WELCOMING WEEK 2024

September 13-22, 2024

We believe our communities are stronger when everyone feels welcome, and we work together for the common good. Welcoming Week is an annual event held in September, initiated by Welcoming America in partnership with the YMCA of the USA. This week celebrates the growing movement of communities that embrace newcomer immigrants. It provides an opportunity for neighbors—both immigrants and U.S.-born residents—to connect and celebrate the shared values and strengths that unite them as a community.

During Welcoming Week, the YMCA of Greensboro and other businesses, non-profits, social services, agencies, and community organizations will host events to:

• Celebrate the diversity of our communities
• Bring together newcomers and long-standing residents to build mutual understanding
• Stand in solidarity with vulnerable communities
• Help communities move beyond divisiveness and fragmentation

The Y is committed to helping all individuals, including newcomers, access the support and resources needed to reach their full potential. We believe that communities are at their strongest when everyone has an opportunity to contribute and work together on a shared vision for the future.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Y has a long history of serving immigrants and helping communities be welcoming for all.

• In 1856, the Y was the first organization in the U.S. to offer English as a Second Language classes to immigrants.
• In the late 1800s, YMCA immigration secretaries greeted hundreds of thousands of new arrivals at Ellis Island (New York) and Angel Island (San Francisco), helping them locate family members, housing, and employment.
• In the early 1900s, the YMCA of Greater New York introduced adult night classes to new immigrants.
• In 1903, the YMCA created "an industrial department to work with railroad workers, miners, and lumbermen, as well as to assist immigrants."
• As the U.S. population moved westward, Ys provided affordable housing to immigrating and migrating communities.
• Today, YMCAs respond to changing demographics through refugee services, welcome centers, adult education classes, and more.

OUR NATIONAL PARTNER: WELCOMING AMERICA

Welcoming America is a nonpartisan, non-profit organization that helps communities across the country achieve prosperity by becoming more welcoming toward immigrants and all residents. Their mission is to inspire people to build inclusive communities that embrace new immigrants and foster opportunity for all. Y-USA has a national partnership with Welcoming America to support local Y capacity building and community scaling of efforts to strengthen cohesion between new immigrants and their receiving communities. Visit www.welcomingamerica.org for the latest welcoming news, resources, and more.

OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Visit the links below to learn more about our community partners!

Faith Action International House

Latino Coalition of Guilford

Center for New North Carolinians

Church World Service - Greensboro

City of Greensboro Human Relations Commission - International Advisory Committee

WELCOMING WEEK EVENTS

Spears YMCA

All Week Long: Visit our Welcoming Week kiosk. We'll also celebrate International Soccer Jersey Week, encouraging kids to wear a national team jersey to soccer practice!

September 16, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Get registered to vote! We will host a voter registration drive today.

September 17: Bring a friend to the Y day! Enjoy a free guest pass with no time limit and a group exercise class.

September 20: We are waiving joining fees for new members at all YMCA of Greensboro branches! Use code “Welcomeweek24” to waive joining fees on Sept 20. This special promotion is only available for new members.

Eden YMCA

All Week Long: Visit our map in the lobby and place a pin on your family's country of origin. Plus, take our U.S. Citizenship Test Challenge! Winners will enter a raffle.

September 13, 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.: Kick off Welcoming Week with a Kids Cultural Movie Night in the Playzone.

September 17, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. & September 21, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Get registered to vote! We will be hosting a voter registration drive today.

September 18, 12 p.m.: Bring a traditional family dish for a potluck and bingo.

September 20: We are waiving joining fees for new members at all YMCA of Greensboro branches! Use code “Welcomeweek24” to waive joining fees on Sept 20. This special promotion is only available for new members.

Hayes-Taylor YMCA

September 16, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.: Foster care information session.

September 16, 5 p.m.: Opening ceremony featuring the rhythmic energy of Caribbean Drums Alive.

September 17, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Get registered to vote! Church World Service (CWS) is hosting a voter registration drive.

September 17, 4 p.m.: Learn about the essential legal services available to the community.

September 18, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Join us for a special class to learn American Sign Language.

September 18, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.: Learn about the essential legal services available to international and immigrant residents in our community, presented by Legal Aid NC.

September 18, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Get registered to vote! The National League of Women Voters will be hosting a voter registration drive.

September 19, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.: Explore valuable international resources and services.

September 20: We are waiving joining fees for new members at all YMCA of Greensboro branches! Use code “Welcomeweek24” to waive joining fees on Sept 20. This special promotion is only available for new members.

Bryan YMCA

All Week Long: Visit our map in the lobby and place a pin on your family's country of origin. Plus, kids can practice in their favorite soccer jerseys from around the world!

September 14, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.: Join us for women-only fitness and swim events, staffed by women and open to the community. The Wellness Center will have staff available for guidance and questions, and the pool will be open for swimming.

September 20, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Get registered to vote! Women's League of Voters will host a voter registration drive.

September 20: We are waiving joining fees for new members at all YMCA of Greensboro branches! Use code “Welcomeweek24” to waive joining fees on Sept 20. This special promotion is only available for new members.

Ragsdale YMCA

All Week Long: Visit the lobby to check out our interactive map and place a pin where you and/or your family come from! In the lobby, enjoy treats from different regions around the world.

September 17 at 6:30 p.m.: Dive into the magical world of mushrooms with a special workshop called "Mushrooms: The Health Boost You Need."

September 18 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Join us in the lobby for our voter registration drive!

September 20: We are waiving joining fees for new members at all YMCA of Greensboro branches! Use code “Welcomeweek24” to waive joining fees on Sept 20. This special promotion is only available for new members.

September 21 at 9 a.m.: Explore She ROCKS for event details and join a Hip-Hop dance class with exciting prizes, a guest speaker, a cancer doctor, and a cancer survivor.

Reidsville YMCA

All Week Long:

See our "Y I Belong" bulletin board to post what makes you feel welcome at your local Y and get entered into a raffle for a free training session!

Enjoy international fun facts and trivia posted throughout the week in the lobby.

Participate in our Sneakers4Good campaign! Donations support families in 24 different countries.

Afterschool participants will explore belonging through readings" of "The Day You Begin" by Jacqueline Woodson and "Suki's Kimono" by Chieri Uegaki.

Share your aquatic experiences by interacting with our dynamic poster board in the Aquatics section.

September 16 at 9:30 a.m.: Immerse yourself in the enchanting art of African Dancing and Belly Dancing!

September 20: We are waiving joining fees for new members at all YMCA of Greensboro branches! Use code “Welcomeweek24” to waive joining fees on Sept 20. This special promotion is only available for new members.

September 21 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.: The youth soccer matches are named the Reidsville YMCA's Community Cup Games! Invite your friends, neighbors, and family.

Stoney Creek YMCA

All Week Long:

See our interactive map in the lobby and pin where you come from or have traveled to.

Participate in an International Y trivia game all week for a chance to win prizes!

Enjoy treats from different regions around the world in the lobby.

Support our food drive benefiting the Doris Henderson Newcomers School in Guilford County.

September 20: We are waiving joining fees for new members at all YMCA of Greensboro branches! Use code “Welcomeweek24” to waive joining fees on Sept 20. This special promotion is only available for new members.