The St. Louis Park City Council has proclaimed Sept. 12 – 21 as Welcoming Week in St. Louis Park (see proclamation text below). Launched in 2012 by Welcoming America, Welcoming Week provides individuals and organizations the opportunity to showcase their values through events and initiatives that foster connections and collaboration between immigrants and non-immigrants, as well as belonging for all. The national theme for this year’s Welcoming Week is "Stories We Share." 

For the City of St. Louis Park’s inaugural celebration, the community is invited to participate in four initiatives:

• Share stories on social media about how you've felt welcomed or welcomed others into St. Louis Park
• Request a Welcoming Week window cling for your business to show you value a city where everyone belongs, including immigrants
• Access a guide with resources that help make the community welcoming
• Attend a Vision 4.0 community gathering forum Saturday, Sept. 20, 4 – 6 p.m. at Aquila Park, 3110 Xylon Ave. S., St. Louis Park

Visit the Welcoming Week page to learn more about how to participate in the inaugural Welcoming Week initiatives in St. Louis Park!

Proclamation 

The Welcoming Week proclamation reads:

Whereas, Welcoming America is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that works to encourage and support communities to be more inclusive and welcoming towards immigrants; and

Whereas, each year in September, Welcoming America supports and encourages local communities to host a series of events collectively known as Welcoming Week; and

Whereas, through these Welcoming Week events, organizations and communities bring together neighbors of all backgrounds to build strong connections across their communities and affirm the importance of welcoming and inclusive places in achieving collective prosperity; and

Whereas, St. Louis Park has been a historically welcoming place for Jewish and Russian immigrants, refugees, and many new neighbors from all over Minnesota, the U.S. and the world. It is home to a diverse community where over 11 percent of residents speak a language other than English; and

Whereas, anti-immigrant policy and sentiment is on the rise across the country, calling us to deepen our commitment to being leaders in racial equity and inclusion for all our community members, regardless of immigration status; and

Whereas, by fostering a welcoming environment for all—regardless of immigration status, race, ethnicity, place of origin, English language proficiency, religion, income, gender, sexual orientation, differing abilities, age or other factors—we enhance St. Louis Park’s health, economic prosperity, and well-being for current and future generations; and

Whereas, this resolution is joined by other Minnesota cities as we stand together to maintain a welcoming state where all neighbors are welcomed. This resolution fosters a sense of belonging and the desire for all who live here to have the opportunity to contribute,

Now therefore, let it be known that the mayor and city council of the City of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, hereby observe Welcoming Week on September 12 through September 21, 2025, in our community.