For the fourth year in a row, the City of Burien celebrated National Welcoming Week. Welcoming Week is an initiative of the nonpartisan nonprofit Welcoming America, featuring organizations and communities bringing together neighbors of all backgrounds, including immigrants, to build strong connections and affirm the importance of welcoming and inclusive places in achieving collective prosperity.
On September 9, 2024, the Burien City Council issued a proclamation declaring September 13-22, 2024 as Welcoming Week in Burien. The proclamation, read by Councilmember Hugo Garcia, was presented in four languages – English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Amharic – and was accepted on behalf of the community by Lorraine Chachere, economic development specialist for the City of Burien and lead organizer of Welcoming Burien.
The annual Welcoming Burien event hosted by the City of Burien, in partnership with Discover Burien, was held in Town Square Park on Saturday, September 14, 2024. This free event featured cultural performances and activities, games, arts and crafts, a resource fair with more than a dozen local organizations and City staff participating, food, and more.
“We consistently hear from new and long-standing community members that Burien’s diversity is one of the qualities that people love most about living here, and the other community asset people cherish is our events,” said Chachere. “The Welcoming Burien event allows our residents, businesses, and community organizations to come together so that we can cultivate stronger, more connected, and joyful communities.”
In 2021, Burien became a member of Welcoming America and one of the first cities in the region to have a dedicated event for Welcoming Week.
“With our early membership in the Welcoming America network which reflects Burien’s values and commitment to immigrant inclusion and celebrating the contributions of immigrants to our city—even before Burien officially became a city!—Burien continues to strive to include and welcome immigrants in all areas of civic, social, and economic life in our community,” said Chachere.
The event also gave attendees the opportunity to meet Burien’s Community Connectors who represent those from Spanish, Vietnamese, and Amharic language communities and learn about City services directly from City staff.
“Our Welcoming Burien event truly showcases who we are as a City,” said Burien City Manager Adolfo Bailon. “We encourage everyone to come join us and celebrate what makes Burien so special: its people, its vibrancy, its diversity, and its inclusivity.”
