Yankton proclaims Welcoming Week 2025, Connecting Cultures recognized

Mayor Michael Villanueva read a proclamation at the Sept. 8 Yankton City Commission meeting declaring a Welcoming Week for the city and urged residents to "join together to build stronger communities across our city and this area." The proclamation names the event Welcoming Week 2025 and calls for community activities to highlight food, music, art and conversation.

A representative identified in the meeting as Sarah, speaking for Connecting Cultures, accepted the proclamation and described local examples of welcoming actions, including free library cards for city residents, access to the aquatic center and Lewis and Clark Campground, and efforts by the Missouri National Park to provide handicap-accessible fishing lines in partnership with local groups. Mayor Villanueva read the proclamation language that begins, "Now therefore I, Michael Villanueva, mayor of the city of Yankton, South Dakota, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the constitution and laws of our city, do hereby proclaim the week of September, Welcoming Week 2025."

Villanueva and representatives of Connecting Cultures said the week is intended as one moment in an ongoing effort to make Yankton welcoming year-round. The commission did not take formal legislative action on the proclamation; the item was presented as a ceremonial proclamation and a photo opportunity followed the reading.

Quotes

"Welcoming is a core part of who we are and who we have always been," Villanueva said during the reading of the proclamation. Sarah, representing Connecting Cultures, said, "As good as it is to say that we're welcoming, we have to be welcoming," and cited specific local services and accessibility efforts as examples.

No related funding or ordinance changes were discussed during the proclamation presentation.