SEP 7 2022
Join us for Welcoming Week NWA: September 9-18, 2022
Welcoming Week is an annual week-long event hosted by Engage NWA that brings together NWA Leadership Pledge supporters and the broader community to build strong connections and affirm the importance of welcoming and inclusive places in achieving collective prosperity.
Next week, you and your community or family can join the Canopy team as we host and attend exciting events all around NWA alongside our amazing community partners! Get the opportunity to try delicious food, enjoy music and dance performances from incredibly talented community members, support newcomers with household necessities, and learn about Canopy’s work in resettlement and offering a warm welcome to all of our newest neighbors!
Below is a full schedule of our Welcoming Week activities — we cannot wait to see you there!
Monday, September 12: Canopy Workshop
Join us for a free Canopy Workshop at the Bentonville Public Library. Come learn about Canopy’s work and how you can welcome newcomers to your community.
Participants will learn more about the Canopy’s mission to create a community where refugees are welcomed and equipped with all they need to build new lives. At Canopy, they are committed to welcoming and equipping refugees with the various services and skills they need to build new lives here in the United States.
Since 2016, Canopy have welcomed over 350 new neighbors to NWA, enrolled over 100 children in school, taught over 400 hours of cultural orientation, and worked with over a dozen employers in the community. Find out more about the event and register here.
Tuesday, September 13: Community Dinner
Join us for a community-wide East African meal during Welcoming Week NWA! Canopy is partnering with The Empowerment Initiative to host a community wide dinner every month. The first dinner will be on Tuesday, Sep. 13 during Welcoming Week NWA! The dinner will be East African food and all proceeds will benefit the chefs and Canopy’s work. The purpose of this meal is to simply gather folks together and eat new food, learn about new cultures, and enjoy being together as neighbors! Meals are $20/plate and include 5 delicious samosas and an East African salad. Vegetarian options are available.
This event will be held at 6PM at Good Shepard Lutheran Church: 2925 Old Missouri Rd, Fayetteville AR
Saturday, September 17: Welcome Kit & Gift Card Drive
Canopy is excited to offer an opportunity for our community to support our new neighbors in a major way! Get together with your community to build one or more Welcome Kits for new neighbors – lists found on our website! Drop-off between 12-3 at Fayetteville Public Library.
You and your community can support new families by putting together a Canopy Welcome Kit or donating to our Gift Card Drive. Build a box of kitchen, bedroom, or other supplies (complete lists found here) or bring a gift card from Walmart, Amazon, or Target so Canopy can provide the necessary supplies.
Come by the Fayetteville Public Library with your kit(s) from 12-3pm! When dropping off kits or gift cards, please plan to stay in your car. A volunteer will greet you and pick up your items! Find the lists of needed items on our website here. We are so grateful for the wonderful ways this community supports our newest neighbors!
Saturday, September 17: Welcoming Week Close
Celebrate the end of Welcoming Week NWA with a joyful celebration and powerful music from local creatives – Pura Coco & Sarah Lily. Our community partners and organizers will share their work and vision for how we can continue building belonging in NWA.
This event will be held from 5-9PM at CACHE Studios: 1004 SE 5th St, Bentonville
Sunday, September 18: International Festival
The annual International Festival is a celebration of culture, diversity, inclusion!
The event is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
You are welcome to:
- Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, and picnic supplies
- Taste foods from around the world from various food trucks and vendors
- Hangout on the Great Lawn and enjoy traditional dance performances and demonstrations on stage
- Explore the shady areas of the garden and visit all of our booths, featuring arts and crafts, displays, cultural items for sale, and more.
- Talk to experts on resources for immigrants, refugees, and other marginalized communities.
This event is the last day of Welcoming America’s “Welcoming Week,” a series of events nationwide bringing together immigrants, refugees, and native-born residents to affirm the importance of welcoming and inclusive places in achieving collective prosperity. Help us in creating this welcoming and inclusive place at the Garden…and in Northwest Arkansas as a whole! If you are planning to attend, please RSVP here!
We can’t wait to see you at some of these exciting events happening all across our community!!
Find a list of our events and many more at by visiting the Welcoming Week page. We’re so grateful to partner with Engage NWA to celebrate the importance of welcoming in our community! We look forward to celebrating together this upcoming week!
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