For more information: Gary Broome
Director of Communications & Marketing
Phone: (314) 803-0207
Email address:
broomeg@iistl.org
For immediate release to News Directors and Assignment Editors:
International Institute of St. Louis Joins with Welcoming America and Hundreds of Communities to Celebrate New Americans during Welcoming Week
Institute Will Host U.S. Citizenship Ceremony Sept. 20 Featuring St. Louis Mosaic Project Executive Director Betsy Cohen
ST. LOUIS (Sept. 12, 2019) Starting tomorrow, Sept. 13 through Sunday, Sept. 22, the International Institute of St. Louis will celebrate Welcoming Week to recognize the extraordinary contributions immigrants bring to the bi-state St. Louis region.
"We at the International Institute of St. Louis are proud to be a part of Welcoming Week, which is demonstrating that in places both large and small, rural and urban, people of all backgrounds are coming together to create stronger communities," said International Institute of St. Louis President & CEO Anna Crosslin. "At a time of rising anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies that hurt families, Welcoming Week is a reminder of the resilient and inclusive history and spirit of St. Louis. It is a time to celebrate the values that unite us as neighbors and to make St. Louis a more welcoming place to newcomers and to everyone who calls our community home."
As part of Welcoming Week, on Friday, Sept. 20, the International Institute will host a U.S. Citizenship Ceremony featuring St. Louis Mosaic Project Executive Director Betsy Cohen. Petitioners from dozens of countries will take the oath of U.S. Citizenship under the auspices of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of Eastern Missouri. The program will begin at 11 a.m. at the Institute, 3401 Arsenal St., St. Louis, MO 63118.
The International Institute has provided resettlement and integration services for nearly every new immigrant population in the St. Louis region since 1919. Annually, more than 6,000 immigrants and refugees learn English, find jobs, become resettled and start businesses with our help. We build a strong, more global St. Louis by promoting the value of immigrants and multicultural inclusion. Our annual Festival of Nations attracts more than 100,000 visitors. Learn more about us at
www.iistl.org.
About Welcoming Week
Welcoming Week is an annual celebration bringing together thousands of people and hundreds of local events that builds unity between the contributions of immigrants and refugees and the role long term residents play to foster greater welcome. Welcoming Week is Sept. 13-22 across the country and is expanding to other parts of the world. Welcoming America is leading a movement of inclusive communities becoming more prosperous by making everyone who lives there know they belong. Welcoming America believes that all people, including immigrants, are valued contributors and vital to the success of both our communities and our shared future.
