Welcome to Your City

Welcome to Your City logo with green square background and the red Harvard Veritas shield

Occurring on a single day each fall term, Welcome to Your City (WTYC) provides University-wide recent graduates (up to 10 years out) a targeted opportunity to connect with their local Harvard alumni community. WTYC events are social/networking gatherings with little to no formal programming and can be held in-person or virtually. Events are hosted by local Harvard Clubs and supported by Shared Interest Groups and College Activities Chairs.

Participation 

  • Clubs with more than 2,000 alumni in the Club's region are invited to register to host an event. This minimum helps
    to ensure there is a critical mass of recent graduates in the local area. 

  • SIGs interested in partnering with Clubs on these locally organized events can register their participation using
    this form.

  • All Club hosts and SIG partners that sign up for WTYC are expected to be present at the event.
     

Important 2024 Dates

WTYC Info Sessions: July 18 and 23

Monday, August 5: Deadline for eligible Clubs and SIGs to register their participation.

Wednesday, August 14: Alumni registration goes live.

Early-September: Communication with WTYC details sent to hosts and co-hosts
Wednesday, September 11: Welcome to Your City!

  

Roles and Responsibilities

Club Responsibilities:

  • Designate an event point person to be the main point of contact with the HAA for WTYC

  • Manage event logistics including securing the venue

  • Complement HAA marketing via your Club email and social media channels to encourage attendance

  • Field and respond to any event questions that may come in directly to the Club

  • Review event resources provided by the HAA

  • Connect with partnering SIGs to coordinate on event logistics and marketing efforts

  • On event day, welcome guests, facilitate connections, and support discussions
  • Post-event, follow up with attendees via email on further engaging with the club


SIG Responsibilities:

  • Designate a SIG representative(s) to support the event hosted by the local Club

  • Complement HAA & Club marketing via your SIG email and social media channels to encourage attendance

  • Connect with the hosting Club volunteers to coordinate on event logistics and marketing efforts

  • Act as an ambassador for the SIG by sharing information with attendees about your organization

  • Follow up with attendees via email re: further engaging with the SIG


Marketing & Communications

  • The HAA will manage WTYC marketing via a series of communications targeting alumni 10 years post graduation (see marketing calendar below). 

  •  The WTYC registration pages will be created and managed by the HAA and listed in the event directory

  • Participating Clubs, SIG and volunteers are encouraged to market to their communities via newsletter communications and by posting the event on their website

  • Eligible SIGs will be listed on the registration forms as a way to collect interest from event registrants. Information on who opted in to hearing from a SIG will be shared with SIG presidents in the weeks following the event. 
     

2024 Email Marketing Calendar

  • Wednesday, August 14, 2024 – Alumni registration goes live
  • Sunday, August 18, 2024 – Feature in Harvard this Week Newsletter
  • Wednesday, August 21, 2024 – Reminder #1 to Not Heard From
  • Thursday, August 29, 2024 – Reminder #2 to Not Heard From
  • Tuesday, September TBD, 2024 – College Alumni News Mention
  • Tuesday, September 3, 2024 – Reminder on Capacity
  • Friday, September 6, 2024 – Last Call for registration
  • Sunday, September 8, 2024 – Feature in Harvard this Week  Newsletter
  • Monday, September 9, 2024 – Psych Up Message
  • Tuesday, September 10, 2024 – Final Reminders/Participation Details
  • Wednesday, September 11, 2024 – Welcome to Your City
  • Thursday, September 12, 2024 - Post-Event Follow Up Survey
  • Friday, September 13, 2024 – Survey Reminder

    

Additional Resources

  • Information Sessions - Hosts are encouraged to attend one of two live Information Sessions on July 18 or 23 to learn more about the event and available resources. 

  • WTYC Data Dashboard - View WTYC event locations and registration numbers in a visual display. 

  • Digital Assets – Download branded Welcome to Your City images to put in your marketing emails or to post on your webpage

  • Virtual Networking Toolkit – If you decide to host a virtual event, this document provides you with resources that will empower you to do so.

    • This includes a pre-event planning checklist and a draft agenda/run of show for your program.

  • Social Media Toolkit- Learn fun and interactive ways to engage with registrants on your social channels around Welcome to Your City!