Emporia has long been known for its warm and welcoming nature to all who pass through the community, but our small town’s inviting atmosphere is now being recognized on a national scale.
It was officially announced on Wednesday morning during a proclamation recognizing Welcoming Week by the Emporia City Commission that Emporia has received certified welcoming designation through Welcoming America. This designation recognizes communities for their efforts to “intentionally connect and include people of all backgrounds.”
KVOE News recently spoke with Assistant City Manager Tayler Wash, who says this designation is a great example of what happens when an entire community rallies behind a core principle or value.
Wash also says inclusiveness is not something Emporians have ever lacked.
The designation is determined based on seven pillars: Government leadership, equitable access, civic engagement, connectivity, education, economic development and safety. Kansas Spanish Speakers Executive Director Lelan Dains, whose organization was among several spotlighted as being crucial to receiving the honor, says these are all values that Emporia and the many organizations working within it embody on a daily basis.
Wednesday, Dains stated the designation is more than a certification, it is a validation that the work being done across the community is working.
As previously reported, Spanish Speakers is in the midst of a statewide expansion after announcing its new name and expanded vision early last week. When asked how this recent recognition can aid those efforts, Dains says he believes the road map of welcoming that is embodied in Emporia applies to all other communities.
One program that received special recognition as part of the recent accolade was Emporia’s Mi Negocio Academy, which was established by the Emporia Chamber of Commerce in response to a constant need expressed by local non-English-speaking residents, according to Chamber Membership Director Rebecca Herrera.
Herrera says she is very proud of the work of Mi Negocio and the message it conveys to all residents, both English-speaking and non-English-speaking, that language should not be a barrier to success.
Wednesday’s Welcoming Week proclamation was followed by another recognizing September as Hispanic Heritage Month, a proclamation received by Hispanics of Today and Tomorrow President Mike Torres. In addition to promoting the culture of Hispanic heritage, HOTT played an integral role in the Welcoming America certification and Torres says it is fitting both occasions were recognized almost simultaneously as celebrating a culture of inclusivity while also recognizing the importance of diverse cultures is essential to opening the door for greater dialogue and community growth.
Emporia is among 28 communities to receive this designation through Welcoming America and is the first community in the state of Kansas to be recognized through the program.
