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Conference
The Social Integration of Immigrants in Maryland: A New Comprehensive Approach
September 22nd (Tuesday) 2009, Annapolis, MD
| SPONSORS |
AVAILABLE VIDEOS AND PRESENTATIONS CAN BE DOWNLOADED ON THE GRL DEVELOPMENT WEBSITE
The conference was held on September 22nd, 2009 (Tuesday) in the Governor Calvert House (58 State Circle, Annapolis, MD 21401). It is a joint effort of the following organizations: Social Integration and Community Development Association (SICDA), Maryland Office for Refugees and Asylees of the Government of Maryland, Asian American Studies Program of the University of Maryland and the GRL (Global, Regional, Local) Development LLC. The Conference is second in the series of conferences devoted to the issues of immigration to the United States.
The conference’s goal is to influence policies in the area of immigrants’ integration into the economy, labor market, state institutions and communities to benefit the comprehensive socio-economic development of the region. These sessions were aiming also at recognizing the necessity of policy improvements in area of supporting English proficiency of the newcomers. Lastly, the conference aims at underlining the importance of welcoming communities and the social culture for the integration process.
First conference was held in Washington. D.C. (Phillips Collection) on October 10th, 2008 exploring the influence of the immigration policies of the United States on the country’s social and economic development.
Best practices were shared and themes were examined that link the efforts of governmental, non-governmental, academic and business sector interests related to immigrants’ social integration. We explored a comprehensive, development-based approach to managing the challenges of social integration and the benefits to local and national structures to improve our sustainable social and economic development. We hope the conference marked a new beginning in thinking about social integration and its role in the wider goals of the host communities on local and regional scales.
These vital topics arise also in light of the Maryland Governor’s recent establishment of a council composed of experts on newcomers’ issues to improve related policies in our State. The central issues are also relevant given Maryland’s growing ethnic diversity. And it is a benefit to the local economy to explore the topic since Maryland has one of the largest populations of highly skilled immigrant workers in the United States. Thanks to further improvements in its policies, the State of Maryland can play a leading role among U.S. states.
This conference project shall make an important step in advancing efforts of all newcomers and their organizations, local, state and federal governments and governmental agencies, service providers, businesses and people and organizations working towards their support having a common goal in the prosperity and socio-economic development of United States and its citizens.
The meeting was attended by service providers working with the newcomers as well as representatives of all organizations and institutions (both governmental and non-governmental) dealing with immigrants in Maryland and neighboring states as well as researchers and business owners.