Welcoming America Announces “Stories We Share” as 2025 Welcoming Week Theme
Stories are more than just connection points. They’re also catalysts.
Welcoming America is excited to announce its campaign theme for Welcoming Week 2025, an annual campaign celebrated in communities across the world, taking place from September 12-21, 2025.
The campaign theme, “Stories We Share” focuses on celebrating differences and spotting what we have in common. The theme recognizes that stories are a gateway to connection and understanding, and a catalyst to shape our shared future.
Now in its 13th year, Welcoming Week is a series of days during which individuals and communities publicly proclaim welcoming values, host events, and lead initiatives for community members, building a deeper sense of belonging for all. Last year, over 2,000 events were hosted worldwide, including in 49 U.S. states and in 8 countries. In 2025, Italy will join the growing list of countries activating Welcoming Week.
In a year where inclusion and belonging are threatened nationally and globally, the campaign invites communities to cultivate awareness and action around the need for belonging. Through local programming and storytelling during Welcoming Week, individuals and organizations can build momentum and multiply their impact to sustain year-long welcoming efforts.
“Sharing stories is how we connect to each other, and our shared humanity,” said Rachel Perić, executive director of Welcoming America. “This year’s theme reminds us that storytelling has power — it’s how we find common purpose, organize, and build a future where everyone belongs. It’s how we ensure none of us are invisible or erased. It’s how we invite others to be part of the story of building welcoming communities — and shape what’s next.”
Participating partners, organizations, and individuals will receive a robust toolkit with best practices, communications tools, event guidance, and customizable materials to support tailored planning and hosting of Welcoming Week events across their communities.
Organizations and local governments interested in participating are encouraged to learn more about Welcoming Week and participate in this year’s efforts. For more information, visit welcomingweek.org.
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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. 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.
About Welcoming America
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 with 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 www.welcomingamerica.org.
