YMCA of Frederick County Hosts Welcoming Week to Celebrate Diversity and Inclusion
The YMCA of Frederick County is excited to announce its participation in the annual Welcoming Week, set to take place from September 13-22, 2024. This year, Welcoming Week celebrates the growing movement of inclusive communities that fully embrace immigrants and their valuable contributions to our society.
Organized in collaboration with Welcoming America, this nationwide event aims to unite immigrants and U.S.-born residents through a series of community-based events. By promoting cross-cultural understanding and raising awareness of the benefits of inclusivity, Welcoming Week highlights the importance of ensuring everyone feels valued and connected.
In Frederick County, where 18.3% of residents are foreign-born and 17.7% identify as Hispanic, the YMCA is committed to fostering an environment of understanding and support. We recognize the diverse makeup of our community and aim to engage all individuals in meaningful ways.
Why Welcoming Week Matters
With more than 44 million foreign-born individuals currently living in the United States, creating welcoming and inclusive communities is more crucial than ever. Welcoming Week provides an opportunity for neighbors from diverse backgrounds to come together, build mutual understanding, and work collaboratively to create a better society for everyone.
The YMCA’s Role in Welcoming Week
The YMCA of Frederick County is dedicated to strengthening our community by ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential. As part of this commitment, we have partnered with local organizations to represent the variety of cultural communities in Frederick and to offer resources that may benefit these groups.
Not Just a Celebration, But a Movement
Welcoming Week is not a political event. It is a non-partisan initiative that encourages people from all backgrounds and ideologies to find common ground and make our communities more vibrant and prosperous. The YMCA, guided by its core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility, participates in Welcoming Week to exemplify our ongoing commitment to equity and inclusion.
Join Us for Welcoming Week 2024
We invite everyone in Frederick County to join us for Welcoming Week 2024. Participate in events that celebrate diversity and promote the benefits of welcoming everyone into our community. Through cultural festivals, educational workshops, and community service projects, we aim to create an environment where everyone feels valued and connected.
Welcoming America Resources
- Building Meaningful Contact: A How-to Guide
- Bridging Differences Playbook
- Taste of Belonging Cookbook
Frederick County Resources
- English Classes at The Literacy Council of Frederick, MD
- Programs & Classes through Centro Hispano
- Spanish Speaking Community of MD (See brochure)
- The Mission of Mercy operates a mobile medical and a mobile dental clinic providing free care including medications
- Frederick Health Hospital Financial Assistance Form
- Frederick Rescue Mission (including housing assistance and Learning Center)
- Heartly House has a 24-hour confidential hotline with interpreting services
- Transit services in Frederick are FREE (Learn how to use Transit)
- The Judy Center improves school success through early intervention and comprehensive services to families.
- The Mental Health Association has Walk-in Crisis Services 24 hours a day / 7 days a week with interpreting services.
- Goodwill of Moncacy Valley offers Job & Training Services
- WIC provides nutrition education, breastfeeding support, healthy supplemental foods, and health referrals for pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children under age five.
- The Maryland State Dept. of Education has a Child Care Scholarship Program to help pay for high-quality child care and early education programs.
- Centro Hispano de Frederick has Summer School Programs, English Classes, Citizenship Preparation Classes and more.
- Beyond Shelter has services to assist if you are, or are facing, homelessness
- The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture.
- Frederick Immigrant Affairs Commission
- Refugee Welcoming Coalition of Frederick
- Islamic Society of Frederick has a variety of programs and services
- Indian Association of Frederick
- Asian American Foundation of Frederick, MD, offers programs to help low-income immigrants and minorities reach their full potential
- Maryland School for the Deaf‘s Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists collaborate closely with ASL Specialists and Bilingual Educators to enhance student outcomes in both American Sign Language and written/spoken English.
- Urbana Muslim Association
- The African Community of Frederick (AFRICoF) is a vibrant and inclusive community, passionately dedicated to fostering a rich tapestry of African culture and values within the diaspora.
- Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
About YMCA of Frederick County
The YMCA of Frederick County is a leading nonprofit organization committed to strengthening the community by nurturing the potential of every individual, promoting healthy living, and fostering social responsibility. We believe that our community is stronger when everyone feels welcome and can thrive.
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