Free Picnic and Party, State of Welcoming Presentation Commemorate Welcoming Week at the Toledo Library

Daily Dose  |  08/12/2024 9:30 am

This September, the Toledo Lucas County Public Library commemorates Welcoming Week with free public programs that celebrate the diverse contributions of Northwest Ohio's immigrant communities. Welcoming Week is an annual, nationwide campaign that showcases the movement of communities striving to be more welcoming places for all, including immigrants. The 2024 campaign theme is "We're All In" and will take place Sept. 13 – 22.

Leading into Welcoming Week, the Library will host a Better Toledo personal and professional development session on the topic of "welcoming" with the Bowling Green State University Institute of Culture & Society. The presentation will take place Thursday, Sept. 5 from 3 – 5 p.m. at Main Library. Advanced registration is required.

Welcoming Week Programs:
Better Toledo: Welcoming
(Th) Sept. 5 | 3 – 5 p.m. | Main Library Large Glass Community Room
Learn more about what is to be welcoming from the Bowling Green State University Institute for the Study of Culture & Society. This free event is sponsored by Welcome Toledo-Lucas County (Welcome TLC) and The City of Toledo Human Relations Commission. Better Toledo is a personal and professional development series to ensure “you will do better in Toledo.” Advanced registration is required.

Welcoming Picnic and Party: We're All In
(Sa) Sept. 14 | noon – 3 p.m. | Main Library Atrium
Celebrate Toledo's vibrant immigrant community at a free welcoming picnic and party with the Toledo Library and local partners. Bring a picnic blanket and spend the afternoon enjoying world music with DJ Jacob Estrada, art, bilingual poetry readings, global finger foods, and fun activities for the whole family in the Main Library Atrium. Live performances include El Corazon de Mexico Ballet Folklorico, Juice House Singing Blend, PoonamDance, and more.

The State of Welcoming in Toledo and Lucas County
(Tu) Sept. 17 | 5 – 6:30 p.m. | Main Library McMaster Center
Learn more about the state of welcoming for immigrants, refugees, and diverse community members in Toledo and Lucas County at this free program, where preliminary findings from a study conducted by Language Equity Access Partners for Welcome Toledo-Lucas County (TLC) will be presented. A question and answer session will follow the presentation. The event will conclude with a reception and light refreshments in McMaster Lobby. Advanced registration is required.

Asian in Ohio exhibit
Main Library Welcoming Corner
Asian in Ohio presents an interactive gallery of Asian American individuals who have made Ohio their home, and serves as an open archive depicting another side of the American story — one often whitewashed and rendered invisible. Explore maps, watch curated videos, and interact with colorful and moving narratives. It is an ongoing project of Midstory, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to inform, interpret, and inspire post-industrial communities across the Midwest through multimedia storytelling and solutions-oriented research.