Page 2 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, September 27, 2024 Welcoming Week embraces immigrants and refugees By Tara Vocino W elcoming Week embraced immigrants and refugees in the city last week from Sept. 13 to 22. Language Access Coordinator Elena Martinez said the week brought neighbors of all backgrounds to welcome collective prosperity. Martinez said there are 65 languages spoken in the city, including Spanish, Latin American dialectics, Portuguese, Brazilian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Arabic, Haitian Creole, Lebanese and African. “How are we putting Malden on the map with Welcome Week?” Martinez asked. “A couple hundred people attended.” Malden residents, community partners and Language Ambassadors were part of the celebration. Anne Webbe, a student and Malden resident, read the proclamation in Haitian Creole. Souad Akib, a Malden resident and founder and executive director of the American Association for Arab Women, read the proclamation in Arabic. Re (Dawn) Wu, a Malden resident and member of Chinese Culture Connection, read the proclamation in Chinese. Mary Ellen O’Meara, a Malden resident and Friends of the Malden Public Library president, read the proclamation in Portuguese. Hilda Torres, President of the Malden Chamber and owner of My Little Best Friends Early Learning Center, read the proclamation in Spanish. Malden Reads members read “Rainbow Fish” in diff erent languages: Spanish, Portuguese, Brazilian and Vietnamese. The book is about including everyone and sharing your gifts with Need a hall for your special event? The Schiavo Club, located at 71 Tileston Street, Everett is available for your Birthdays, Anniversaries, Sweet 16 parties and more? For more info, call (857) 249-7882 8 Norwood St. Everett (617) 387-9810 Open Tues. - Sat. at 4:00 PM Closed Sun. & Mon. Announcing our Classic Specials Dine In Only: * FREE Salad with purchase of Entree, Tuesdays & Wednesdays * Cheese Pizza - Only $10 Catch ALL The Live Sports Action On Our Large Screen TV’s Scan & Follow Us on Facebook! Friends of the Malden Public Library President Mary Ellen O’Meara read from “Linden on the Saugus Branch.” (Courtesy photo, Mayor Gary Christenson) the community. “It was a great success and afforded us the opportunity to share information about city services,” Mayor Gary Christenson said. “What I thought was most unique about the event was that for the fi rst time ever our proclamation was read in multiple languages.” In addition, they did a youth fi lm festival, where multicultural and bilingual students could embrace their heritage openly. Martinez said Welcoming Week embraces what is already happening in the city by making informational tables at City Hall accessible. Biblioteca LIB Inc. (fi rst Brazilian Library in Malden) Founder Michelle de Paula said she’s here to thank the city for their kindness and congratulate the city on the event. “A memorable day for us immigrants,” de Paula said. A Memoir Marathon about “Growing up in Malden” was held at the Malden Public Library (MPL) as part of Welcoming Week. This event presented the opportunity for Maldonians to read their favorite memoirs of the city, to newcomers and veterans alike. Friends of the MPL President Mary Ellen O’Meara participated by reading three passages from one of her favorite Malden books, “Linden on the Saugus Branch,” by Elliot Paul. “Paul lived on Beach Street, litwww.810bargrille.com erally one block away from me,” recounts O’Meara. “He describes what growing up in Linden was like at the turn of the 20th century. So, by reading anecdotes about our neighborhood in the early 1900’s, we fi nd out what families were living there, what ethnicities were prevalent, what diversity looked like, and why certain streets are named as they are. It’s fascinating!” Mayor Gary Christenson read passages from, “Monkey Corner: Life on the Outside Looking in” by Jerry Romano, and city councillors and other citizens participated in the readings as well. Shown from left to right: TDM Church Pastor Adelson Martins, Pedagogy teacher Glauce Santos, Mayor’s Offi ce Language Access Coordinator Elena Martinez, Biblioteca LIB Inc. Founder Michelle de Paula, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Timothy Sippel and Asst. Superintendent of Student Services Pam MacDonald. Anne Webbe, a student and Malden resident, read the proclamation in Haitian Creole. Souad Akib, a Malden resident and founder of the American Association for Arab Women, read the proclamation in Arabic. Re (Dawn) Wu, a Malden resident and member of Chinese Culture Connection, read the proclamation in Chinese. Mary Ellen O’Meara, a Malden resident and president of the Friends of the Malden Public Library, read the proclamation in Portuguese. and Hilda Torres, president of the Malden Chamber of Commerce and owner of My Little Best Friends Early Learning Center, read the proclamation in Spanish. (Courtesy photos, Language Access Coordinator Elena Martinez) Linda Zalk, of Malden Reads, reads a book to guests. Malden Public Library Director Dora St. Martin said the Malden Public Library was honored to participate in our 4th year of celebrating Welcoming Week. “Welcoming Week is a nationwide effort to bring together neighbors of all backgrounds to build strong connections and affi rm the importance of welcoming and inclusive places in achieving collective prosperity,” St. Martin said. The library’s events included showing movies related to immigrants and refugees, asking the community questions of the day, handing out takehome crafts for kids, and – for the last two years – hosting a social event called “Coff ee, Cookies, and Conversation,” which brings together immigrants and non-immigrants and other people from diverse backgrounds for a cup of coff ee and small talk. Stacy Holder, a librarian at the Malden Public Library, was excitIMMIGRANTS | SEE PAGE 4
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