The City of Burien will celebrate its immigrant and refugee communities with a free Welcoming Week event from 4 to 7 p.m. this Thursday, Sept. 17, at Town Square Park.
The Welcoming Burien celebration will feature cultural performances, games, arts and crafts, activities and a resource fair, according to the city. The event is being presented by the city in partnership with Discover Burien.
Attendees will also be able to meet Burien’s Community Connectors, who represent the city’s Spanish, Vietnamese and Amharic speaking communities. City employees will be available to provide information about municipal programs and services.
The event is part of National Welcoming Week, which runs from Sept. 10 through 19. This year’s theme is “Stories We Share: The Courage to Connect.”
Welcoming Week is an initiative of Welcoming America, a nonpartisan nonprofit that encourages organizations and communities to bring together neighbors from different backgrounds, including immigrants. The initiative seeks to strengthen community connections and promote welcoming and inclusive places.
Burien joined Welcoming America in 2021 and was among the first cities in the region to hold a dedicated Welcoming Week event, according to the city. This is Burien’s sixth consecutive year participating in the national celebration.
The Burien City Council recognized the occasion with a proclamation declaring Sept. 10 through 19 as Welcoming Week in Burien. Councilmember Rocco DeVito presented the proclamation at the council’s Sept. 14 meeting, where it was accepted by Sofia, one of Burien’s Community Connectors.
The City of Burien will celebrate National Welcoming Week (September 10-19), and invite community to come together with curiosity and courage with this year’s theme of “Stories We Share: The Courage to Connect” and to uplift our immigrant and refugee neighbors. (3/3)
— City of Burien, WA (@Burien) September 15, 2026
If the council members think illegal immigrants should be supported and welcome to utilize our public services I expect the council members to share their homes and financial support for them as I cannot afford to help out. If the council members cannot provide financial support and housing then they should support deporting them and allow ice to do what 80 percent of the voters have requested them to do.