City Council Meeting Date: September 8, 2026
To: Mayor and Members of Council
From: Ben Martig, City Administrator
Natalie Draper, Director of Library Services
Claudia Garcia, Spanish Translator
Title
Consider Resolution Declaring September 10-19, 2026 as “Welcoming Week” in the City of Northfield.
Body
Action Requested:
Council is asked to consider a resolution declaring September 10-19, 2026 as “Welcoming Week” in the City of Northfield.
Summary Report:
The attached resolution expresses the City of Northfield's support for Welcoming Week and affirms the City's commitment to fostering a community where all residents feel welcome, included, and able to participate fully in civic life.
Welcoming Week is an annual national initiative that celebrates the contributions of immigrants, refugees, and longtime residents while encouraging communities to strengthen connections across cultures and backgrounds. Communities across the United States participate by hosting public events, educational programs, volunteer opportunities, and civic celebrations that promote belonging and inclusion.
In Northfield, planning for Welcoming Week is being coordinated collaboratively by the Human Rights Commission and the Northfield Public Library, working with community organizations, educational institutions, and volunteers to develop programming that reflects the community's values and broad participation.
Activities and commemorations taking place during Welcoming Week include the Northfield Public Library’s Hispanic Heritage Celebration on 9/19, and the Ames Park Welcome Banner by Rocky Casillas, on display from 9/13-9/30. The banner artwork, funded by a grant to the artist from Forecast, reads “All are Welcome Here” in multiple languages, with figures representing Kenyan, Chinese, Hispanic, Hmong, Somali, and Indian immigrants.
At their August 26, 2026 meeting, the Human Rights Commission approved a motion of support for the resolution.
Alternative Options:
Not applicable.
Financial Impacts:
None.
Tentative Timelines:
September 8th - Council Resolution Consideration