The Issaquah Library honored national Welcoming Week on Sept. 20 with Issaquah Welcomes You, a cultural extravaganza that organizers said will be a yearly tradition.
Welcoming Week is a national movement by pro-inclusion group Welcoming America that lasts from Sept. 15 through 24.
“During this annual series of events, communities bring together immigrants, refugees, and native-born residents to raise awareness of the benefits of welcoming everyone,” Welcoming America’s website states.
At libraries in Sammamish, Redmond, Bellevue, Kirkland, Tukwila, Kent and Kingsgate, the King County Library System took part in celebrating Welcoming Week with activities to recognize and educate people on other cultures.
Issaquah’s celebration, organized by Teen Services Librarian Jessica McClinton Lopez in partnership with the city of Issaquah, incorporated food, dance performances, songs, national costumes, decorations and artwork from about 10 of the different heritages of Issaquah residents.
The evening was a true blend of cultures from around the globe. Dancers performed pieces from India, Hawaii, Scotland and colonial America. Children learned to make Japanese origami birds while one table over, henna tattoos from India were being carefully drawn. Guests with braver taste buds sampled chili candies from Mexico.
The evening kicked and danced off with the Virginia Reel, a Scottish Country dance. Dancers of all ages and abilities linked arms and do-si-do’d, including Issaquah Mayor Fred Butler.
“I haven’t done the Virginia Reel in a long, long time,” Butler laughed at the podium after his dancing escapades.
Butler then spoke to the reason for holding the cultural evening.
“One of the more exciting things I get to do as mayor is attend events like this, and it’s so wonderful to see so many nationalities represented,” he said.
“Issaquah is a welcoming place,” Butler continued. “Welcoming is about more than tolerance, it’s about developing a respect and appreciation for all cultures. This is a great opportunity to explore other cultures.”
Issaquah Schools Foundation Cultural Bridges Program Manager Margarita Leas, who immigrated to the U.S. from Colombia, said that she was so happy to have landed in a community as welcoming and supportive as Issaquah.
“I’m so proud to be here and to see all of you with different dress,” Leas said. “Thank you for coming. The beauty of Issaquah is, everyone is welcome, no matter what kind of accent.”
“Our different identities make our community stronger,” Butler said.
Left, dressed in a traditional Indian sari, Sangeetha Madanagopal paints henna body art on attendees. The designs last for about two weeks. Nicole Jennings/staff photo
Issaquah Mayor Fred Butler (center, wearing blue jacket) dances the Virginia Reel, an old Scottish Country dance. Nicole Jennings/staff photo
Attendees donned the national costumes of their cultures. Nicole Jennings/staff photo
Issaquah Schools Foundation Cultural Bridges Program Manager Margarita Leas tells of her personal experience immigrating from Colombia to the U.S. Nicole Jennings/staff photo
Joanna Zhang Partlow describes to Scottish Country Dance instructor and Adult Services Librarian Karla Anderson the Chinese art form of inner painting. Nicole Jennings/staff photo
Inner painting, shown up-close by Partlow, is a Chinese style of art in which intricate designs on snuff bottles are painted from the inside. Nicole Jennings/staff photo
Inner painting, shown up-close by Partlow, is a Chinese style of art in which intricate designs on snuff bottles are painted from the inside. Nicole Jennings/staff photo
Inner painting, shown up-close by Partlow, is a Chinese style of art in which intricate designs on snuff bottles are painted from the inside. Nicole Jennings/staff photo
