Welcoming Week

Information
A photo taken during Welcoming Week opening ceremony. The image shows four young dancers on stage leaping in the air.
Welcoming Week is a free, week-long event that builds strong community support for immigrant and refugees. It offers art, performances, information, and community discussions to all Portlanders.
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About Welcoming Week

Welcoming Week is an annual campaign committed to building inclusive, safe, and equitable communities for immigrants and refugees. All activities are free, open to the public and include a focus on access to resources and cultural experiences including art, food, and music. Welcoming Week was launched in 2012 by the nonprofit Welcoming America to provide 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.

At its core, Welcoming Week encourages not just cities, towns, counties, and nations, but also the institutions within them, to fully embrace and celebrate what defines their communities as welcoming and inclusive. By doing so, we showcase how this sense of welcoming profoundly contributes to nurturing a sense of belonging for all individuals, with a particular focus on immigrants.

Thank you for Celebrating 2023 Welcoming Week!

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Thank you to everyone who made 2023 Welcoming Week successful! This year's celebration marks the City of Portland's third consecutive year of active participation in the annual celebration.

2023 Welcoming Week events happened all over Portland from September 8 - 15. The week began with a two-day opening celebration held at Ventura Park. Thirty-one nonprofits and community organizations show-cased their services to 1,040 people during the Opening Ceremony.

Read our 2023 Welcoming Week Report to learn more about the events and their impacts.

Read 2023 Welcoming Week Report

Four people converse during Welcoming Week Celebration

Welcoming Week Videos


Past Welcoming Week Celebrations

Learn more about past City of Portland Welcoming Week celebrations here!

A woman smiles at two children as they visit her resource table during the 2022 Welcoming Week Opening Ceremony at Ventura Park.
A woman smiles at two children as they visit her resource table during the 2022 Welcoming Week Opening Ceremony at Ventura Park.