Powered by the NWA Council
Powered by the NWA Council
This September, Welcoming Week NWA 2025 returns with a focus on community service, civic engagement, and belonging. Anchored in the spirit of community, this month-long celebration will unite students, families, educators, libraries, businesses, and community leaders across Northwest Arkansas through events that uplift leadership, foster cross-cultural connection, and inspire community pride.
From high school campuses to public libraries and neighborhood spaces, Welcoming Week NWA 2025 will spotlight the power of service as a tool for building bridges—while aligning with the Arkansas LEARNS Act 237 community service requirement for high school students. With the support of partners like the Arkansas Department of Education, this year’s theme reflects how everyone can meaningfully contribute and serve their community.
To make participation easier for everyone, we’ve created a Sponsorship & Information Toolkit with ways for schools, libraries, nonprofits, businesses, and individuals to plug in. Whether you’re a returning partner or engaging for the first time, there’s a role for you.
👉 [View the Sponsorship Packet & Information Toolkit]
From hosting an event to amplifying Welcoming Week NWA through your networks, your involvement helps ensure that this month-long celebration reflects the vibrancy of our region.
The theme for this year—Future Forward: Community Service and Welcome Month—is rooted in last year’s success. In 2024, we kicked off Welcoming Week NWA with a student-centered event at Springdale High School, featuring a community fair that introduced students to local organizations, civic leaders, and volunteer opportunities.
In 2025, we aim to grow on this momentum by working with more high schools, libraries, and teen-centered spaces to develop a regional approach to youth civic engagement. Welcoming Week NWA events will offer students, families, and educators valuable context and encouragement to meet the LEARNS Act (Act 237 of 2023) requirement of 75 documented hours of community service for graduation—starting with the Class of 2026–2027.
We’re proud to work with the Arkansas Department of Education, and we’re especially grateful to Sara Kemeny and her team for their collaboration in spreading awareness and support across the state.
To stay connected and informed, we’re hosting brief virtual planning meetings on the last Tuesday of each month through August. These 20-minute check-ins are a great opportunity to share ideas, explore collaborations, and get your questions answered. You can always access past meetings and slide decks at WelcomingWeekNWA.org.
🗓️ Save the Dates for Future Planning Meetings:
June 24, July 29, August 26
🕦 11:30–11:50 a.m.
👉 [Link to join]
We’re now accepting submissions for the official Welcoming Week NWA September calendar! If you’re planning a program, performance, community conversation, volunteer event, or cultural celebration that fosters inclusion and connection, we encourage you to share it.
Just like in previous years, events should be low-barrier, open to the community and aligned with the spirit of Welcoming Week NWA.
👉 [Submit your event here using the Events tab]
Together, Let’s Celebrate What Makes NWA Home
Welcoming Week NWA is more than a celebration—it’s a call to action. It’s a chance for our region to come together in meaningful ways, to uplift one another’s stories, and to make visible the everyday efforts that strengthen our social fabric.
Whether you’re hosting, volunteering, learning, or simply showing up—we invite you to join us in building a more connected, welcoming Northwest Arkansas for all.
#WelcomingWeekNWA #EngageNWA
