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Ordinance supplementing the Pittsburgh Code, Title One: Administrative, Article III: Organization by adding a new Chapter 141: Offices Generally to establish the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs.
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WHEREAS, launched in 2014, the Welcoming Pittsburgh Initiative is guided by the Welcoming Pittsburgh Roadmap, a comprehensive citywide plan for immigrant, refugee and New American advocacy compiled by 40 leaders from diverse sectors and over 3,000 community members; and,
WHEREAS, the city of Pittsburgh, and Allegheny County experienced a 67% increase in the Hispanic, Latino and multi-racial population over the last decade; and,
WHEREAS, in September 2021, Welcoming Pittsburgh completed an intensive evaluation to designate the City of Pittsburgh as a Certified Welcoming city, becoming the 12th in the United States to achieve this designation; and,
WHEREAS, Welcoming Pittsburgh has equipped the City of Pittsburgh with interpretation and translation services and educated city staff about the importance of providing language access to Limited English Proficient (LEP) individuals, resulting in free access to City departmental services for residents in their preferred language; and,
WHEREAS, Welcoming Pittsburgh has helped to develop a cross-cultural training module to ensure that Officers with the Department of Public Safety can effectively serve immigrant residents; and,
WHEREAS, Welcoming Pittsburgh, in collaboration with the Office of Community Affairs and other City Departments and Authorities, has worked to increase civic participation by member of Pittsburgh's immigrant and refugee communities; and,
WHEREAS, for these reasons, the City of Pittsburgh wishes to continue and expand the work of serving and growing immigrants and refugees in our community and create the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs.
The Council of the City of Pittsburgh hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The City Code, Title One: Administrative, Article III: ...
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