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Recognizing the Month of June as Immigrant Heritage Month and Caribbean American Heritage Month in the City of Philadelphia.
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WHEREAS, Immigrants have had an extraordinary social and cultural influence on the United States of America, enriching the extraordinary character of our nation. Throughout the country'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, Philadelphia is a proud city of immigrants. According to the Pew State of the City 2021 Report, about 14 percent of the City's 1.58 million residents were born outside of the United States. The largest immigrant populations in the City of Philadelphia come from China, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, India, Vietnam, Haiti, Mexico, Ukraine, Albania, and Korea; and
WHEREAS, More than a quarter of all Philadelphians in recent years-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. They included nearly 76,000 children under age 18, or about 1 in 4 city children.
WHEREAS, Philadelphia is a city rich in linguistic diversity with 24% of residents speaking languages other than English at home, many of them speaking their foreign language(s) in addition to English and demonstrating multilingualism as an asset; and
WHEREAS, Immigrants have been tireless leaders not only securing their own rights and access to equal opportunity, but have also campaigned to create a fairer and more just society for all Americans; and
WHEREAS, Immigrant Heritage Month is a nationwide effort to gather and share the inspirational stories of immigrants in the United States and 2022 marks the 9th annual Immigrant Heritage Month. It is powered nationally by FWD.us and is part of an ongoing effort to empower immigrants and allies to share stories and drive a...
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