This week, The St. Louis Mosaic Project joins Welcoming America to celebrate National Welcoming Week by highlighting twenty events to recognize immigrant contributions to St. Louis. Events in St. Louis range from an International Soccer Tournament to Brazilian, Hispanic, Polish and Scottish Festivals.
“These celebrations are part of a powerful and growing movement in our country,” said David Lubell, Executive Director of Welcoming America. “Communities recognize that they are more vibrant and prosperous when everyone feels welcomed. Across the United States this week, new and long-time residents are building bridges and making their communities stronger, together.”
National Welcoming Week is an opportunity to show that “St. Louis is truly a mosaic of different cultures and communities that each add value and flair to what makes our region unique. What also makes us unique is how we are working on ways to collaborate to help one another. Whether it is the international soccer cup that uses the sport of soccer to bridge cultures while supporting a local soccer team made up of homeless individuals or the ethnic festivals that celebrate different cultures St. Louis is looking to grow together.” The list of events ranges from a Naturalization Ceremony at the International Institute, lectures, concerts, festivals and a even a street soccer tournament.
“We are proud to join this national effort to show that in our local community, New St. Louisans are valued and are part of what makes St. Louis a great place to call home,” said Ko. The naturalization ceremony of 50 new Americans comes on the heels of news that the International Institute has resettled 29 Syrian refugees with plans to receive 20 more. “We are stronger together, and we couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate National Welcoming Week. These events show that in St. Louis, we are working to make our community the kind of place where diverse people from around the world feel valued and want to call St. Louis home.”
A complete list of events in St. Louis can be found at: www.stlmosaicproject.org/welcoming-week-2015.html
Information on the various other events happening nationally and across Missouri can be found at: www.welcomingamerica.org/get-involved/national-welcoming-week-2015
About the St. Louis Mosaic Project
The St. Louis Mosaic Project was launched in 2012 in response to an economic impact report, outlining St. Louis to be lagging in immigrant growth as well as highlighting the economic benefits of increasing its foreign-born population. The Mosaic Project is a regional initiative that is professionally managed by St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, World Trade Center St. Louis and a 22-member committee. Its goal is to transform St. Louis into the fastest growing major metropolitan area for immigration by 2020 and promote regional prosperity through immigration and innovation. Learn more at www.stlmosaicproject.org.
About National Welcoming Week and Welcoming America
Welcoming America helps communities across the country reach their full economic and social potential by becoming more welcoming toward immigrants. Welcoming America brings together a broad network of nonprofits and local governments from across the U.S. and strengthens their work with the know-how, tools, and incentives they need to transform their communities in to vibrant, prosperous places where all residents can contribute. To find out more, visit www.welcomingamerica.org. Each year in September, Welcoming America and its partners across the country host events that celebrate the benefits of building welcoming communities and bring together immigrants and U.S.-born community members in a spirit of unity through
