FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 14, 2015
ANCHORAGE – This week, the Municipality of Anchorage, local businesses, and area residents will participate in the Welcoming Anchorage Celebration in conjunction with National Welcoming Week. Representative Geran Tarr (D-Anchorage) plans to participate in several events including the Welcoming Anchorage Celebration Saturday afternoon at the Northway Mall.
“I am so proud to call Anchorage my home. This is a week to celebrate everything that Anchorage has to offer,” said Rep. Tarr. “By embracing our cultural diversity and our economic potential we can build a more vibrant city, which will strengthen the larger Alaska economy.”
This week’s Welcoming Anchorage Celebration will include a naturalization ceremony Wednesday, during which several areas residents will become official U.S. citizens. The naturalization ceremony and reception will be hosted by the Municipality of Anchorage and Mayor Ethan Berkowitz in the Loussac Library Assembly Chambers Wednesday from noon to 2:30 pm.
The Welcoming Anchorage Celebration will culminate on Saturday with an event at the Northway Mall from 2-5 pm that will feature cultural entertainment, cultural food trucks, and booths manned by organizations that support Anchorage’s diverse population. Rep. Geran Tarr will have a booth at the event and is encouraging area residents to stop by and learn about her efforts to support cultural diversity and economic development in Anchorage.
“Our immigrant neighbors bring much needed skills to our economy,” said Rep. Tarr. “One of my neighbors runs a food cart but she’s actually an engineer. Her credentials aren’t honored in Alaska, which means she will have to go back to school. We need her skills to keep our economy strong.”
The Welcoming Anchorage Celebration will kick off today with a forum hosted by the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce at the Dena’ina Center from 11:30 am – 1 pm. The forum will feature a panel discussion focused on the economic benefits of being an inclusive, welcoming community.
For more information contact Rep. Tarr’s office at (907) 269-0144.
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