Dayton (OH) reaches out to immigrants; intends to brand city as immigrant-friendly.

[pampango]

City officials on Wednesday introduced a plan to reach out to immigrants of all types, with the “Welcome Dayton Plan” intended to brand Dayton as an immigrant-friendly city. Recommendations range from creation of an “international marketplace” on East Third Street, to increased interpretation services in courts, health care and government, creation of a municipal ID card for residents who are not eligible for a driver’s license or state ID, to a World Cup-style soccer tournament of immigrants from many nations.

“I believe the city of Dayton is at a crossroads,” said Tom Wahlrab, director of the city’s Human Relations Council. “We can either welcome them, help integrate them, help them on the path to citizenship, or we can let old stereotypes and fears and preconceptions hinder our success.”

“Most of the people I work with are here without documents,” Pelaez-Diaz (Hispanic missionary pastor at College Hill Community Church) said. “But I think of this in a practical manner. Immigration law is a federal issue. They are here already. If we make them feel welcome, they are more willing to adjust to our culture, more willing to contribute to our community and our economy. Most are hard-working, family-oriented, decent people.”

City Manager Tim Riordan supported the immigrant initiative, pointing to statistics that immigrants are twice as likely to be entrepreneurs and saying the effort could help a shrinking city grow again.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/dayton-reaches-out-to-immigrants-1257358.html

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