The City of Tulsa will celebrate Tulsa’s diverse community during Welcoming Week 2024, from Sept. 12 - 21. Welcoming Week is a celebration that brings Tulsans throughout the community together for events that highlight different cultures and countries and offers learning opportunities and workshops for new Tulsans.  

 

“Our community is honored to welcome immigrants to Tulsa,” Mayor G.T. Bynum said. “We want to be the best city that we can be for immigrants and provide opportunities for new Tulsans to achieve their dreams and make a lasting impact in our city. I invite every Tulsan to participate in this year’s Welcoming Week activities and to help us celebrate our immigrant community.”

 

Welcoming Week events, which can be found online at www.cityoftulsa.org/welcomingweek24,  include:

 

Thursday, September 12, 2024, 11 a.m. – Noon

City Hall Council Chambers (175 E 2nd St S, Tulsa, OK 74103)

Hosted by: City of Tulsa & USCIS

The City of Tulsa will host its 43rd naturalization ceremony. USCIS officials will administer the oath of allegiance and present the Certificate of Naturalization. Mayor G.T. Bynum will welcome the newly naturalized citizens as the ceremony’s keynote speaker. After the ceremony, the new U.S. citizens can register to vote and learn more about the opportunity to get involved in City government operations through Tulsa’s Authorities Boards and Commissions.

 

Thursday, September 12, 2024, 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.

7 N Cheyenne Ave, Tulsa, OK 74103

Hosted by: inTulsa

Join inTulsa Talent for a special workshop designed to empower Internationally Skilled Immigrants to take the next step in their career journey or start a new chapter. This event will provide practical guidance on crafting compelling resumes and optimizing LinkedIn profiles to help you stand out in today’s job market. Register here: https://go.intulsa.com/success_strategies

 

Saturday, September 14, 2024, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Hardesty Regional Library (8316 E 93rd St, Tulsa, OK  74133)

Hosted by: Mayor’s Office of Resilience and Equity

The City of Tulsa Mayor’s Office of Resilience and Equity is hosting a free Equity Dialogue training during Welcoming Week. The City of Tulsa hosts Equity Dialogues to help bring Tulsans together to talk about inequities in a safe/brave space where everyone can learn from one another. Dialogues are part of the process of normalizing conversations about racial equity and are part of our city’s resilience strategy. MORE regularly hosts dialogues during the National Day of Racial Healing (the day after Martin Luther King, Jr. Day) and throughout the year. During Welcoming Week, the MORE office will host a free training for bilingual or multilingual individuals to learn to facilitate dialogues to be able to offer dialogues in multiple languages.  All are welcome to participate in this training. Facilitators do not need to be an expert on any issue in Tulsa, just eager to learn how to facilitate a conversation. Facilitators who complete the training will receive a certificate of completion University of Tulsa and OSU.

Facilitators can expect to commit to:

 

Saturday, September 14, 2024, 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.

1801 S Garnett Rd, Tulsa, OK 74128

Hosted by: Global District, Tulsa Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and UMA Tulsa

Join us to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Day. This event will illuminate the Hispanic/Latinx cultures in Tulsa through food, dancing, and music.  It will include vendors, food trucks, activities for families and children, and multicultural entertainment. Hispanic Heritage Day is a family-friendly event and is free to attend.

 

Monday, September 16, 2024. Dinner: 5:45 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. Activities: 6:15 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.

Early Learning Works (3120 E. Seminole St)

Hosted by: Early Learning Works by Tulsa Educare

Early Learning Works invites families with children 0 through 8 years old to join us for this fun opportunity to TALK, READ and SING! This event includes a free dinner, a free book to take home, moving story time with music and more connection and time to enjoy a book with your child. Space is limited! Contact us to reserve your spot: earlylearningworks@tulsaeducare.org or (918) 779-6005. Parents must attend with their child(ren).

Tuesday, September 17, 2024, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Tandy YMCA (5005 S Darlington Ave. Tulsa, Ok 74135)

Hosted by: YMCA, City of Tulsa, Tulsa Public Schools, NAMI of Tulsa, Mental Health Association, and Oklahoma Family Network

This free family-friendly event will provide a free guest pass to the YMCA, onsite mental health providers, and resources, a mindfulness walk and beginner-friendly yoga class, an interactive kid’s zone including a Fire Truck, preschool story time, and musical performances by students from Tulsa Public Schools. We aim to increase awareness of mental health and wellness activities in an inclusive and welcoming space.

 

Tuesday, September 17, 2024, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Hannah Hall (1801 South Garnett Rd, Tulsa, OK 74129)

Hosted by: UMA Tulsa

Join us for a fun and enriching wellness experience including Zumba, nutrition education, a skin cancer prevention class, and health resources. Dinner and door prizes are provided.

 

Thursday, September 19, 2024, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

TCC Northeast Campus (3727 E. Apache St)

Hosted by: Tulsa Community College, Tulsa Higher Education Consortium, Tulsa Public Schools and Union Public Schools

Tulsa Community College, the Tulsa Higher Education Consortium, Tulsa Public Schools, and Union Public Schools invite our immigrant and refugee students and communities to an event designed to share information on education opportunities available in Tulsa. We will discuss how to start or continue your journey toward earning a degree, which can lead to professional independence and economic mobility. Topics will include English as a Second Language (ESL), Graduation Educational Diploma (GED) or high school equivalency, and early education resources for families and caregivers. Light refreshments will be provided.

 

Thursday, September 19, 2024, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Hannah Banquet Hall (1801 S Garnett Rd, Tulsa, OK 74128)

Hosted by: Asian Affairs Commission, UMA Tulsa and Global District

Join UMA Tulsa and the City of Tulsa’s Asian Affairs Commission for bilingual, educational workshops to learn more about becoming your own boss! This event will provide more information on getting business permits, health inspections, funding assistance, marketing and business loans.

 

Saturday, September 21, 2024, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

YWCA Tulsa East Community Center (8145 E. 17th Street, Tulsa, OK, 74112)

Hosted by: YWCA Tulsa

Join us for a FREE outdoor festival for all ages at our East Community Center. Activities will include: bounce houses, slip and slide, foam sprayer, balloon animals, face painting, henna tattoo, food trucks, drum & percussion circle hosted by bART Center for Music, story time with Tulsa Public Library, a visit from a Tulsa Fire Department truck, partner resource booths sharing financial, health, and employment information, and free produce for attending families from La Cosecha. Volunteers will welcome families and guests in 12 languages.

 

Saturday, September 21, 2024, 2 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Guthrie Green Park (111 Reconciliation Way, Tulsa, OK 74103)

Hosted by: Tulsa Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 

The premier Hispanic and Latino Cultural Festival in Oklahoma celebrates the rich culture of Latin America and inspires the next generation of leaders in Tulsa’s growing Hispanic and Latino community. The multicultural festival offers free cultural programming such as live music, dance, food trucks, interactive art exhibits, street markets, and activities for all ages. Festival Americas is a family-friendly event and is free to attend.

 

 

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About Welcoming Week

Welcoming Week is an annual campaign and celebration to showcase the movement of communities striving to be more welcoming places for all, including immigrants. Launched in 2012 by Welcoming America and its members, Welcoming Week provides individuals and communities the opportunity to proclaim welcoming values through events and local initiatives that foster mutual understanding between immigrants and non-immigrants, as well as deeper belonging for all.

 

About Welcoming America

Welcoming America is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that leads a movement of inclusive communities becoming more prosperous by ensuring everyone belongs. Through the Welcoming Network, we work to change systems and culture by providing communities the roadmap they need to create welcoming policies and share new approaches to inclusion to create an environment where everyone can truly thrive. Learn more at www.welcomingamerica.org.