In 2023, ACT for Alexandria completed its strategic plan, led by a diverse, community-led planning team. ACT was selected to participate in a community of practice hosted by CFLeads and Welcoming America to help foster inclusive communities and deepen welcoming and belonging work. Through this program, ACT is seeking to identify ways to support a community where everyone can truly thrive and feel like they belong. Our goal is to foster connections, collaboration and belonging for everyone – whether they are a newcomer, recent immigrant or someone who has lived here for generations. Read more about our commitment to celebrating welcoming and belonging in Alexandria.
ACT will be participating in Welcoming America’s Welcoming Week – September 13-22. Welcoming Week is an annual event that celebrates the work in communities to become welcoming places for all, including immigrants and newcomers. The goal is to foster connections, collaboration and belonging for all. In celebration of our 20th Anniversary, ACT has awarded $20,000 in welcoming and belonging grants for activities to be carried out during Welcoming Week.
Grantees include:
- Adinkra Alliance Institute – You Look Good: An Intercultural Hair Celebration
- All Ages Read Together – Popsicles in the Park
- Concerned Citizens Network of Alexandria & Landmark Church of Alexandria – West End Community Resource Day – Sunday, 9/22 from 11am-1pm at Patrick Henry Elementary School, 4643 Taney Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22304
- Friends of Guest House – Friends and Family Day – Saturday, 9/21 from noon-3pm at Friends of Guest House, 1 East Luray Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22301 – click here for more details.
- Inspira Dance – Dancing to Connect, Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration – Sunday, 9/15 from 5-9pm at 1322 Prince Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, click here to register.
- Kids’ First Years – Kids’ First Years Community Baby Shower – Friday, 9/13 from 10am-noon at William Ramsay Recreation Center, 5650 Sanger Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22311 – click here for more details.
- Northern Virginia Family Service – Belong, Believe, Become: Your Path to Success – Saturday, 9/21 from 2-5pm at Hybla Valley Community Center, 7950 Audubon Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22306
- Nueva Vida – Sharing Our Latino Cultures – Sunday, 9/22 from 2-5pm at Market Square Plaza, 300 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 – click here for more details.
- Tenant and Workers United – The Bigger We – Saturday, 9/21 at 7pm at TWU, 3801 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22305 – click here for more details.
- The Campagna Center – New Neighbor’s Community Storytime, Sunday, 9/15 from 2-4pm at The Campagna Center, 418 S. Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 – click here to register.
More details about the events will be shared as they are available.
FAQs
What is welcoming? (from Welcoming America)
Being welcoming is much more than being friendly, tolerant, or peaceful. Truly welcoming places have intentional, inclusive policies, practices, and norms that enable all residents to live, thrive, and contribute fully — including immigrants.
Welcoming places are made possible by welcoming people – we want to foster more welcoming places at work, in our neighborhoods, and places of gathering. Together, welcoming places, communities, and individuals can create the conditions for a thriving community that embraces, harnesses, and fully leverages the contributions of all residents.
What is belonging?
In a community, belonging is more than a feeling – it means to be fully part of the “we” – meaning each of us has our well-being considered and we’re able to design and benefit from institutions and structures that affect our lives. (from Welcoming America)
More than just being seen or feeling included, belonging entails having a voice and the opportunity to use it to make demands upon society and political institutions. Belonging is more than having access; it is about the power to co-create the structures that shape a community. (Othering & Belonging Institute)
What is Welcoming Week?
Welcoming Week is an annual campaign that celebrates the work in communities to become welcoming places for all, including newcomers, immigrants and those who have lived here for generations. Launched in 2012 by Welcoming America and its members, Welcoming Week provides individuals and organizations the opportunity to showcase their values through events and initiatives that foster connections and collaboration between immigrants and non-immigrants, as well as belonging for all.
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.
The Welcoming America site has resources and a toolkit that we encourage you to take a look at – https://welcomingweek.org/toolkit