FARGO, N.D. – For the last 10 years, during the third week in September, Welcoming America has encouraged cities to host at least one “Welcoming Event” during this time. During this annual series of events, communities bring together immigrants, refugees, and native-born residents to raise awareness of the benefits of welcoming everyone.
The F-M Metro has participated for the last five years, and each year more and more businesses and community members are stepping forward to participate making our area one of the
most active welcoming communities in the nation.
This year’s F-M Welcoming Week boasts 14 events designed to help improve the social and economic integration of refugees, immigrants and newcomers to the community. The F-M area has immigrants coming through not only refugee resettlement, but also international students and scholars, health care workers, high tech and manufacturing. These events are educational and social. They feature storytelling and story exchanges; they build empathy and understanding among all attendees.
The events include:
Happy Hour Fundraiser – 4-10 p.m. Sept. 9 at Fargo Brewing.
Community Table (kick-off event) - 5:30-8 p.m. Sept. 12 at Plains Art Museum. (NOTE: This will be this month's International Potluck event.)
Community Table Farmer’s Market – 6-8 p.m. Sept. 12 Plains Art Museum. (NOTE: Also part of the September International Potluck event.)
Welcoming Week at Red River Market – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 14 at Red River
The Colors and Cultures of Ukraine – 2-:3:15 p.m. Sept. 15 at Fargo Main Library.
RACE: Are We So Different? – 6-8 p.m. Sept. 16 at Minnesota State University Moorhead Lord Livingston Library.
Diversity Job Fair- 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sept. 18 at Moorhead Center Mall.
Take Back the Night – 5-9 p.m. Sept. 18 at Minnesota State University Moorhead's Comstock Memorial Union.
Volunteer to Teach English to New Americans – 6-7:30 p.m. Sept. at The James Carlson Library in Fargo.
Forget Who, Learn How - 7:30 p.m. Sept. 19 at Knutson Campus Center, Concordia
Elder Refugee Potluck – Noon to 2 p.m. Sept. 20 at Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota in Fargo.
Open Swim at the Fercho YMCA – 6-8 p.m. Sept. 20 at Fercho YMCA in downtown Fargo.
Welcome Week at the Consortium – 5:30-8 p.m. Sept. 20 at the New American
Consortium for Wellness and Empowerment in Fargo.
International Day of Peace – 4 p.m. Sept. 22 at the Ed Clapp Senior Center in Fargo.
Visit WelcomingFM.org for more information and full schedule of events.
National Welcoming Week is a project started by Welcoming America 10 years ago. “Welcoming
America” is a nonprofit organization based in DeCatur Georgia that facilitates welcoming efforts
nationwide. They invite cities and counties to become “Welcoming Cities,” and Fargo has done that. We are supported by The Fargo Human Relations Commission.