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<b><span class="ContentPasted0" style="color: rgb(0, 70, 126);">News Media Contact </span></b></p>
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<span class="ContentPasted0" style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 70, 126);">CommsMedia@DurhamNC.gov </span></p>
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<span class="ContentPasted0" style="font-size: 50pt; color: rgb(0, 70, 127);">Media Advisory</span><span class="ContentPasted0" style="text-transform: uppercase; color: rgb(0, 70, 127);">
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</span><span class="ContentPasted0" style="font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(239, 61, 66);">For Immediate Release: August 31, 2023</span><span style="color: rgb(211, 55, 42);"> </span></p>
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<b><span lang="EN" class="ContentPasted0" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in; color: rgb(32, 31, 30);">City of Durham Celebrates Welcoming Week September 8-17 </span></b></p>
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<i><span lang="EN" class="ContentPasted0" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in; color: rgb(32, 31, 30);">Events Set to Celebrate the Diversity of Our Communities</span></i><i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 31, 30);"> </span></i></p>
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<span lang="EN" class="ContentPasted0" style="border:none windowtext 1.0pt; padding:0in">DURHAM, N.C. – Durham residents of all backgrounds are invited to join the City of Durham in celebrating
<span class="ContentPasted0" style=""> </span></span><a href="https://welcomingweek.org/home/" data-auth="NotApplicable" id="OWA81da017f-ac8b-e959-0c1d-1efde2e9d415" class="OWAAutoLink ContentPasted0"><span lang="EN" style="border:none windowtext 1.0pt; padding:0in">Welcoming
Week 2023</span></a><span lang="EN" class="ContentPasted0" style="border:none windowtext 1.0pt; padding:0in"> from September 8 through 17.
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<span class="ContentPasted0" style="">Welcoming Week is an annual campaign led by
</span><a href="https://welcomingamerica.org/" data-auth="NotApplicable" id="OWA0e1b9944-2674-2fad-0795-0ad672b7a186" class="OWAAutoLink ContentPasted0"><span style="">Welcoming America</span></a><span class="ContentPasted0" style=""> to showcase communities
striving to become welcoming places for all, including immigrants and refugees. As a part of this effort, the City of Durham
</span><a href="https://www.durhamnc.gov/570/Neighborhood-Improvement-Services" data-auth="NotApplicable" id="OWAd0f78bb0-ceb8-76a3-a69f-2271fbf5e66e" class="OWAAutoLink ContentPasted0"><span style="">Neighborhood Improvement Services Department</span></a><span class="ContentPasted0" style="">
is hosting a series of <b><u class="ContentPasted0">free events</u></b> for residents to celebrate the diversity of our neighbors and affirm the importance of inclusive places in Durham</span><span lang="EN" class="ContentPasted0" style="border:none windowtext 1.0pt; padding:0in">.
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<span lang="EN" class="ContentPasted0" style="border:none windowtext 1.0pt; padding:0in">“Being welcoming is so much more than showing kindness, it’s about creating policies and practices that allow everyone to feel welcome so they can fully benefit from our
city programs and services. Welcoming Week helps us move the needle towards that,” said Community Engagement Strategist, Jennie Belle. “This year we’re celebrating our community’s diversity through art, food, music, and sports, as we engage our residents in
meaningful conversations about equity.”</span><span style=""> </span></p>
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<span class="ContentPasted0" style="">The kickoff event will be a presentation of a proclamation affirming the City's commitment to inclusion at the City Council’s regular business meeting on September 5. Residents who have been part of the City's welcoming
work will be recognized, and a </span><a href="https://www.durhamcommunityengagement.org/art_belonging_and_community" data-auth="NotApplicable" id="OWAdad37edb-0842-5441-03d3-06aa5a9a504d" class="OWAAutoLink ContentPasted0"><span style="">quilt created by
immigrant women</span></a><span class="ContentPasted0" style=""> living in Durham will hang in the lobby of City Hall throughout the week. </span></p>
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<b><span class="ContentPasted0" style="">Welcoming Week Event Schedule </span></b></p>
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<li style="font-size:11pt"><span class="ContentPasted0" style="font-size:11pt">Tuesday, September 5 at 7 p.m.:
</span><span class="ContentPasted0" style="font-size:11pt"><b class="ContentPasted0">City-Wide Proclamation</b></span><span class="ContentPasted0" style="font-size:11pt"> at the City Council Meeting</span><span class="ContentPasted0" style=""><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></span></li><li style="font-size:11pt"><span class="ContentPasted0" style="font-size:11pt">Friday, September 8 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.:
</span><span class="ContentPasted0" style="font-size:11pt"><b class="ContentPasted0">An Artistic Cultural Fair</b></span><span class="ContentPasted0" style="font-size:11pt"> at Iglesia La Semilla UMC</span><span class="ContentPasted0" style=""><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></span></li><li><span class="ContentPasted0" style="font-size:11pt">Monday, September 11 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.:
</span><span class="ContentPasted0" style="font-size:11pt"><b class="ContentPasted0">Immigrant/Refugee Career & Resource Fair</b></span><span class="ContentPasted0" style="font-size:11pt"> at Lyon Park Community Center (</span><a href="https://forms.office.com/g/h7br8AMKSw" data-auth="NotApplicable" id="OWA9e1492c1-8166-1952-c1f6-c76e8e459189" class="OWAAutoLink ContentPasted0"><span style="font-size:11pt">Registration
Required</span></a><span class="ContentPasted0" style="font-size:11pt">)</span><span class="ContentPasted0" style=""><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></span></li><li><span class="ContentPasted0" style="font-size:11pt">Wednesday, September 13 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.:
</span><span class="ContentPasted0" style="font-size:11pt"><b class="ContentPasted0">Neighbors & Flavors</b></span><span class="ContentPasted0" style="font-size:11pt"> at The Durham Exchange (</span><a href="https://www.durhamcommunityengagement.org/neighbors_flavors_rsvp" data-auth="NotApplicable" id="OWA07e9aebc-f831-048e-a711-67673b4f5626" class="OWAAutoLink ContentPasted0"><span style="font-size:11pt">Registration
Required</span></a><span class="ContentPasted0" style="font-size:11pt">)</span><span class="ContentPasted0" style=""><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></span></li><li><span class="ContentPasted0" style="font-size:11pt">Thursday, September 14 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.:
</span><span class="ContentPasted0" style="font-size:11pt"><b class="ContentPasted0">Our Story: A Panel Discussion</b></span><span class="ContentPasted0" style="font-size:11pt"> at Durham Bottling Company (</span><a href="https://www.durhamcommunityengagement.org/our_story_panel_rsvp" data-auth="NotApplicable" id="OWAea75936b-d890-11ae-c6d5-49354417c7c2" class="OWAAutoLink ContentPasted0"><span style="font-size:11pt">Registration
Required</span></a><span class="ContentPasted0" style="font-size:11pt">)</span><span class="ContentPasted0" style=""><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></span></li><li class="ContentPasted0"><span class="ContentPasted0" style="font-size:11pt">Sunday, September 17 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.:
</span><span class="ContentPasted0" style="font-size:11pt"><b class="ContentPasted0">International Soccer Game</b></span><span class="ContentPasted0" style="font-size:11pt"> at Merrick Moore Park (</span><a href="https://www.durhamcommunityengagement.org/international_soccer_game_registration" data-auth="NotApplicable" id="OWA6f959b25-03ec-0611-dd8d-ba57b80cebc9" class="OWAAutoLink ContentPasted0"><span style="font-size:11pt">Registration
Required</span></a><span class="ContentPasted0" style="font-size:11pt">)</span><span class="ContentPasted0" style=""><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></span></li></ul>
<div><span class="ContentPasted0" style="font-size:11pt">For more information or to RSVP for each of these events, visit
</span><a href="https://www.durhamcommunityengagement.org/welcoming_week" data-auth="NotApplicable" id="OWA5fdf0ebd-5df4-15b6-e77d-a5e36f4d6431" class="OWAAutoLink ContentPasted0"><span style="font-size:11pt">Durham’s Welcoming Week 2023 webpage</span></a><span class="ContentPasted0" style="font-size:11pt">
or contact Jennie Belle with the City’s Neighborhood Improvement Services Department by
</span><a href="mailto:jennifer.belle@durhamnc.gov" id="OWAabb01274-ccee-615c-31b2-6116702eb3ce" class="OWAAutoLink ContentPasted0"><span style="font-size:11pt">email</span></a><span class="ContentPasted0" style="font-size:11pt"> or by calling (919) 717-4519.</span><span class="ContentPasted0" style=""><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></span></div>
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<b><span class="ContentPasted0" style="">About the Neighborhood Improvement Services Department </span></b></p>
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<span class="ContentPasted0" style="">The Neighborhood Improvement Services Department works to preserve and improve quality of life conditions for Durham residents, and to encourage active participation in neighborhood redevelopment and public policy and decision-making
dialogue. </span></p>
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<b><span class="ContentPasted0" style="">About Welcoming Week </span></b></p>
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<span class="ContentPasted0" style="">Welcoming Week is an annual campaign and celebration to showcase the movement of communities striving to be more welcoming places for all, including immigrants. Launched in 2012 by Welcoming America and its members, Welcoming
Week provides 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. </span></p>
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<b><span class="ContentPasted0" style="">About Welcoming America </span></b></p>
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<span class="ContentPasted0" style="">Welcoming America is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that leads a movement of inclusive communities becoming more prosperous by ensuring everyone belongs. Through the Welcoming Network, we work to change systems and
culture by providing communities the roadmap they need to create welcoming policies and share new approaches to inclusion to create an environment where everyone can truly thrive. Learn more at welcomingamerica.org. </span></p>
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