Recognizing September 13 to 27, 2024 as Welcoming Week 2024 in the City of Philadelphia.
WHEREAS, Philadelphia is a proud City of immigrants. Throughout the City’s history, immigrants have built dynamic communities, started families, served in the military and public life, grown successful businesses, and strengthened the American economy; and
WHEREAS, According to the Pew State of the City 2024 Report, nearly 16 percent of the City’s 1.55 million residents were born outside of the United States, with the largest populations emigrating from China, the Dominican Republic, India, Vietnam, Jamaica, Mexico, Haiti, Ukraine, Brazil, and Colombia; and
WHEREAS, Foreign-born residents were largely responsible for Philadelphia’s net growth in population in the last two decades. As of 2022, there are 246,600 foreign-born residents in Philadelphia, including 1 in 4 City children; and
WHEREAS, In recent years, more than a quarter of all Philadelphians-estimated at around 390,000 residents-were either immigrants or U.S. natives with immigrant parents, together comprising a population with significant potential to shape the City; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia is rich in linguistic diversity with 24% of residents speaking languages other than English at home; and
WHEREAS, The Office of Immigrant Affairs is charged with upholding our local language access policies, requiring all City departments, offices, boards and commissions to ensure equal access to City services regardless of residents’ ability to speak English. This is operationalized under the Language Access Philly program; and
WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia was the first World Heritage City in the nation and designated as a Certified Welcoming City by Welcoming America, formally recognizing the City’s commitment to immigrant inclusion.
WHEREAS, In 2012, Welcoming America launched Welcoming Week, an annual campaign that provides individuals and organizations the opportunity to showcase their values through events and initiatives that foster connections between immigrants and non-immigrants, as well as belonging for all; and
WHEREAS, This week, we celebrate the spirit of unity that brings neighbors together. During Welcoming Week, Philadelphians are invited to join this movement of communities nationwide by renewing our commitment to our core American values and by taking action in the spirit of welcoming. By working together, we can achieve greater prosperity and continue Philadelphia’s commitment as a Welcoming City for years to come; and
WHEREAS, This week we also celebrate the expansion of language access in City Council by proactively offering weekly interpretation services at City Council sessions. This will allow many more of our City residents to participate fully in our local civic process, making Philadelphia a more welcoming City; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby recognize September 13 to 27, 2024 as Welcoming Week in the City of Philadelphia and celebrate the City’s unwavering commitment to being a welcoming place that celebrates its vibrant immigrant community.