Welcoming Week: Cultivating and Celebrating Diversity in Lincoln

By Lisa Guill
Director of Communications | Asian Community & Cultural Center
Welcoming Communities Coordinator | Cultural Centers of Lincoln

LINCOLN, A WELCOMING PLACE
For decades, Lincoln has been a community of welcome for immigrants and refugees. In fact, about ten percent of Lincolnites are foreign-born. Our newest neighbors come to Lincoln for all kinds of reasons, from employment and entrepreneurship to education and community. This brings a wealth of cultural diversity to celebrate and explore!

Welcoming Week is an annual series of events inviting ALL of Lincoln to see and experience myriad cultures in our community. In 2023, Lincoln Welcoming Week celebrated more than 8,000 people in attendance across 23 events. Welcoming Week 2024 kicks off on September 13th and will feature more than 30 events across the city. Almost all events are free and open to the public.

Join us at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo on September 20th for Lincoln Welcoming Week’s cornerstone event Lincoln Unites, a free event celebrating a plethora of cultures. Lincoln Unites kicks off with a citizenship ceremony, and continues with a community festival full of performances, food, and activities for the whole family.

El Centro de las Américas’ Latino Festival on September 14th, presents Central and South American culture through music, dance, food, and more. And the Asian Community & Cultural Center’s 10th annual Harvest Moon Festival weaves together harvest celebration traditions from various Asian cultures, hosting a huge party for entire community.

In addition to community festivals, you can explore language learning with Lincoln Libraries and at Sower Books. Visit the International Quilt Museum to learn from local immigrants about the cultural significance of their traditional textiles and clothing. Check out an open house at Lincoln Literacy or the Lincoln Public Schools’ Welcome Center. Drop in at one of the many library story times. 

IT'S ABOUT YOU
Welcoming Week is a great opportunity for YOU to build community across cultures. How? By attending and sharing Welcoming Week events. Or, by hosting a Cultural Exchange event. What is a Cultural Exchange event? Glad you asked! 

A Cultural Exchange event is a gathering that invites guests to bring a piece of their cultural heritage to share. This can be a personal story, food, or a book – anything that links to cultural roots. You can host a potluck at work, inviting your coworkers to bring a dish to share that represents their cultural heritage. This is a tasty option! 

You can take over your monthly book club to read and discuss an immigration story. Check out WelcomingLNK for a book list and more details on hosting a Cultural Exchange event.

A complete calendar of Lincoln Welcoming Week 2024 events can be found at WelcomingLNK, with current updates on the Facebook page Lincoln Welcoming Week.

Huge thanks to Welcoming Week 2024 sponsors: Lincoln Community Foundation, InspirMedia, Cooper Foundation, Ameritas, Firespring, Lutheran Family Services, Helen Fagan & Associates, Bryan Health, Brown Immigration Law, and Lincoln Public Schools.

OK, IT’S ABOUT US
Welcoming Week is just one way to be part of the movement to build belonging in Lincoln. Every action matters. Every invitation, every kindness helps neighbors new and old to feel safe and seen. 

To learn more about Welcoming efforts in Lincoln visit WelcomingLNK.org.