DALLAS -The City of Dallas Office of Equity and Inclusion – Welcoming Communities and Immigrant Affairs Division announces Welcoming Week 2024, taking place from September 13th – 22nd. Welcoming Week is an annual campaign celebrating the progress made in creating communities that are inclusive and welcoming to all, including immigrants.
Welcoming Week provides individuals and organizations the opportunity to showcase values through events and initiatives that foster connections between immigrants and non-immigrants, promoting belonging and inclusion for everyone. Organizations and communities come together to build strong connections and affirm the importance of inclusive places in achieving collective prosperity.
“Welcoming Week is a powerful reminder of the strength found in unity,” said Assistant City Manager Liz Cedillo Pereira. “As the first Certified Welcoming City in Texas, Dallas stands as a beacon of inclusion, where the richness of diverse cultures fosters growth and innovation. Building a city where every person, regardless of their background, can belong and thrive is our collective goal.”
This year’s theme, “We’re All In,” is a call to come together as individuals and groups to celebrate strengths and differences. It emphasizes that Dallas is at its best when collaboration and commitment to building welcoming spaces for all is achieved.
As part of Welcoming Week, the City of Dallas is sharing the “New Americans in Dallas” report, highlighting the significant economic contributions of immigrants. Immigrants, who make up 23.2% of the population, accounted for 28.4% of the employed labor force. In 2022, immigrant households in Dallas earned $10.7 billion, contributing $1.6 billion to federal taxes and $900.6 million to state and local taxes, with $8.2 billion in spending power. The full report is available on the Office of Equity and Inclusion – Welcoming Communities and Immigrant Affairs website here.
“As we celebrate Welcoming Week, let’s honor the incredible contributions of immigrant communities and reinforce our commitment to a Dallas where every individual feels valued. ‘We’re All In’, means we embrace diversity and acknowledge that it is truly our greatest strength” said Dr. Lindsey Wilson, Director of the Office of Equity and Inclusion.
In addition to attending the events listed here, the City of Dallas invites everyone to celebrate the importance of diversity and inclusion by sharing pictures with a multilingual “I am a Welcomer” sign on social media and tagging @Dallascityoei on Facebook and Instagram.
