WCI offering grants to celebrate Welcoming Week

FERGUS FALLS — As communities look ahead to grow both economically and socially, providing a welcoming, safe space for all newcomers is vital.

West Central Initiative is offering support to communities who want to explore ways they can be more welcoming by participating in Welcoming Week 2022. This 10th annual national event is Sept. 9-18, and WCI hopes to sponsor community welcoming events within its service area.

“We're offering grants of up to $500 to community organizations that believe in welcoming newcomers and wish to create their own event during Welcoming Week,” Celeste Koppe, assistant community planner at WCI, said in a press release.

Welcoming America, a national organization whose mission is to help communities become more welcoming to newcomers, immigrants, and refugees, sponsors Welcoming Week to bring together neighbors of all backgrounds to build strong communities and affirm the importance of welcoming and inclusive places in achieving collective prosperity.

"In past years, communities in Greater Minnesota and throughout the country have recognized Welcoming Week with language exchanges, cultural performances or celebrations, meet and greets with city councils and other leaders, community potlucks or themed dinners, basically anything that brings people of all backgrounds together to create community," said Koppe. “It’s all about helping our communities thrive into the future."

Learn more and apply for a Welcoming Week grant at livewideopen.com/welcomingweek2022 . The application deadline is July 15.