COUNCIL DECLARES 2016 “YEAR OF INCLUSION”

By Miriam Raftery

January 14, 2016 (San Diego) – The San Diego City Council has proclaimed 2016 as the Year of Inclusion.  The proclamation notes that immigrants comprise 23 percent of the population in our region, with over 100 languages spoken by San Diego residents from around the world.

The proclamation recognizes organizations in San Diego dedicated to helping s build a “culture of civic participation among new generations” that empower leadership and activism. The city's welcoming gesture toward immigrants comes at a time when anti-immigrant has been on the rise nationally and among some prominent political figures, most notably Republican presidential frontrunner candidate Donald Trump.

On January 12, Councilmember Marti Emerald presented the City’s proclamation to David Murphy, Executive Director of the International Rescue Committee’s San Diego Program. 

 “This proclamation is not for IRC but for all organizations that are working on improving equity and inclusion in San Diego and there were a number of organizations represented at the City Council meeting today,” Murphy, who spoke on refugee issues before the council, stated in an email to Refugee Forum members. 

He adds, “We have all agreed to work with the City to see if they will also become a Welcoming Community, part of the White House Task Force on New Americas."