A friend who has taught for nearly 20 years at the elementary school in Murdock, Minnesota sent us the poster above for a celebration of "Where We Belong" in the west central communities of Kerkhoven, Murdock, and Sunburg.
From appearances by a local fire department with Sparky the Dog to the DNR's Department of Fish and Game with live fish, it looks like a good time in a small town.
What's Welcoming Week? Last September, Shelby Lind reported in the West Central Tribune article, Celebrating a welcoming community for new arrivals and life-long residents in west central Minnesota:
Based on the 2020 United States census , the demographics of the country are shifting, with various cultures and ethnicities merging into one community like never before. Those trends are showing up even here in south central and western Minnesota. In Willmar, specifically, the percentage of the population coming from races others than white is growing as the overall city population grows.
Welcoming Week, an annual celebration led by nonprofit Welcoming America , has a goal to bring all those people together to help create cohesive and happy communities where all feel they belong.
This year's Welcoming Week, with the theme "Belonging Begins with US," starts Sept. 10 and runs through Sept. 19. The Southwest Initiative Foundation, a member of Welcoming America, has been supporting area communities in making these celebrations happen for a second year.
"This lines up with our mission and values we have here," said Pablo Obregon, Southwest Initiative Foundation community engagement director. "We decided to embrace the opportunity." . . .
The mission of Welcoming Week and all of its community celebrations is to celebrate everyone who calls these communities home, no matter their backgrounds, and to help build relationships between individuals and increase civic and community engagement. . . .
Some conspiracy theorists not on board with Welcoming
As we noted, this sound like a good time in a small town, but Welcoming America has its nay-sayers in Minnesota. In 2018, Dan Browning reported in Welcoming or wary? Minnesota cities weigh their approach to immigrants, refugees:
When Fatima Said asked the City Council here to join a national move to embrace immigrants, refugees and all other newcomers, the council unanimously approved the idea that same night.
The vote made Winona the first Minnesota city to join Welcoming America, a national network of local governments and nonprofits.
"I was so proud of that," recalled Said, who arrived with her family in Rochester in December 1993 as Bosnian refugees. Volunteers met them with open arms, she says. "This multicultural society in America is a beauty."
In the two years since, however, the movement that Winona embraced has met with increasingly hostile resistance in cities and towns across Minnesota and the Upper Midwest, exposing deep rifts and anxiety over immigration, refugees, race, culture and religion — particularly Islam. . . .
Ron Branstner, a resident of Eden Valley who often testifies against Welcoming initiatives, told the Willmar City Council that the resolution is more than just a "feel-good idea."
"If you pass this, there are things that come behind this," Branstner said. "Free speech is at risk." . . .
Branstner is back on the ramble-rousing speakers circuit, we reported in the July 22 post, On Greater MN conservative circuit again, Ron Branstner sharing globalist conspiracy theories. In his list of Agenda 21/Vision 2030 organizations:
▪ International, National, Regional, and Local
▪ Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) Non-profits and Local Stakeholders (more info click HERE)
We find staffers from the Southwest Initiative Foundation and a bunch of other do-gooder organizations were interviewed. Oh scary. The Big Think noted the revival of the bushwah in a 2020 article, Agenda 21, a wild conspiracy theory reignited by coronavirus.
Branstner's most recent stops with his standard program? The Big Lake Public Library in August (rooms can be reserved, so it doesn't look sponsored by the library) and on Tuesday, September 13, at the Cornerstone Church in Alexandria.
Nice host: the Alexandria Echo Press reported on January 11, 2021, Alexandria pastor urges martial law in video seen by more than 50,000. National Public Radio lead its story Militant Christian Nationalists Remain A Potent Force, Even After The Capitol Riot with the tale of Knappen's video; In early February 2021 Knappen appeared down column in Capitol siege puts spotlight on Christian nationalists at the Star Tribune.
Those fearful of a welcoming America can huddle with those sorts of folks in they wish. Haters gonna hate, as the saying goes.
Meanwhile, the Alexandria Echo Press reports How welcoming is Alexandria? U of M survey provides insights and Dancing, authentic foods to highlight Alexandria's first Diversity Festival. While neither of those projects are part of Welcoming Week, the stories suggest those gathering in Kerkhoven are on to something.
Image: The poster forthe second annual KMS Area Community Welcome Week.
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