NEWCOMER SNAPSHOT
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13%
More that 13 percent of the U.S population (or 40 million people) is foreign born. The combined population share of foreign born individuals and their U.S.-born children is approximately 26 percent.
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1 in 4
In the U.S., one in four kids under the age of six is a child of immigrants.
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19.5 million
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), there are approximately 19.5 million refugees in the world. Fifty-one percent of all refugees are children under the age of 18. Annually, the U.S. typically accepts less than three percent who apply for refugee status.
Welcoming Week banner
YMCA Welcoming Week
Welcoming Week, happening Sept. 918, celebrates the growing movement of communities that fully embrace newcomer immigrants and their contributions to the social fabric of our country.
Ys across the country are planning virtual or physically-distanced events to help immigrant and U.S.-born neighbors connect and celebrate what unites us as a community. Contact your local Y or use the map below to find out what Welcoming Week activities are happening near you.
Find a Y hosting Welcoming Week near you!
Enter your city, state, or zip code to locate a participating Welcoming Week location in your community. Contact your Y to learn more!
Allison Cassens Early Childhood Development Center
Clear Channel House Family YMCA
Kentucky YMCA Youth Association
Fairview Lake YMCA Camps & Conference Center
Spurlino Family YMCA at Big Bend Road
YMCA of North Austin Community Rec Center
Wellness Center at the Union Health Park
Oscar Lasko YMCA and Child Care Center
Platte County Community Center North
YMCA Early Learning Center - Charles E. Lakin
YMCA Early Learning Center - Lakeside
YMCA Social Impact Center
YMCA Fort Meigs Center for Health Promotion
North Valley Family YMCA at Porter Ranch
Weingart YMCA Wellness and Aquatic Center
Downtown Branch YMCA
Bellevue Family YMCA & Fifty Forward J.L. Turner Lifelong Ctr
Clarksville Area YMCA-Kimbrough Family Center
Maryland Farms YMCA Carol & Roy Elam Family Ctr
North Rutherford YMCA Ronald Reagan Family Center
Currituck County Family YMCA & Community Center
The First Tee Hampton Roads Jr Golf YMCA
Greenbrier North YMCA Wellness/Racquetball Ctr
YMCA of South Boston and Halifax County Inc.
Emma B. Howe Northtown Family YMCA
Lower Northern Neck Branch YMCA
First Tee of the Virginia Peninsulas
Carl E. Sanders Family YMCA at Buckhead
G. Cecil Pruett Community Center Family YMCA
Robert D. Fowler Family YMCA
Belonging Begins With Us
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Belonging Begins With Us
Welcoming Week is an initiative of Welcoming America and a proud expression of the Belonging Begins with Us campaign sponsored by Ad Council.
Show Your Community Why You Welcome
During the month of September, take a moment to let all neighbors know that they are welcome and appreciated in your community by filling out one of the "I am a Welcomer" templates below. Take a photo with yours and share it on social media using the hashtags #WelcomingWeek and #YforAll.
Learn More About Y Immigrant Integration Services
The Y has a long history of serving immigrants and helping receiving communities to be prepared and welcoming for all. Through integration services such as job training, wellness programs or adult education classes like English as a Second Language (ESL), the Y empowers people to be self-reliant, connected and contributing members of their new communities. Click here to watch how the YMCA of Greater Houston helps immigrants — including vulnerable refugee populations — successfully transition into their new communities.
Newcomer Stories
Watch more Y stories
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Selina's Newcomer Story
Selina immigrated to the U.S. from China to provide her daughter Fiona with more opportunities. When she struggled with isolation, she turned to the Chinatown YMCA, where she found language and job assistance, enrichment activities, friendships and more. Now she and Fiona are thriving in their new community.
Welcoming Week provides a chance to welcome newcomers like Selina and for U.S.-born neighbors to connect and celebrate what unites us as a community.
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Welcoming Week at the YMCA
Welcoming Week, an initiative of Y-USA's national partner Welcoming America, celebrates the growing movement of communities across the U.S. that fully embrace new Americans and their contributions to the social fabric of our country. During Welcoming Week, which takes place annually in September, communities bring together immigrants and U.S.-born residents to promote cross-cultural understanding raise awareness of the benefits of welcoming everyone! In 2017, 75 YMCA Associations in 34 states hosted more than 700 Welcoming Week event nationwide.
Produced by YMCA of the USA.
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Welcoming All at the Y
The Y is a safe space where everyone is welcome. Our New American Welcome Centers and Welcoming Week celebrate the diverse communities we serve and provide resources for all to become their best selves.
How Do We Find Common Ground?
Partnering for a More Cohesive Community
Finding a Common Cause
Asking the Questions that Matter
Making an Impact
