During National Welcoming Week, Minneapolis and state organizations are raising awareness about resources available to new immigrants and refugees. 

Welcoming Week is a national celebration honoring and advocating for new immigrants and refugees to the U.S. Minneapolis celebrates this week from Sept. 13-22 with resource fairs and other events throughout the city. 

Director of the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs Michelle Rivero said Welcoming Week is dedicated to creating a sense of belonging for new residents of the Twin Cities. With events like resource fairs and Citizenship and Constitution Day celebrations, Rivero said this time aims to highlight the importance of becoming a U.S. citizen. 

Rivero said this year’s theme for Welcoming Week is “We’re all in,” meaning that it takes people to go beyond themselves to learn about new cultures and people to ensure a safe and accepting environment. 

“We are trying to recognize and celebrate with this national theme that it takes everyone,” Rivero said. “It takes all of us to build a welcoming community, a community where everyone feels a sense of belonging.”

Rivero said some events include information sessions on immigration legal services and how to become a U.S. citizen. Events will continue in St. Paul until Saturday.

Minnesota Department of Human Services spokesperson Rachele King said in a statement that the department’s Resettlement Program works with agencies and institutions all over the community to ensure effective support to newcomers to the state. They help new Minnesotans find jobs, education and communities via the regional Resettlement Network. 

“By welcoming people through this program, our office helps to lay a strong foundation for Minnesota’s future, as today’s young refugees are tomorrow’s workforce, civic leaders and business owners,” King said in the statement.  

Alongside Welcoming Week events, the Minneapolis City Council recently passed a resolution on Sept. 5 reaffirming the city’s commitment to welcoming new populations to Minneapolis. Rivero said that, compared to previous years, Welcoming Week is larger than ever with more organizers and city officials involved. 

“There’s a lot of momentum, including with the mayor’s office, with city council, with elected officials to really express this recommitment to welcoming and recognizing that we all do better when we all do better,” Rivero said. 

Resources for immigrants during Welcoming Week

At last Saturday’s citizenship and immigration resource fair, Welcoming Week partners and organizers offered numerous resources and support for new citizens. Some resources include immigration legal services, resettlement housing help and English classes.

Astrid Liden with Welcome Corps said their national program aims to help resettle immigrants and refugees with families nationwide. 

“A lot of the resettlement process comes down to the community level,” Liden said. “That’s one of the beautiful things is that refugees that are now coming to the United States really have those individuals that are able to be part of that process.”

Clark Roman with Literacy Minnesota said they offer English, General Education Development and citizenship classes for new adults coming to Minnesota. Roman said the goal is to make the difficult task of learning a second language and adapting to a new culture more approachable and comfortable. 

“We focus on not just ‘you need to learn English’ but also respecting your native language and thinking of having a second language as being an asset,” Roman said.

Mary Tran with Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services said they serve 33 counties in Minnesota with various units including immigration legal services. Tran said when helping refugees, asylum seekers and U.S. citizens, they always intend to create a welcoming and respectful environment. 

Tran said her work in domestic violence legal services often comes with a lot of stressful and traumatic histories. 

“A lot of the people that I work with come with such traumatic experiences,” Tran said. “Just working with them and just being very patient and letting them share their story when they’re ready to.” 

Rivero said one of the most important aspects of Welcoming Week is forging strong communities that new immigrants and refugees can depend on and feel safe in. Rivero added creating a welcoming community is not a one-time thing but a lifelong process everyone can take part in. 

“There’s this concept of the welcomed becoming the welcome,” Rivero said. “I think it’s really beautiful.”