{"id":432131,"date":"2026-09-10T21:16:14","date_gmt":"2026-09-10T21:16:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/432131\/"},"modified":"2026-09-10T21:16:14","modified_gmt":"2026-09-10T21:16:14","slug":"city-of-dallas-celebrates-welcoming-week-dallas-city-news-hub","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/432131\/","title":{"rendered":"City of Dallas Celebrates Welcoming Week!\u00a0 \u2013 Dallas City News Hub"},"content":{"rendered":"

Stories We Share: The Courage to Connect\u00a0<\/p>\n

From\u00a0September 10th-19th,\u00a02026, the City of Dallas joins communities around the world in celebrating Welcoming Week.\u00a0This year\u2019s theme,\u00a0\u201cStories We Share: The Courage to Connect,\u201d\u00a0recognizes the importance of building connections across communities and creating welcoming spaces where residents can thrive.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

In Dallas, being welcoming means helping people access services, connect with their community, and\u00a0participate\u00a0in city life. That includes newcomers, military veterans, people with disabilities, and visitors from around the world.\u00a0Welcoming Week\u00a0provides\u00a0an opportunity to highlight the\u00a0continued efforts happening across Dallas to build stronger, more connected communities.\u00a0Throughout the year, the Office of Housing and Community Empowerment (OHCE) works with City departments and community partners to make Dallas more accessible, connected, and welcoming for everyone.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Celebrate\u00a0Welcoming Week Across Dallas\u00a0<\/p>\n

Throughout Welcoming Week, organizations across Dallas are hosting events that bring people together through culture, arts, health, community resources, and shared experiences.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

For a complete listing of programs to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month click\u00a0HERE<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Charreria\u00a0\u2013 Sep 10 to 19\u00a0<\/p>\n

Charreria\u00a0is\u00a0a\u00a0solo exhibition by photographer Brent Kollock that offers an intimate exploration of the Mexican equestrian tradition, highlighting the cultural significance and identity embedded within the sport of\u00a0charrer\u00eda. Click\u00a0HERE<\/a>\u00a0for more information.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Dallas College: Global\u00a0Connections\u00a0Week\u00a0\u2013\u00a011:00 am\u00a0to 1:00 pm\u00a0on\u00a0Thursday,\u00a0September 10,\u00a0Wednesday 16, and\u00a0Friday 18\u00a0<\/p>\n

Enjoy live musical performances, food, and interactive activities.\u00a0The City of Dallas Office of Housing and Community Empowerment and CCX\/311 are excited to be present and\u00a0participate\u00a0in this celebration!\u00a0Click\u00a0HERE<\/a>\u00a0for more information.\u00a0<\/p>\n

No\u00a0Te\u00a0Dejes\u00a0\u2013 Sep 10 to 19\u00a0<\/p>\n

This solo exhibition by artist\u202fDavid Hanes-Gonzalez\u202fexplores the cultural and spiritual dimensions of the Mexican boxing community through photography and sculptural installation. Designed to evoke a devotional atmosphere, the work merges the sacred language of religious altars with the raw textures of boxing gyms across Mexico.\u202fClick\u00a0HERE<\/a>\u00a0for more information.\u00a0<\/p>\n

AFRIMMA Music Fest:\u202fOne Weekend. All of Africa \u2013\u202f12:30 pm\u202fon Saturday, Sep 12\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

AFRIMMA Music Fest is the ultimate celebration of African music, fashion, and culture: one unforgettable weekend in Dallas, Texas at the AT&T Performing Arts Center\u2019s Annette Strauss Square.\u202fClick\u202fHERE<\/a>\u202ffor more information.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

Cumbia & Carnaval with\u202fRepresenta\u00a0\u2013 2:00 pm on Saturday, Sep 12\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

Connect through music, art, and cultural traditions at this community celebration.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Click\u202fHERE<\/a>\u202ffor more information.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

Men\u2019s Health and Wellness Fair\u00a0\u2013 10:00 am to 2:00 pm Saturday, Sep 12\u00a0<\/p>\n

The health fair will focus on both mental and physical well-being for men, offering valuable information, health screenings, and resources to support a healthy lifestyle for the entire family. See\u00a0FLYER<\/a>\u00a0for more information.\u00a0<\/p>\n

South Dallas Community Walk- 8:00 am \u2013 Noon, Saturday, Sep 12\u00a0<\/p>\n

This free community event brings together residents, neighborhood associations, churches, schools, nonprofits, businesses, and healthcare organizations to promote health, wellness, and unity across South Dallas.\u00a0See\u00a0BILINGUAL FLYER<\/a>\u00a0for more information and click\u00a0HERE<\/a>\u00a0to register.\u00a0<\/p>\n

TEEN FUTURISM LAB: Art as Worldbuilding\u00a0\u2013 11:00 am Saturdays, Sep 12 & 19\u00a0<\/p>\n

Led by artist and art educator Erica Con, teens explore futurism, identity, and worldbuilding through collaborative artmaking! Join us for\u00a0hands\u2011on\u00a0painting and collage sessions where we imagine the futures we want to build together. Click\u00a0HERE<\/a>\u00a0for more information.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u202fUnity in the Community Engagement \u2013 10:00 am to 2:00 pm on Saturday, Sep 12\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

This is a day of connection, care, and community spirit. There will be free health screenings, resources, and more. See\u202fFLYER<\/a>\u202ffor more information.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

America250 Junior Book Club- 4:00 to 4:45 pm Wednesday, Sep 16\u00a0<\/p>\n

History\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0just about famous\u00a0names and old dates\u2014it\u2019s\u00a0about real people making choices that shaped our world. In the America250 Junior Book Club,\u00a0we\u2019ll\u00a0explore stories from America\u2019s past to better understand how we got here today and how we can help build a better future. Click\u00a0HERE<\/a>\u00a0for more information.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Line Dancing- 6:30 pm Wednesday, Sep 16\u00a0<\/p>\n

Join the Latino Cultural Center (LCC) for a night of line dancing.\u00a0Don\u2019t\u00a0know how to line dance?!\u00a0Don\u2019t\u00a0worry because\u00a0we\u2019ll\u00a0have an instructor showing you all the steps you need to know.\u202fClick\u00a0HERE<\/a>\u00a0for more information.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Play with me! \u00a1Juega\u00a0Conmigo- 9:00 am to 1:00 pm Wednesday, Sep 16\u00a0<\/p>\n

This is an 8-week program for children 0-3 years old and their parents. The weekly in-person sessions include activities that promote learning through play, information on strategies for positive parenting, and promoting children\u2019s development.\u202f Click\u00a0HERE<\/a>\u00a0for more information.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Seniors on the Move: Community Workout Tour \u2013 10:00 to 11:00 am on Thursday, Sep 17\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

Dallas Fire-Rescue Community Outreach is excited to announce our next Seniors on the Move (SOTM) event.\u00a0See\u202fBILINGUAL FLYER<\/a>\u202ffor more information.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

What Parents Need to Know About Executive Functioning- 6:30 to 7:30 pm Thursday, Sep 17\u00a0<\/p>\n

Executive functioning (EF) is the brain\u2019s management system that helps students turn good intentions into consistent action. In this practical workshop, parents and caregivers will learn EF strategies to implement at home to improve organization, time management, homework habits, routines, and independence. Click\u00a0HERE<\/a>\u00a0for more information.\u00a0<\/p>\n

7th Annual Veterans Mental Health Summit \u2013 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on Friday, Sep 18\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

The 7th Annual Veterans Mental Health Summit at Dallas College honors the resilience of our military-connected community, celebrates the courage it takes to seek support, and works to break down mental health stigma.\u00a0Click\u202fHERE<\/a>\u202fto register.\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

Everyone\u2019s\u202fan Artist! \/ Todos Somos Artistas! with Fred Villanueva \u2013 12:00 pm on Saturday, Sep 19\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

Participate in a bilingual art workshop that brings people together through creativity and shared experiences.\u00a0Click\u202fHERE<\/a>\u202ffor more information.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

Welcoming Dallas\u00a0All\u00a0Year\u00a0Round\u00a0<\/p>\n

Welcoming Week is also an opportunity to highlight work taking place throughout the year to make Dallas more accessible, connected, and easier to navigate.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Preparing Dallas to Welcome the World\u00a0<\/p>\n

Dallas welcomed the world this past summer as one of the 16 host cities of the 2026 FIFA Men\u2019s World Cup.\u00a0With Dallas on the world stage,\u00a0the City of Dallas\u00a0recognized the importance of providing a\u00a0welcoming\u00a0experience\u00a0for\u00a0international fans and visitors alike, including\u00a0ensuring that City staff were prepared to recognize and respond to human rights concerns associated with hosting a major international event.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

In collaboration with the North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee\u00a0and City of Dallas Human Resources,\u00a0the\u00a0Office of\u00a0Housing and Community Empowerment (OHCE)\u00a0provided\u00a0trainings to help City employees\u00a0learn how to recognize and respond to human trafficking as well as how to advance accessibility for people with disabilities.\u00a0The trainings helped City staff recognize indicators of human trafficking, understand how to call the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Additionally, City staff were able to\u00a0learn about disability etiquette and creating welcoming spaces in alignment with the Americans with Disabilities Act.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Over 1,300 staff members completed\u00a0the trainings.\u00a0OHCE staff\u00a0also\u00a0led three\u00a0human rights\u00a0trainings for over 150 FIFA volunteers\u00a0assigned to Fair Park, the location of the FIFA Fan Festival.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"OHCE staff pictured with FIFA volunteers after the human rights training.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Making City Information More Accessible\u00a0<\/p>\n

OHCE\u2019s welcoming work also extends\u00a0access\u00a0to digital spaces, a key\u00a0component\u00a0of\u00a0being a welcoming city. The City of Dallas is preparing\u00a0to\u00a0be aligned with new federal standards\u00a0that help make\u00a0digital\u00a0content\u00a0more\u00a0accessible to people with disabilities.\u00a0This will help ensure people with disabilities can:\u00a0<\/p>\n

Perceive web\u00a0content, such as by having\u00a0alternative\u00a0text with images;\u00a0<\/p>\n

Use assistive technology\u00a0to\u00a0navigate\u00a0web content;\u00a0<\/p>\n

Readily understand web content through consistent structuring;\u00a0<\/p>\n

Interact with web content using a wide range of devices, browsers, and applications.\u00a0<\/p>\n

OHCE, in\u00a0collaboration\u00a0with ITS,\u00a0reached over 400 unique City staff\u00a0led by expert ADA consultants\u00a0covering\u00a0accessibility standards,\u00a0accessible\u00a0documents,\u00a0and\u00a0accessibility in\u00a0social media\u00a0and\u00a0videos\u00a0led by the City\u2019s CCX\/311 team.\u00a0The City of Dallas main website is\u00a0currently\u00a099% complaint with the standard,\u00a0helping advance\u00a0equal access to programs, services, and activities highlighted on the website.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Connecting with Dallas Communities\u00a0<\/p>\n

Dallas Public Library in collaboration with Human Rights Dallas held the city\u2019s first-ever Human Rights Fair on August 15, 2026,\u00a0at the Central Library, where over 500 attendees engaged\u00a0with local human rights agencies\u00a0and learned\u00a0how to create a culture of human rights at the city-level.\u00a0Chair John Kalkanli of\u00a0OHCE\u2019s Commission on Disabilities\u00a0led\u00a0one of the many\u00a0workshops\u00a0on how the\u00a0Commission\u00a0advises\u00a0the Mayor, City Council, and City departments on policy recommendations\u00a0and best practices in\u00a0serving residents with disabilities.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Chair John Kalkanli and his service animal, Deputy, leading a workshop during the Human Rights Fair at Dallas Public Library.<\/p>\n

\"\"Chair John Kalkanli and his service animal, Deputy, leading a workshop during the Human Rights Fair at Dallas Public Library.<\/p>\n

\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Stories We Share: The Courage to Connect\u00a0 From\u00a0September 10th-19th,\u00a02026, the City of Dallas joins communities around the world…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":432132,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[102,104,103],"class_list":["post-432131","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-dallas","tag-dallas","tag-dallas-headlines","tag-dallas-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/432131","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=432131"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/432131\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/432132"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=432131"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=432131"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=432131"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}