By Pollyana Ramos Tucker
San Diego – The City of San Diego kicked off its annual Welcoming Week today with a heartwarming gathering and press conference at the City Heights/Weingart Library on Friday. City Council President Pro Tem Monica Montgomery Steppe, alongside city officials and engaged community leaders and members, marked the beginning of a week filled with meaningful activities aimed at emphasizing the significance of inclusion and diversity within our vibrant city.
During the press conference, the City Council President Pro Tem emphasized the significance of Welcoming Week. “This week is a time when we can all participate in creating an inclusive and accepting environment that fosters a sense of community and belonging. Immigrant and refugee communities have existed here for a long time, and often do not have the space and visibility to be themselves, to be seen, and to be acknowledged. But today, we are building a community relationship with each other.”
The opening event on Friday unfolded as a momentous occasion, graced by inspiring addresses from local leaders including Misty Jones, Director of San Diego Public Library, Andy Field, Director of Parks and Recreation Department, Salina Villegas, Department of Race and Equity, and Ross Fackrell, Director of Refugee Resettlement, Jewish Family Service. Each speech underscored the immeasurable value of diversity in San Diego.
In a touching personal note, Salina Villegas, shared the poignant story of her grandmother, a living testament to the miracles that unfold when immigrants find a place to call home. With reverence, Villegas shared her grandmother’s sentiments when asked for permission to share her story. “Being here in this country was ‘un milagro para mi’ which translates to ‘a miracle for me.'” This powerful message encapsulated not only her gratitude for survival but also her resilience in the face of adversity. “I know in part that she is likely providing a flavor to how thankful she is to have survived being on the receiving end of repulsive anti-immigrant comments, not being the paid the same as others, having to work twice if not five times as hard as others for the same job.” She concluded her address by sharing a poignant reminder from her grandmother, who, in anticipation of today’s press conference, comforted her with the profound sentiment: “I belong here, you belong there, we all find our place here.”
As part of the Welcoming Week festivities, the City’s Office of Immigrant Affairs set up a heartwarming “welcome note station.” Here, San Diegans had the opportunity to craft beautifully decorated butterfly-themed notes for newly arrived refugees and immigrants.
These heartwarming welcome notes will not merely serve as tokens of kindness; they will find their way to partner community organizations dedicated to aiding refugees and immigrants on their journey to a new life. These organizations include the International Rescue Committee in San Diego, Jewish Family Service, Catholic Charities, and the Alliance for African Assistance. The distribution of these notes to the individuals and families they assist will further extend the warm embrace of the San Diego community.
As Welcoming Week unfolds, a multitude of activities is planned to celebrate the city’s diversity and the contributions of immigrants. To discover more about these events, we encourage you to visit the Library’s webpage.
Additionally, starting today, the iconic Balboa Park will be adorned with brilliant lighting to honor the spirit of Welcoming Week, casting a warm glow on the city’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity.