The City of Tulsa will celebrate its immigrant community during Welcoming Week 2023, a celebration across our nation that brings immigrants, refugees, and long-term residents together, from Sept. 8 - 17.
“Our community is so honored to welcome immigrants to Tulsa,” Mayor G.T. Bynum said. “We want to be the best city that we can be for immigrants to achieve their dreams and do all that they want to do in their lives. All Tulsans are invited to participate in Welcoming Week activities to celebrate our immigrant community.”
“Tulsa is proud to participate in Welcoming Week and contributing to building a nation of neighbors,” said Krystal Reyes, Chief Resilience Officer for the City of Tulsa. “Our New Tulsans Initiative Partners’ events this week demonstrate the diversity of our communities and also the resources Tulsa offers to help our newest residents have access to information, programs, and services to thrive. Thank you to all our partners who are making this week so special and showing what a welcoming city looks like.”
The New Tulsans Initiative is the City’s comprehensive roadmap for building a more cohesive and equitable Tulsa and fostering connections between all immigrant and long-term residents. This roadmap provides pathways for socially responsible immigrant integration and seeks opportunities that benefit both native-born and immigrant residents of Tulsa.
As part of the New Tulsans Initiative, the City of Tulsa celebrates Welcoming Week each year. Welcoming Week is a national annual campaign to bring together neighbors of all backgrounds to build strong connections and affirm the importance of welcoming and inclusive places in achieving collective prosperity. During Welcoming Week, we will have events focused on early childhood education, higher education opportunities, equitable access to healthcare, networking, and other various festivities.
This year’s Welcoming Week events include:
Welcoming Week Festival
Saturday, Sept. 9, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
YWCA Tulsa East Community Center, 8145 E. 17th St.
Hosted by: YWCA Tulsa
YWCA Tulsa will kick-off this year’s Welcoming Week by hosting a free outdoor festival at its East Community Center. Featured attractions will include kids’ activities, food trucks, specialty food from immigrant communities, a Chinlone demonstration (the national sport of Burma), story time with Tulsa Public Library, and free produce and groceries for attending families from La Cosecha. Volunteers will welcome guests and families in 11 languages. Presenting sponsors are AAON, Bank of Oklahoma, and George Kaiser Family Foundation.
Vamos Tulsa Night – FC Tulsa vs Phoenix Rising FC
Saturday, Sept. 9, 7:30 p.m.
ONEOK Field, 201 N. Elgin Ave.
Hosted by: FC Tulsa
Vamos Tulsa Night is back in 2023 and will celebrate the vibrant Latino culture of Tulsa., including authentic Latino food and music with shopping from local Latino vendors.
Talking is Teaching
Monday, Sept. 11, Dinner: 5:45 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. Activities: 6:15 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.
Early Learning Works, 3120 E. Seminole St.
Hosted by: Early Learning Works
Early Learning Works invites families with children 0 through 8 years old to participate in this opportunity to TALK, READ and SING. This event includes a free dinner, a free book to take home, and time for parents and children to enjoy reading. Space is limited. To reserve a spot, send an email to earlylearningworks@tulsaeducare.org or call (918) 779-6005. Parents must attend with their child(ren).
Navigating Education Access: The Basics of Higher Education for Immigrant & Refugee Students
Tuesday, Sept. 12, 6 to 8 p.m.
TCC Northeast Campus, 3727 E. Apache St.
Hosted by: Tulsa Community College and Tulsa Higher Education Consortium
Tulsa Community College and the Tulsa Higher Education Consortium will host an event with information on education opportunities available in Tulsa for immigrant and refugee communities. TCC and the Consortium will discuss how to begin or resume a journey toward degree completion, leading to professional independence and economic mobility. Additional topics will include English as a Second Language (ESL), General Educational Development (GED) or high school equivalency, and early education resources for families and caregivers. Light refreshments will be provided.
Immigrants’ Access to Healthcare Luncheon
Wednesday, Sept. 13, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Martin Regional Library, 2601 S. Garnett Road
Hosted by: George Kaiser Family Foundation
This is a luncheon with nonprofits, frontline staff, hospitals, and other health providers, providing information and resources on how to support access to healthcare for immigrants including undocumented immigrants and refugees.
Citizenship Ceremony
Thursday, Sept. 14, 11 a.m. to noon
City Hall Council Chambers & TGOV Livestream
Hosted by: City of Tulsa & U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
At this 35th naturalization ceremony hosted by the City of Tulsa, USCIS officials will administer the oath of allegiance and present the Certificate of Naturalization and 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.
Cheers and Careers
Thursday, Sept. 14, 4 to 6 p.m.
3 N. Cheyenne Ave.
Hosted by: InTulsa and George Kaiser Family Foundation
InTulsa and the George Kaiser Family Foundation will present a fun and casual networking event to explore new training and development opportunities in tech. For those who doubt if tech is for them, this event will show how to work on breaking down barriers and creating opportunities in Tulsa. Participants can learn about low- or no-cost ways to advance their career, start a new career, or continue learning new skills. This networking event for all ages includes drinks and light refreshments. Register here: https://forms.gle/KzrfSQ8VnKGwTDLd7
“Growing Communities” Latinx Conference (Conferencia Comunidades Creciendo)
Friday, Sept. 15, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Martin Regional Library, 2601 S. Garnett Road
Hosted by: Hispanic Resource Center
This bilingual conference is a half-day gathering that aims to delve into the rich tapestry of Latinx heritage, resilience, and contributions in the state. There will be a series of engaging sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities that will provide attendees with a comprehensive presentation of opportunities and understanding of the history and influence of the Latinx community in Oklahoma. The topics covered during the conference will encompass a wide array of issues affecting the Latin American community in Tulsa with discussions on immigration, history/culture, personal development, commerce, entrepreneurship, education, and an art showcase.
Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month Festival
Saturday, Sept. 16, noon to 8 p.m.
McCullough Park,11534 E. 25th St.
Hosted by: Uma Tulsa and Tulsa Global District
This event kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month and ends Welcoming Week, shining a light on the different Hispanic/Latinx cultures in Tulsa through food, dancing, and music. It will include vendors, food trucks, activities for families and children, and multicultural entertainment. For more information, click here.
Equity Dialogue Facilitator Training
Saturday, Sept. 16, 9 a.m. to noon
Hardesty Regional Library, 8316 E. 93rd St.
Hosted by: Mayor’s Office of Resilience and Equity
The Mayor’s Office of Resilience and Equity will be offering Equity Dialogue facilitation training during Welcoming Week. This training will teach the process of deliberative dialogue geared toward positive changes for an individual, community or organization. Through this training, participants will learn how to provide open and inclusive spaces for people from diverse backgrounds to come together and dialogue about equity. All participants will receive a certificate of completion from Oklahoma State University and will have an opportunity to facilitate a dialogue at a later date. Register by visiting https://bit.ly/WWFacilitatorTraining
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