Media Advisory: Welcoming America kicks off Welcoming Week 2022 with San José mayor’s office
San José, Calif. – Welcoming America will kick off the 10-year anniversary of Welcoming Week this Friday, September 9, at a press conference featuring San José Mayor Sam Liccardo; Zulma Maciel, Director of the Office of Racial Equity at the City of San José; and Daniel Valdez, Senior Director of External Affairs at Welcoming America.
The press conference will include remarks from our speakers, highlights of local Welcoming Week events, and San José’s recent selection to host Welcoming America’s annual conference, the Welcoming Interactive, in spring 2023.
Press conference details:
Friday, September 9
10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
San José City Hall
200 E Santa Clara St.
The press conference is open to the public and members of the media.
Press contact (Welcoming America): Daniel Valdez, 704-591-6951
Press contact (City of San José): Esmeralda Bautista, Deputy Communications Director, [email protected], 510.631.6934
The City of San José, which achieved the Certified Welcoming designation earlier this year, will also host a week-long series of events to celebrate Welcoming Week.
“San José is honored to kick off Welcoming Week to celebrate our immigrant heritage and longstanding history as a city where people from across the globe are recognized,” said San José Mayor Sam Liccardo. “Our immigrant neighbors contribute enormously to our community, enrich our culture, spur innovation, and reinvigorate our collective passion for freedom. We look forward to our continued partnerships with Welcoming America in building an equitable city that benefits everyone.”
Welcoming America Executive Director Rachel Perić reflected on the past 10 years of Welcoming Week: “From humble beginnings as a grassroots celebration of values, Welcoming Week has grown over the last decade to become a worldwide celebration. This week, cities and towns across the globe unite to share the message that everyone – no matter where we’ve come from – can belong in the place we now call home, and our communities are better for it.”
About Welcoming Week
Welcoming Week is an annual campaign and celebration to showcase the movement of communities striving to be more welcoming places for all, including immigrants and refugees. It provides individuals and communities the opportunity to proclaim welcoming values through events and local initiatives that foster mutual understanding between immigrants and non-immigrants and deeper belonging for all. Learn more
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