By Mary Mitzlaff OMAHA, Neb.- This month, Omaha’s Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement (CIRA) hosted its first ever Welcome Fest, joining cities across the country in celebrating immigrant and refugee communities during national Welcoming Week.
Welcome Fest filled Omaha with music, food and culture, featuring live performances, local food vendors and rows of booths showcasing talents, passions and traditions.
Among the celebration was local artist David Manzanares, who created the mural that wraps around CIRA’s building. Born in Mexico, he now lives in Omaha and says art helps him build community here.
“It’s important for us to feel welcome. You know, like, sometimes I don’t feel welcome in this beautiful country, but I am part of it,” Manzanares said. Immigrants make up nearly 14 percent of Omaha’s population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, and Omaha Public Schools also support students who speak more than 100 languages.
CIRA’s director of community engagement, Khenda Mustafa, said it’s important to make sure all communities in Omaha can succeed.
“Our mission is to empower immigrant and refugee community members to live confidently through our high quality services, as well as to create welcoming communities through education and advocacy,” Mustafa said.
Manzanares carried out that mission through his work on the mural wrapping the walls of CIRA’s building. Manzanares drew inspiration from immigrant and refugee community members in Omaha. He asked people what makes them feel welcome and what they’d bring from their home culture, and wove those answers into the mural. He even held art classes and events to design it, making the mural itself a community project.
He said, “And I want many people to also feel welcome. And not just to feel welcome, but to belong to this place. Because once you belong to the place, you really invest in it. You make it better. You grow with this place, and this place goes with you. Let’s call this place a home, or Nebraska or the United States.”
While Welcome Fest was a lively celebration, it’s also part of a bigger movement to connect Omaha’s neighbors and build community year-round.
The Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement’s services continue year-round. From English classes to mentorships, the center helps immigrant and refugee neighbors build community in Omaha, much like David does through his art.
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