a way to further define what we mean by being welcoming, the Welcoming Standard provides communities a comprehensive roadmap toward becoming more welcoming places.
The Welcoming Standard also sets benchmarks that community organizations, residents, and others can use to hold welcoming places accountable and spur innovation.
There are seven framework categories of the Welcoming Standard that we believe define truly welcoming places:
Government Leadership: In welcoming places, local governments implement systems and programs, such as designating a unit and staff to coordinate immigrant inclusion, that strengthen community efforts and embed inclusion within government agencies.
Equitable Access: Welcoming places work to ensure community services and opportunities are available to all residents, including newcomers. This includes improving access to healthcare, childcare, transportation, and more.
Civic Engagement: Welcoming communities actively ensure that residents, including newcomers, fully participate in civic life by increasing access to leadership and democratic spaces.
Connected Communities: Welcoming communities build connections between newcomers and long-term residents by strengthening relationships, communicating shared values, and promoting a welcoming culture through institutional communications.
Education: Welcoming communities strive for an educational system that ensures all students have the support they need to succeed in school and the education they need to succeed in the workforce.
Economic Development: Welcoming communities harness the full potential of all residents, including those from other countries who have the skills and assets to thrive, by developing economies that leverage all talents.
Safe Communities: Welcoming communities foster trust and build relationships between residents and law enforcement and safety agencies. This includes training public safety staff on working with diverse communities and more.
What does a welcoming place need to get started?
There are many factors that go into creating a truly welcoming place, including:
Vision: Modeling in practice and policy the values of a healthy democracy
Leadership: Inspiring others to join in and expanding key decision making to others
Acknowledgement: Addressing racism at all levels and situating the work in the local and historical contexts.
Mutuality and agency: Striving to build trust, mutual respect, and cooperation across lines of difference. Recognizing that institutions which extend agency—not charity—will have the greatest impact.
Sustained commitment: Begin with shared values and culminate in the accountability of our institutions to an ever-growing “we the people”.
How can I help my community become a more welcoming place?
Creating a welcoming community is something each of us can play a role in, whether by deepening our own understanding, fostering belonging in our neighborhood or organization, electing leaders who care about these values, or joining others in moving closer to achieving the Welcoming Standard.
Throughout Welcoming America’s history, we have seen time and time again the outcomes when communities prioritize welcoming and inclusive practices in government, the economy, and social life. See our Stories of Impact to see examples of leaders taking action to make their communities more welcoming from Alaska to Pennsylvania.
More ways to take action:
View and download resources
Host an event in your community during Welcoming Week
Become a member of the Welcoming Network and receive technical assistance on your plans of action
For local governments: become Certified Welcoming to have your welcoming efforts recognized nationally
Share what #BeingWelcoming means to you on social media