City of Shoreline
Home Search MenuA Welcoming Place for All
Welcoming Week
Welcoming Week is a national initiative of Welcoming America to create inclusive communities where all people can thrive, regardless of differences. In 2021, the Welcoming Week theme “Belonging Begins With Us” aligned with the City of Shoreline’s commitment to building an anti-racist, equitable, and safe community for all.
For Celebrate Shoreline week in August 2021, community members were asked to share what “A Welcoming Place for All” looks like with a drawing, a photo, a statement, or short video. Many thanks to those community members who submitted art and statements, including Jade Lauw, who created a beautiful art piece.
She wrote: “I wanted Shoreline’s diverse community to become the centerpiece of this artwork, comprising of different shapes and shades of brown and in the end creating this extraordinary tree that produces a rainbow of fruits - our ideas, values, beliefs, and art. Nourishing fruit that can be shared amongst the community.”
Youth in the City’s summer recreation program appreciated when the community helps each other, works together, and shows kindness. The coloring page for kids (or adults!) is still available for download.
The community input was used as inspiration to design a city-wide logo. Graphic designer Elyas Beria created three design options. Community members were asked to vote for their favorite and here is the winner.
Elyas was inspired by Jade Lauw's art. He said, "Rather than using colors that are literal interpretations of skin tones, I really like the idea of using different shapes to abstractly represent people of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds all coming together to form something beautiful."
Many thanks to everyone who participated in sharing ideas and voting on the design!
Shoreline's commitment to building a welcoming community
It is important to the City of Shoreline that all community members feel valued and a sense of belonging.
In January 2017, Shoreline City Council passed Resolution No. 401, declaring the City of Shoreline to be an inviting, equitable, and safe community for all and prohibited inquiries by City employees regarding immigration status.
In November 2020, the Shoreline City Council adopted Resolution No. 467 Declaring the City’s Commitment to Building an Anti-Racist Community. The Resolution states the City will address and undo all the ways racism is maintained in individual, institutional, and structural levels by changing policies, behaviors, and beliefs.
This work is hard and ongoing but core to the vision of Shoreline as a thriving, friendly city where people of all ages, cultures, and economic backgrounds love to live, work, and play, and most of all call home.