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<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><b><span style="font-size:5.0pt;color:#00467F"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><b><span style="color:#00467F">News Media Contacts<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><a href="mailto:CommsMedia@DurhamNC.gov">CommsMedia@DurhamNC.gov</a><u><o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><a href="mailto:PublicInformationOffice@dconc.gov">PublicInformationOffice@dconc.gov</a><span style="font-size:10.0pt">
</span><u><o:p></o:p></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:50.0pt;color:#00467F">News Release<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#EF3D42">For Immediate Release: September 3, 2024<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Durham Celebrates Welcoming Week from September 13-22<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Events set to bring communities together for a soccer tournament and a career and resource fair<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">DURHAM, N.C. – The City of Durham and Durham County invite residents to celebrate
<a href="https://www.durhamcommunityengagement.org/welcoming_week">Welcoming Week 2024</a> from September 13-22, 2024. This
<a href="https://welcomingweek.org/">annual campaign</a> is led by <a href="https://welcomingamerica.org/">
Welcoming America</a>, a national nonprofit that encourages communities, organizations, and local governments to foster a sense of belonging among all residents, including immigrants and refugees.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Durham, with more than 14% of its residents born outside of the United States, aims to strengthen community bonds among residents by bringing them together for friendly competition through a soccer tournament and equipping Durham’s immigrant
and refugee community with career support, community resources, and workshops through a career and resource fair.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“We chose these two events because we wanted to enhance community cohesion,” said Community Engagement Strategist Jennie Belle. “The soccer tournament is a fun way to foster community spirit and cultural exchange, whereas the career fair
will facilitate meaningful employment connections and provide essential resources for Durham’s newcomers.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This year’s Welcoming Week efforts are led by the City of Durham
<a href="https://www.durhamnc.gov/570/Neighborhood-Improvement-Services">Neighborhood Improvement Services Department</a> and the Durham City/County Immigrant and Refugee Affairs Coordinator Kokou Nayo in the
<a href="https://www.dconc.gov/county-departments/departments-a-e/cooperative-extension">
Durham County Cooperative Extension</a>. Partnering with City and County departments and community organizations, they will host the events and issue proclamations that aim to showcase Durham’s commitment to inclusivity and belonging. Community members are
invited to attend, volunteer, and spread the word about the Welcoming Week events.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Welcoming Week Event Schedule<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3">Monday, September 9 at 7 p.m.:
<b>County-Wide Proclamation</b> at the County Commissioners Board Meeting<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3">Saturday, September 14 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.:
<b>Durham International Soccer Tournament</b> at C.M. Herndon Park (Register to <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1AJjzNRJxsNB2mYGoSHpnHDgj-p4F5WPYw8EYRlQX_EQ/viewform">
play</a> or <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfmXvu3SuBu17LyxhCViADq9lx8Th1ytNofJS_oIvrYxxOkNQ/viewform?usp=pp_url">
volunteer</a>)<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3">Monday, September 16 at 7 p.m.:
<b>City-Wide Proclamation</b> at the City Council Meeting<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3">Tuesday, September 17 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.:
<b>Immigrant and Refugee Career & Resource Fair</b> at Duke Memorial UMC – CWS Resettlement Office (Event
<a href="https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=gu99KTmUiEOoCDVIpOz0fUCQ7vPD1XNKoOwtLkyX4o9UOTlOOVRESFJIQTMwWTlVQ09WN1NNN1hRVC4u">
registration required</a> or <a href="https://durhamneighborhoodmatchinggrants.wufoo.com/forms/z50ehvg1o2cdm2/">
sign up to volunteer</a>)<o:p></o:p></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For more information about each of these events, visit <a href="https://www.durhamcommunityengagement.org/welcoming_week">
Durham’s Welcoming Week 2024 webpage</a> or contact Jennie Belle with the City’s Neighborhood Improvement Services Department by
<a href="mailto:communityengagementteam@durhamnc.gov">email</a> or calling (919) 717-4519.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">###<o:p></o:p></p>
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