Upcoming Events
Springfield Culture Fest
Celebrate cultural diversity in Springfield at the C-Street Market with performances, food and vendors.
321 E. Commercial Street
Saturday, September 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Interfaith Refugee Forum
Learn about and discuss refugee resettlement through the lens of faith.
Any and all faith-based groups are invited so we can ensure Kansas City is a city of hospitality and welcome for all who come here.
Ukraine Panel Discussion and Q&A
Join us for a panel discussion regarding the Ukrainian refugee crisis, ongoing resettlement and support efforts in Missouri, and the Uniting for Ukraine program.
Just in time for Welcoming Week 2022, we’ve assembled a group of experts in Missouri and beyond to answer questions and address ongoing patterns and concerns related to and facing new Ukrainian arrivals, the Uniting for Ukraine program, Ukrainian immigration statuses and more.
Following the panel discussion will be ample time for a Q&A where the audience can ask questions of the panelists.
Whether you’re thinking about being a private sponsor, have questions about benefits available for newly arrived Ukrainians, or just want to learn more about Uniting for Ukraine or new Ukrainian arrivals in Missouri, we’ve got plenty in store for all.
If you’d like to see a particular topic covered during the discussion, please complete this survey by Friday, September 9.
Panelists
Denise Bell, Welcome.US
Paul Cloutier, Community Relations Officer at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
Aline dos Santos Gomes, Immigration Case Manager at Hand in Hand Multicultural Center in Springfield, Missouri.
Sarah Gregor, Office Manager at Chatham Bible Church in Hazelwood Missouri and private sponsor through Uniting for Ukraine
Rebekah Thomas, Site Director at the International Institute’s Southwest Missouri Branch in Springfield, a local refugee resettlement agency in Missouri
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
A Future For Us All: Narrative Strategy Basics for the Immigrant Movement
A Future For Us All: Narrative Strategy Basics for the Immigrant Movement:
Over the past two years, the Butterfly Lab for Immigrant Narrative Strategy has developed, tested, and refined learnings and tools that have helped movement leaders and organizers build a more strategic approach to culture, narrative design, and narrative strategy.
Refugees and Higher Education: A Panel Discussion with St. Louis Stakeholders
This event will convene stakeholders to discuss the challenges and opportunities for improved access to higher education for refugees in St. Louis.
“Day One” Documentary Screening and Interactive Panel
he St. Louis Public Library presents a screening of the award-winning documentary Day One, which follows a group of teenage refugees from war-torn countries.
Their Story is Our Story (TSOS) Display
Their Story is Our Story (TSOS) Display at Northeast Branch of Kansas City Public Library
Stop by the library to learn more about the stories of refugees living in the Kansas City area. Their Story is Our Story has collected and compiled refugees’ stories and will be setting up a display sharing their words with visitors.
You’ll find the display near RISE’s location in the library.
September 9-18
Northeast Branch – Kansas City Public Library, 6000 Wilson Ave., Kansas City, MO 64123
Welcoming Week 2022
An annual celebration of welcoming and belonging, Welcoming America launched this event ten years ago, and it’s been growing ever since. Communities and organizations across the country embrace this opportunity to host events, webinars, gatherings, meals and more.
Find out more about events happening near you on the Welcoming Week Events page.
From Welcoming America’s Welcoming Week site:
Through Welcoming Week, organizations and communities bring together neighbors of all backgrounds to build strong connections and affirm the importance of welcoming and inclusive places in achieving collective prosperity.
Get all the latest news about #WelcomingWeek2022 by email:
Where We Belong
By focusing on the places and spaces that foster belonging (ie. cities, workplaces, neighborhoods, etc.), “Where We Belong” aims to go deeper and spark individual reflection on how and why belonging occurs, and ways we can break barriers so that places can foster belonging for all, including immigrants and refugees.
Cities, towns, counties, and nations – and the institutions within them – can lean into what makes their communities welcoming places and showcase how it helps foster belonging for all people, especially immigrants.
By doing this, we demonstrate the scale and breadth of Welcoming Week spreading across the globe, leaning into the universal values of welcoming places and individuals by helping others belong and feel at home.
Get the Toolkit
Whether you are an organization, individual, or local government, you can participate in the 10-year anniversary of Welcoming Week and join others around the world in fostering communities #WhereWeBelong. The toolkit has everything you need to activate Welcoming Week in your community.
Collaborative Café: Sustaining Community-Academic Partnerships
Speakers will discuss sustainability of community-academic partnerships and strategies for ensuring long-term collaboration.
Citizenship Teacher Training Registration
A training opportunity in Kansas City, MO to provide adult educators and program administrators with ideas and best practices for creating a comprehensive adult citizenship education curriculum and program.