A Celebration of Welcome: Lessons from Students
In our final post about “A Celebration of Welcome,” we wanted to highlight the incredible finalists who curated projects that framed the event and the lessons of welcome they shared with us.
The finalists included many students who are currently or wrapping time as full time university students studying subjects such as physical therapy, biomedical engineering, nursing, exercise science, civil engineering, health and exercise science, and early childhood education. In addition, two of our finalists are recent high school graduates about to start university degree programs. The finalists also hailed from a wide range of home cultures, including Turkey, Iran, Burma, Canada, Nigeria, Mexico, and Afghanistan. Projects covered artwork, sculptures, children’s books, videos of home cultures, digital illustrations, essays, and photography.
Each of our finalists was awarded a stipend. Many students are using the award to pay for tuition and fees, cover costs of books and other learning materials, or ensure reliable transportation for school.
Through the student projects, visitors to the event learned quite a bit about welcome. Students focused on how their home cultures practiced welcome as well as how they received welcome through experiences in the United States. Below, we’ve highlighted some of the lessons we’ve learned from student experiences and wisdom:
Welcome is free and exists within the capacity of each person.
Welcome includes curating inclusive and diverse spaces where people can experience belonging.
Welcome is about being curious, asking questions, and genuinely caring for others.
When we are welcomed fully, we can welcome others in fuller ways, too.
Welcome is not an expensive endeavor- it smore about what is personal to you and part of who you are.
Welcome is rooted in love and respect for our neighbors– who can be anyone– and is rooted in sharing of ourselves and our homes.
Welcome is ultimately about kindness that knows no boundaries.
We are truly grateful for the lessons we have learned and continue to learn from our student finalists. Each brought a different perspective that enriched the conversation around welcome, and each offers a perspective to Oklahoma city that makes it a city more alive and more whole. We look forward with attentive eyes to how these lessons about welcome continue to unfold in the coming seasons.
