Welcoming Redwood City
This group represents our welcoming initiative and community engagement arm. Our mission is to build empathy, understanding, and supportive action to bridge social divides such as race, class, and immigration status. Each year, we organize Welcoming Week, United Against Hate Week, community dialogues, Welcoming Star awards, and more.
Recent Milestones:
5 events were held during Welcoming Week in collaboration with community partners.
287 community members participated in Welcoming Week events.
2 Welcoming Stars of the community, Jane Slater and Project READ, were honored by the City of Redwood City and Redwood City Together during a celebration event as part of Welcoming Week.
Redwood City Promotor and staff highlighted in local news for speeches made during the acceptance of the Welcoming Week Proclamation presented during a City Council meeting.
Held annual retreat where United Against Hate week planning and partnerships began forming for UAHW 2025
Programming Supported by Welcoming Redwood City
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Orgullo y Educación (OYE) Conference
Featuring powerful guest speakers, thrilling performances, complementary meals, and valuable workshops, the OYE Latinx Youth Conference is no ordinary event. It is an opportunity to empower youth by introducing them to educational, cultural, social, and political resources. It is a platform through which youth gain the tools they need to discuss the obstacles and fears they face, identify their own strengths, and act collectively to address these obstacles.
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United Against Hate Week
United Against Hate Week is a call for local civic action to eliminate hate and implicit biases. In 2024, over 300 San Mateo County residents, including over 1000 Redwood City and North Fair Oaks community members, engaged in United Against Hate Week events such as Teddy Bear Tea, a film screening and discussion, and the annual Dream Club dinner fundraiser.
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Welcoming Star Award
Welcoming Stars recognizes people and programs in Redwood City and North Fair Oaks that model a remarkable commitment to creating a welcoming environment for all who live, work, study, and visit in our community. By celebrating and sharing the best and most effective programs in our community that are actively welcoming immigrants and newcomers in innovative and inspiring ways, Welcoming Redwood City aims to amplify their impact and highlight best practices for others to implement in our community and beyond.
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Welcoming Week
Redwood City Together is proud to be part of Welcoming America’s global network of organizations that transform communities into more welcoming places for all. In 2023, over 1000 community members engaged with Welcoming Week events, including a Parent Café, Know Your Rights Workshop, film screening of The Donut King, and a public recognition of our two Welcoming Stars of the year, Tito Alvarez and Familias Unidas (United Through Education).
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World Café
The Café is Welcoming Redwood City’s longest running annual event. Each year, long-term residents, newcomers, immigrants, government officials, and community leaders come together to form connections, build empathy and understanding through storytelling, and celebrate the diversity of our community. In past years, we have engaged around 150 community members at a time in meaningful dialogue with their neighbors, representatives, and community leaders.
