Grand Island to Host Welcoming Week Festivities

Grand Island, Neb. — An annual, nationwide opportunity to embrace cultural diversity and create an atmosphere of inclusiveness is coming to Grand Island starting Friday, September 13.

Welcoming Week 2024 is designed to highlight Grand Island’s commitment to building bridges across cultures while promoting inclusivity, and it leads to a full week of entertainment and activities throughout the city.

Activities and events include:

Friday, Sept. 13 (6 p.m. - 12 a.m.): Hear GI Bridge Concert. Hear Grand Island is partnering with the Grand Island Welcoming Initiative to bring you the 4th-Annual Bridge Concert, which will be in Railside at Amur Plaza for hot local music by Rosendo Robles!

Saturday, Sept. 14 (11 a.m. - 12 p.m.): Welcoming our Neighbors Storytime Activity will be hosted by Rooted Books & Gifts! The event features a read-aloud of the book “All Are Neighbors” by Alexandra Penfold and Suzanne Kaufman. Kids will then be able to participate in an art activity and guided discussion.

Saturday, Sept. 14 (2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.): Latino Identity & Language in the Midwest Latino identities and language in the Midwest. She will provide insight into how the Latinx identity differs between generations.

Monday, Sept. 16 (5 p.m. - 7 p.m.): 4th Street Business Tour!  The Heartland United Way and Sandra Barrera with the UNL Extension will host a 4th Street Business Tour. Each business will showcase their lovely shop and share their story.

Wednesday, Sept. 18 (5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.): To the State of the Good Life - Free Film Screening  is an intimate exploration of the American Dream through the eyes of Raúl Arcos Hawkins, a stalwart community leader and DACA resident in Grand Island. There will be light hors d'oeuvres and a panel discussion of local DACA community members.

Wednesday, Sept. 18 – Thursday, Sept. 19 (9 a.m. - 3 p.m.): Mural Painting with Literacy Council of Grand Island!<https://link.edgepilot.com/s/ae3f3755/snfUQmjJMECPEcp2HvqyPg?u=https://www.giwelcominginitiative.com/event-details/mural-painting-with-literacy-council-of-grand-island-2024-09-18-09-00> The Literacy Council of Grand Island will be painting a beautiful mural on their building. If your place of business, organization, group or friends want to come to help paint, please call Angelica at 308-875-3292 and schedule a time.

Thursday, Sept. 19 (8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.): Courage to Care Training & Workshop will be hosted by the Grand Island Community Foundation and Heartland United Way. It will be open to community members, board members, community leaders and nonprofit organizations!

Thursday, Sept. 19 (1 p.m. - 2 p.m.): Naturalization Ceremony will be hosted by the Grand Island Public Library! Come celebrate our newest U.S. citizens with a nonprofit fair to follow!

Welcoming Week 2024 will also feature a few bonus items including a “Tour de Grand Island” featuring immigrant-owned businesses and sales of Welcoming Week t-shirts that display the message “You Belong Here.”

For more information, please contact Nebraska Appleseed Welcoming Coordinator Eric Garcia-Mendez at (402) 438-8843, Ext. 113 or Heartland United Way President Karen Rathke at (308) 382-2675.