Designing Immigrant-friendly Policies and Practices
Building welcoming cities that support immigrant integration takes a village. It requires a mix of systems-level changes – such as policymakers passing legislation and hospitals and schools adopting language access plans – and grassroots engagement that factors in both the needs and strengths of immigrants. This discussion will focus on how you go from designing an immigrant inclusion plan to implementing it in cities like Pittsburgh, spotlighting lessons learned and sharing best practices.
Betty Cruz, M.P.A., as the Deputy Chief of Special Initiatives developed citywide initiatives for Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto, has managed major accounts for a national nonprofit dedicated to building playgrounds across the U.S., and supported public relations for global brands representing a wide range of industries. In 2016, Ms. Cruz launched Change Agency, a social enterprise business that serves as a hub for targeted civic initiatives that promote inclusion in the Pittsburgh region. The organization’s flagship project is All for All, a countywide immigrant integration initiative. Originally from Miami, Florida, Ms. Cruz is the daughter of Cuban immigrants and a first-generation college graduate. She holds a B.A. in History from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and an M.P.A. from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs.
