Welcoming Week 2026

WELCOMING WEEK

Belonging Begins With Us. Welcoming everyone into the Y, no matter where you are from. It is a chance for neighbors, both immigrants and US-born residents, to get to know one another and celebrate what unites us as a community.

During Welcoming Week, local governments, businesses, non-profits, social services, agencies, and community organizations host events to:

• Celebrate the diversity of our communities
• Bring together newcomers and long-standing residents to build mutual understanding
• Stand in solidarity with marginalized communities
• Help communities move beyond divisiveness and fragmentation

The Gaston County Family YMCA would like to invite you to come visit our facilities, enjoy the benefits of a YMCA membership, meet your community, and take part in special activities and events.

 

welcomepics

CHERRYVILLE FAMILY YMCA

  • $0 Joining Fee!

Stay tuned for additional Welcoming Week Activities!
 

McGILL FAMILY YMCA

  • $0 Joining Fee!
  • Community World Puzzle – Sept 10–19, all day, help complete our community puzzle where every piece has a place
  • International Music – Sept 10–19, enjoy music from around the world throughout the facility
  • World Map Activity – Sept 10–19, all day, place a sticker on our giant map to show where you’re from
  • “Would You Rather?” – Sept 10–19, all day, cast your vote in international-themed questions and see what other members choose
  • Workout Around the World – Sept 10–11 & 14–18, 10:00–11:00 AM during Women in the Weight Room, enjoy workouts inspired by cultures from around the world
  • Coffee & Convos – Wed, Sept 16, 9:00–11:00 AM, enjoy international coffee and conversation
  • Nutrition Works – Thurs, Sept 17, 9:00–10:45 AM, enjoy a Mediterranean-inspired sample and recipe
  • International Fruit Feature – Date TBD, try a fruit from around the world
  • International Candy – Date TBD, stop by the front desk for sweet treats from around the world
     

WARLICK FAMILY YMCA

  • $0 Joining Fee!
  • Welcome Wall: “I’m a Welcomer” – Sept 10–19, all day, share how you help make the Y a welcoming place
  • Spell Your Workout – Sept 10–19, all day, choose a country and spell your way through a workout
  • World Map Activity – Sept 10–19, all day, place a sticker on our giant map to show where you’re from
  • Around the World in Childwatch – Sept 10–19, during Childwatch hours, explore books, coloring pages and crafts from around the world
  • Salsa Dancing with Shonda – Thurs, Sept 10 & 17, 10:00 AM
  • International Mints – Mon, Sept 14, all day, enjoy mints at the front desk inspired by their English origins
  • Fieldsville Coffee: Indonesian Coffee Tasting – Tues, Sept 15, 9:00–10:00 AM
  • Member Refreshments – Wed, Sept 16, 10:00–11:00 AM & 6:00–7:00 PM, enjoy water and a snack while supplies last

Welcoming Week 2026: Belonging Begins With Us

We’ve all experienced moments where we felt like we didn’t belong. Together, we can change that. Belonging Begins with Us, the theme for 2026 Welcoming Week, aligns with the national Belonging Begins With Us campaign, which is supported by a broad coalition of public and private partners working to help create a more welcoming nation where everyone can feel like they belong. As we emerge from a tumultuous time in our nation’s history, the theme reminds us that more unites us than divides us. Welcoming Week 2026 is an opportunity for your Y to foster connections and build bridges among neighbors so that our communities can move forward in a spirit of unity and healing. We can all play a role in making sure everyone feels welcome. National Partner: Welcoming America

Welcoming America is a nonpartisan, non-profit organization that helps communities across the country achieve prosperity by becoming more welcoming toward immigrants and all residents. Its mission is to inspire people to build inclusive communities that embrace new immigrants and foster opportunity for all. Y-USA has a national partnership with Welcoming America to support local Y capacity building and community scaling of efforts to strengthen cohesion between new immigrants and their receiving communities. Visit www.welcomingamerica.org for the latest welcoming news, resources, and more.

The Need for Welcoming Week

With more than 44 million foreign-born individuals currently living in the U.S.—more than at any other point in history—it is imperative for the well-being of our communities that all neighbors have opportunities to engage, build mutual understanding and work together to create a better society for all.