Recognizing September 13 to 27, 2024 as Welcoming Week 2024 in the City of Philadelphia.

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’ abil…