San Mateo County Supervisor and President of the Board Warren Slocum will convene the first San Mateo County Immigrant Integration Summit on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016, at the historic Fox Theatre in Redwood City. The purpose of the summit is to foster dialogue about the current challenges immigrants face in San Mateo County, look at innovative programs that support immigrant residents and shape an approach for San Mateo County.
“Immigrants are an integral part of San Mateo County, their children are the future of our region, and they make enduring, positive contributions that benefit all residents,” Slocum explained.
According to the research conducted by the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, San Mateo County is one of the most “immigrant rich” areas in California. As of 2010, it ranked fourth among counties in California and eighth in the nation in the concentration of foreign-born residents. From 2000 and 2010, San Mateo County’s immigrant population increased more than any other county in California. Our foreign-born residents (over 250,000 people) make up more than 33 percent of the population in San Mateo County. To learn more, read the Immigrant Focus Report issued by the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.
The Immigrant Integration Summit will feature keynote speakers, panels, an immigrant history exhibit at the San Mateo County History Museum, and working break-out sessions. Attendees will be given an in-depth look at the local immigrant landscape and immigrant perspectives, introduced to the innovative work being done for immigrants at the local, state and federal levels, and given the opportunity to prioritize programs and services that would fit the unique needs of San Mateo County immigrants.
Slocum remarked, “I’m proud to co-host the Immigrant Integration Summit with the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, The Grove Foundation, Heising-Simons Foundation, the San Mateo County History Museum and the County’s Office of Immigrant Support and Coordination. It’s an honor to work with these organizations, community leaders, and those providing a range of services to the immigrants of our county. Together, we have a chance to strengthen our community to help all residents flourish and prosper.”
To learn more about the day, go to: https://immigrantsummitsmc.org/.