2023 Welcoming Week
September 8-17 2023

Welcoming Week is an annual campaign that brings together communities around the world that seek to create and strengthen welcoming communities for all people, especially immigrants and refugees. The San Diego Public Library proudly partners with the Office of Immigrant Affairs to celebrate this week by offering inclusive story times, programs for all ages, international language collections, Welcome Stations and more. We hope you will join us at one of our events and tell your neighbors.
Quick links:
Refugee Job Fair
City of San Diego Refugee Job Fair
Friday, September 15, 2023 | 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Central Library's 9th Floor Shiley Special Events Suite
The City of San Diego will welcome applicants with open job opportunities. Everyone is welcome. Simultaneous translation services from the City Communications department will be available. See Refugee Job Fair flyer for additional details.
Partnered Events
The Library is partnering with multiple City Departments, U.S. Attorney General, Alliance San Diego, and more to recognize Welcoming Week.
- Welcoming Week Kickoff
Friday, September 8, 2023 | 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. | City Heights/Weingart Library Lobby - Art &Craft Party: Make Welcoming Notes
Saturday, September 9, 2023 | 11 a.m. - 1p.m. | Linda Vista Library - Citizenship Assessment & Know Your Rights Workshop
Wednesday, September 12, 2023 | 6 p.m. - 7:45 p.m. | Logan Heights Library - Healthy SD
Thursday, September 14, 2023 |10 a.m. - 2 p.m. | City Heights/Weingart Library, Children's Area - Anti-Hate with San Diego's Office of Immigrant Affairs
Saturday, September 16, 2023 | 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Linda Vista Library
Author Event
Special Author Storytime: Lolo's Sari-sari Store by Sophia Lee
Saturday, September 16, 2023 | 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. | North University Community Library
In the picture book Lolo’s Sari-sari Store by Sophia Lee, a young Filipino girl moves to the American suburbs, far away from everything she knows. Although she is homesick, she uses the lessons she learned helping her grandfather in his sari-sari store to connect with her new neighbors. Come meet the author Sophia Lee and join us for a fun story time and activity.
Storytimes & Crafts
Libraries across the City are hosting story times that celebrate immigration themes and first languages. Click on each event to learn more.
- Mandarin Chinese Storytime
Thursday, September 7, 2023 | 4:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. | Carmel Mountain Ranch Library - Cuentos y cantos
Friday, September 8 and September 22, 2023 | 10:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. | Central Library - Welcoming Week Storytime & Crafts
Saturday, September 9, 2023 | 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. | University Heights Library - Bilingual Storytime: Tagalog (Oras ng Kwento sa Bilingguwal: Tagalog)
Wednesday, September 13, 2023 | 10:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. | La Jolla Library - Special Family Storytime (Hindi, Hmong, Farsi, and Spanish)
Wednesday, September 13, 2023 | 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. | University Community Library - Mandarin Chinese Story Time
Thursday, September 14, 2023 | 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. | Mira Mesa Library - Bilingual (Somali/English) Storytime
Friday, September 15, 2023 | 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. | City Heights/Weingart Library - Bilingual English/Chinese Storytime
Saturday, September 16, 2023 | 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. | Carmel Valley Library - Mandarin Chinese Storytime 中文故事時間
Tuesday, September 19, 2023 | 3 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. | Pacific Beach/Taylor Library - Bilingual Storytime! (Alternating Languages)
Thursday, September 21, 2023 | 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. | Mountain View/Beckwourth Library
Adult Programs
- English Conversation Group
Every Tuesday | 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. | Mira Mesa Library - Monthly Citizenship Workshop - IRC
Tuesday, September 12, 2023 | 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. | City Heights/Weingart Library - Grasas: ¿Saludables o no? / Fats: Healthy or Not?
Monday, September 18, 2023 | 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. | Otay Mesa-Nestor Library - Basic ESL III presented by SWC
Thursday, October 12, 2023 through Thursday December 7, 2023 | 4 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. | Otay Mesa-Nestor Library
About the Office of Immigrant Affairs
The City of San Diego’s Office of Immigrant Affairs was established to advance the civic, social, and economic integration of immigrants and refugees in the region. They work to cultivate a vibrant, inclusive, and safe binational region that welcomes families and businesses from around the world where all San Diegans can flourish. To learn about upcoming programs celebrating Welcoming Week in the City of San Diego visit: Welcoming San Diego | City of San Diego Official Website
Library Resources
- Brainfuse Live Tutoring and Language Lab (Available in Cantonese, ESL, French, Mandarin, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese)
- Adult High School Diploma Program
- Coursera
- Gale Courses
- LinkedIn Learning
- Peterson’s Test Prep – U.S. Citizenship
- READ San Diego
- Rosetta Stone
- Skillshare