White House Regional Convening on New Americans in Atlanta

White House Regional Convening attendees listening to address.

White House Regional Convening attendees listening to address.

Ed Jennings, Jr., HUD SE Regional Administrator leading Housing Access breakout session.

City of Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed (www.atlantaga.gov/index.aspx?page=16) recently welcomed more than 50 federal, state and city leaders along with service providers and community officials to the White House Regional Convening on New Americans. HUD Southeast Regional Administrator Ed Jennings, Jr. attended and led the subsequent housing access breakout discussion later in the day.

"The City of Atlanta has a long and proud legacy of inclusion and progress," said Mayor Reed. "I am proud to continue that tradition today by partnering with the Obama Administration to host the White House Regional Convening on New Americans. Atlanta's immigrant and foreign-born population are leaders in our community, starting new businesses at high rates and investing right here in Atlanta. I established the Office of Immigrant Affairs to offer support and to ensure opportunities are open to everyone."

The program featured remarks from Felicia Escobar, Special Assistant to the President for Immigration Policy, and Rachel Peric (www.welcomingamerica.org/content/rachel-peric), Deputy Director of the Welcoming America Initiative. A panel session called "Atlanta, A Welcoming City: Past, Present and Future," included experts representing the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs, the Andrew Young Foundation, the Center for Pan-Asian Community Services and Univision. The panel was moderated by Rose Scott, a journalist with WABE 90.1FM, a National Public Radio affiliate.

"Today, we are in Atlanta as part of a multi-city tour aimed at strengthening and supporting local immigrant and refugee integration efforts," said Felicia Escobar. "Under Mayor Reed's leadership, Atlanta is leading the charge for creating welcoming communities and serving as a model for the rest of the nation."

"This is indeed a very meaningful effort and one which addresses the need to strengthen and support New Americans," said Jennings. "Atlanta's approach is indicative of Mayor Reed and the City of Atlanta's ongoing commitment to this worthwhile endeavor."

This is the fourth regional gathering leading up to the commemoration of Immigrant Heritage Month in June. The purpose of the regional convenings is to highlight immigrant integration best practices and broaden and deepen local multi-sector partnerships to advance civic, economic and linguistic integration efforts. According to the White House Task Force on New Americans, today approximately 42 million foreign-born residents live in the United States. More than 33,000 immigrants and foreign-born individuals call Atlanta home, the equivalent of eight percent of the city's population. Foreign-born residents account for 22 percent of Atlanta's population growth from 2010-2012.

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