International Aurora February Newsletter
Office of International and Immigrant Affairs receives Welcoming America’s Fund to Foster Belonging
The city of Aurora’s Office of International and Immigrant Affairs is excited to announce that it has been awarded a grant from Welcoming America’s Fund to Foster Belonging, a non-profit organization leading a movement of inclusiveness to create more prosperous and welcoming communities. This grant will support OIIA’s “WE ARE AURORA” campaign, a creative photography project promoting understanding and belonging across different racial, ethnic and linguistic groups. This campaign will also foster collaboration and promote a sense of connection among all Aurora residents, which are some of the goals of the citywide Immigrant Integration Plan 2020-2030. The city of Aurora was the only local government in the United States that was awarded this grant in 2023.
FEBRUARY'S HIGHLIGHTS
February was a month full of events and opportunities supporting the economic and professional development of the city’s international community. In addition to the rich cultural contributions of the immigrant and refugee communities to the city of Aurora, their drive to continue expanding their skills, along with their entrepreneurial spirit, are one of the main drivers of the local economy. The Office of International and Immigrant Affairs is proud and humbled to participate in initiatives promoting inclusive professional and economic development in Aurora.
A fantastic initiative in support of the professional development of the diverse Aurora community is the Graduate Equivalency Degree or GED program organized by Amigos de Mexico and OIIA. A total of 12 participants graduated in this cohort, which was the first program of 2023. Congratulations to all the graduates!
Additionally, eight exceptional women completed the Entrepreneurship Program for Mexican Women Abroad offered by the Consulate General of Mexico in collaboration with Amigos de Mexico and OIIA. The graduates of these programs are an example of determination, dedication and hard work. OIIA looks forward to the great success that they will accomplish in the near future.
Other exciting events included the Hispanic Business Fair and Business Opportunities in Colorado, whereby hundreds of people attended, and various organizations presented their resources. The events also included panel discussions, where experts and entrepreneurs shared their experiences and strategies to navigate the professional world. Thanks to all the panelists, attendees, the Consulate General of Mexico and Amigos de Mexico for joining efforts with OIIA to make these events possible.
This month, OIIA hosted the first Aurora Ethnic Media Roundtable discussion with the Aurora Police Department’s Interim Chief, Art Acevedo. Chief Acevedo shared his vision and plans for APD with representatives from the Hispanic, African and Asian media. Thanks to all the participants for making this a successful event. Kudos to the People's Building team for their hospitality and assistance. 
The Consul General of Peru, Hon Roland Denegri, made a final courtesy visit to Mayor Coffman before leaving his diplomatic post in Colorado. During his time in our state, Peru and Colorado established solid relationships, and Peruvian culture had a strong presence.
Finally, OIIA provided a training on city resources informing local immigrant and refugee community members of city services and exploring opportunities to continue collaborating. Special thanks to the seven different communities that participated in the training. OIIA looks forward to providing similar training opportunities in other parts of Aurora and the Denver Metro area.
UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS
International Women's Day
 
The International Women's Day 2023, for Women's Empowerment Workshop #Embrace Equity, is a free multi-cultural event for women and their families. Join us from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sunday, March 26, at Cool Event Center, 1050 S. Sable Blvd. Attendees will also enjoy a workshop on women’s empowerment and learn about various community resources. Interpretation services will be available in Spanish, Amharic, Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese and other languages as needed. Learn more and register here.
Citizenship classes in Aurora
 
The city of Aurora’s the Office of International and Immigrant Affairs and the organization Amigos de Mexico, will be offering an in-person citizenship class on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., March 4 to May 27, at 111 Del Mar Circle. For more information and to register, visit https://bit.ly/3ltQ3y4.
OIIA's Community Calendar
For more information on upcoming events, visit OIIA's community calendar.
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