Welcoming Week
August 26, 2025
Welcoming Week 2025
Welcoming Week, an initiative of Y-USA's national partner Welcoming America, is an annual event that celebrates communities coming together to promote cross-cultural understanding and raise awareness of the benefits of welcoming everyone. This year, Welcoming Week is September 12 - 21, 2025.
Stay tuned for more even more fun activities!
YMCA of Downtown Manchester
All Week Long (September 12 - 21)
- Coffee, Tea and Snacks in the Lobby
- Goggles for Swim Participants
- Corporate & College Partnership Engagement
Daily Events
- September 12: Smoothie Bike
- September 13: Luau-Themed Open Swim
- September 15: Trivia Day
- September 16: Pancake Breakfast in the Lobby from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
- September 17: Member Appreciation
- September 18: Senior Potluck
- September 19: Karaoke in the Lobby
- September 20 – 21: Bring a Friend (18+) for FREE to Try the Y!
YMCA Allard Center of Goffstown
All Week Long (September 12 - 21)
- Welcoming Week Coloring Corner: A creative corner where children and adults color pages that say welcome in different languages as well as symbols of peace, unity, and community. It is a low-facilitation activity that can welcome a number of guests all week long.
- Map of Where We're From: World map posted in lobby with stickers for members to post where they came from. Map should include the 50 US states to reflect the diversity of culture within the US as well. Needs minor supervision to prevent children from sticking stickers at random.
- Stories that Connect Us All Wall: Offer up pages with writing prompts for members to respond to. Post the stories along the hallway for the week or maybe longer. Prompts can include:
- Share an interesting story that explains your background
- Share a story that tells us about your culture
- Share a story about a time when you felt welcomed
- Acts of Community Board: A board in the lobby with brightly colored envelopes on it encouraging members to take one. Each envelope has a unique message inside. The message is a call to action promoting acts of community building and kindness among our members.
- Wellness Workshops: Certified training staff will offer daily small group workshops around common fitness/wellness concerns and goals. This will help give individual people exercise instruction and ideas, as well as bring people with commonalities together. Examples include Exercise With Total Joints, Spinal Mobility, Foot and Wrist Health, etc. A different workshop will be offered each day, available by calendar reservation. Reserve your spot!
Daily Events
- September 17: Join us for a family-style potluck lunch on Wednesday, September 17 in The Center from 12:00 - 1:00 pm. This potluck will feature your families' traditional and/or favorite recipes! Please reserve by September 12. Reserve your spot!
- September 21 : Join us for a Community Gardening Day on Sunday, September 21 at 12:00 pm. We’re looking for volunteers and plant donations (preferably perennials) to help us beautify our YMCA grounds and grow something lasting together! This day is all about bringing people from all walks of life together to dig in, get our hands dirty, and make our Y shine. Bring your gloves, bring a plant, bring a friend—and let’s grow something beautiful! To register, please stop by the Welcome Desk.
YMCA of Concord
Daily Events
- September 12: Share your Culture Coffee Hour from 9:00 - 10:30 am in the Community Room
- September 13: In partnership with our friends at Books-A-Million, we're hosting a Book Fair celebrating cultural diversity in our Lobby on Saturday, September 13 from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm. We will have books for all ages—including children. Part of the proceeds from the event will benefit the Y!
- September 15: Darbster Rescue Doggy Adoption Event from 9:00 - 11:00 am in the Lobby
- September 16: Plant Swap with Penumbra from 10:00am - 6:00pm in the Lobby
- September 16: "What's in your lunchbox?" Nutrition Talk from 12:00 - 1:00 pm in the Community Room
- September 17: Queer Night Roller Skating (80's theme) from 7:00 - 8:00 pm in the Basketball Gym
- September 18: Join us for a 1-Mile Friend Building Walk with your neighbors at 6:00 pm on Warren Street. Come meet someone new! Be sure to bring or wear something that represents you.
- September 21: Visit the YMCA of Concord's booth from 12:00 - 5:00 pm at Keech Park during the Concord Multicultural Festival!
YMCA of the Seacoast
All Week Long (September 12 - 21)
- Daily Cultural Trivia
- Fun Wellness Facts
- Snacks from Around the World
- Learn To Say "Hello" in Different Languages
- What Makes You Feel Welcome Activity
