This month, Welcoming America affiliates Nebraska is Home and Welcoming Michigan will tap into the creative potential of their community by launching community events as part of the You’re Welcome! campaign.  Launched as a pilot effort in March 2012 at the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, TX, You’re Welcome is a campaign-in-development aimed at engaging the creative community as leaders in fueling a cultural shift in the U.S. in support of immigrants and their contributions to the country.

In Detroit’s Chadsey-Condon neighborhood, which is well known for its diverse, global community, Welcoming Michigan will bring together local youth and artists in celebration of their diverse cultural identities and shared sense of community.   The event, on July 7^th  1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., will feature  muralists, hip-hop artists, latino musicians, and break-dancers who will perform and lead youth in half-day workshops. Welcoming Michigan hopes to shape a group of new youth ambassadors for a more welcoming community.  For more information on the event, visit their Facebook site.

In Omaha,  Nebraska is Home will host a gallery show featuring the original works of local artists who created art prints on the theme of a welcoming  vision for Omaha.   The event will take place on July 20^th 8:00 p.m. until closing time, at the House of Loom and will feature the works, along with live music. For more information on the event, visit their Facebook site.

The events will take place thanks tothe support of generous local funders, and with the national support of The Ford Foundation, Open Society Foundations, and Unbound Philanthropy.