Call for Stories of Connection

As part of Welcoming Week, we invite people who have built a home in a new place to share personal stories about connection, belonging, and community. We welcome reflections on the people, places, and moments that helped you feel welcome and find your way. Selected stories will inspire artwork by local artists and art students and will be featured in the YMCA at Virginia Tech Community Gallery during Welcoming Week. Stories may be submitted in any language, and we encourage you to write in the language that feels most natural to you.

We’d Love Stories About:

Arriving in a new place and starting over
Finding connection, belonging, and community
The people or moments that helped you feel at home
Building relationships across cultures, languages, and experiences

You Might Write About:
A moment when you first felt welcomed or connected
A person, place, or gesture that helped you feel at home
A meaningful connection that shaped your journey

How to Submit
Suggested length: 500–1,000 words
Drafts, reflections, and story notes are welcome
Include your name and email address
Tell us if you’d like your story shared with your full name, initials, or anonymously
Please be thoughtful about privacy and consent if your story mentions other people.

Accepting story submissions now till August 11

Email stories to Dina Ali at dina.ali@vtymca.org or to Lauren Ellis at lellis@lvnrv.org