Recognizing the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Inclusion & Linguistic Diversity Initiative, a new organization that seeks to provide support to ELL, ESL, and special needs students.

WHEREAS, Philadelphia fosters a culture and environment that makes it a vibrant, global city where our immigrant and refugee residents can fully participate in and be integrated into the social, civic

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and economic fabric of Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, The need to ensure cultural and linguistic mediation while refugees and immigrants are developing knowledge of the host country’s language and cultural and social values are critical; and

WHEREAS, Nearly one in fourteen (7.95%) Philadelphia residents are foreign born with fifty-one different native languages spoken by the student population of the Philadelphia School District; and

WHEREAS,

In Philadelphia, more than 18,000 students are considered disabled — about 14 percent of the student body in traditional public schools; and

WHEREAS, The importance of launching educational support actions, and providing incentives and support for the educational outcomes of immigrant students and students with disabilities are often overlooked; and

WHEREAS, Jean Marie Kouassi and Anna Perng, co-founders of Greater Philadelphia Cultural Inclusion & Linguistic Diversity Initiative (the Initiative),

have for the last decade championed the advocacy for better conditions and equal educational outcomes of the ELL, ESL, and special needs students; and

WHEREAS, The Initiative is committed to expanding the awareness and importance of an inclusive educational system as well as the training of trainers (ToT) and the learning of advocacy, civic engagement, and social policy resolutions; and

WHEREAS,

The Initiative is dedicated to educational, cultural

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and social inclusion and integration, and is eager to promote initiatives to ensure greater cooperation, policy coherence

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and dialogue among various organizations and communities. They hope that their efforts will enhance mutual knowledge and understanding in order to better evaluate further initiatives to ensure equal access to high-quality education for migrants and special needs students; and

WHEREAS, The Initiative will be holding bimonthly meetings where there will be representation from various stakeholders in the City, including City Council, the School District and Parents of students in the School District; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the City of Philadelphia recognizes the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Inclusion & Linguistic Diversity Initiative. A new organization that seeks to provide support to ELL, ESL, and special needs students.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Jean Marie Kouassi and Anna Perng as a sincere expression of the Council of the City of Philadelphia’s gratitude, admiration, and recognition.

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