Welcoming Week 2026 was officially proclaimed by Mayor Jake Wilson at the latest meeting of the Somerville City Council.

By Harry Kane

Feeling welcomed and the courage to connect unite the community, say city officials. Mayor Jake Wilson proclaimed Welcoming Week 2026 for September 10 through September 19 at the latest City Council meeting to celebrate inclusion and diversity in the community.

“We proclaim 2026 the Year of the Neighbor, as you all know, recognizing the strong communities that are built when we look out for each other, when we make meaningful connections, and when we ensure that everyone feels like they belong,” said Mayor Wilson.

Welcoming Week reaffirms that welcoming is a core part of the community, he said. The commitment calls on community members to share their stories, to learn from their neighbors, and to join together to build a stronger and more welcoming Somerville.

“We know that we’re stronger when we embrace both our similarities and our differences, when we create opportunities to connect and build lasting relationships through food, music, art, storytelling, shared traditions, and through conversation,” said Mayor Wilson.

Every September, Welcoming Week builds strong connections during an annual campaign to promote cultural understanding and ensure a sense of belonging.

Maria Teresa Nagel, Director of Immigrant Affairs, explained that this year’s theme for Welcoming Week is “Stories We Share: The Courage to Connect.”

“I don’t think we could have chosen a more fitting theme,” said Nagel.  “It takes courage to connect. It takes courage to walk into a room where you don’t know anyone and introduce yourself. It takes courage to ask someone about their story and to actually listen to the answer. It takes courage to show up for someone whose life may look very different from yours. And it takes courage to let someone see you.”

Nagel said that having courage is especially important right now. “We’re living in a time when it can be easier to retreat into what we already know, to stay with people who think like us, look like us, speak like us, or come from places we understand.”

Instead of living in a state of fear, it’s important to connect with one another, reject divisiveness, and embrace the connections, which she says are an act of love.

“I’m not talking about sentimental kind of love, but the kind that really requires something from each of us,” said Nagel. “The kind that says, ‘I see you. I am curious about your story. Your experience matters to me. And when you need someone to stand beside you, I will try to be there.’” She added, “It is not simply opening a door and saying you’re welcome here. It is making sure that once that door is open, people that walk through it know they belong.”

Community building occurs when residents learn the name of the person they pass on the sidewalk, help the sick, or advise a community member when navigating something unfamiliar, she explained.

“We sit together, eat together, laugh together, disagree with one another, and still come back the next day ready to keep building,” said Nagel. “And in a city like Somerville, our neighbors bring extraordinary stories with them. Stories of migration, stories of starting over, stories of generations who have called this place home, stories of faith and culture and family, stories of struggle, resilience, loss, joy, and hope.”

Nagel says when residents share their stories, something powerful happens. “We stop being categories. We stop being strangers. We become people to one another. That is why Welcoming Week matters.”

Community members can take part in two ways:

• Find your next read with Somerville Public Library. Check out SPL’s curated book lists highlighting immigrant stories and experiences. The City’s librarians have created collections for children, teens, and adults.
• Come to the SOIA Community Get-Together. Keep the welcome going on Thursday, September 24, from 5 to 7 p.m. at 42 Cross St. Join SOIA for a casual, multilingual gathering with food, music, and resource-sharing. Meet neighbors, connect with City resources, and help wrap up Somerville’s Welcoming Week celebrations.