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Receive Update on Building Integrated Communities Initiative and Provide Input on Draft Language Access Plan.
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Staff:
Department:
Loryn Clark, Executive Director
Housing and Community
Sarah Osmer Vi?as, Assistant Director
Megan Peters, Community Connections Coordinator
Overview: Tonight, we are providing Council an update on the Building Integrated Communities (BIC) Initiative and seeking input on the draft Language Access Plan. BIC is a multi-year collaboration with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill dedicated to strengthening the Town's engagement of immigrant and refugee residents.
Recommendation:
That the Council receive this update on the BIC initiative and provide input on the draft Language Access Plan.
Overview of the Building Integrated Communities (BIC):
BIC is a multi-year planning process that helps North Carolina local governments successfully engage with immigrant and refugee residents to improve relationships, enhance communication, and promote civic participation and leadership in local government. The BIC project aligns with the Town's goal to make Chapel Hill a Place for Everyone.
Project Process & Progress to Date: Since the summer of 2017, an interdepartmental team led by our Housing and Community staff worked with the UNC BIC Team on the three-phase project.
1. Community Assessment (September 2017 - August 2018)
* In the first phase of BIC, staff established a steering committee to guide the project, conduct research, and engage immigrant and refugee residents to deepen our understanding of the experiences and key issues for immigrants and refugees in Chapel Hill.
* The Community Assessment summarizes what we learned, including a demographic profile and key issues.
2.
Action Planning (August 2018 - January 2019)
* In the second phase of BIC, the Steering Committee developed a detailed plan for the five key issue areas in the Community Assessment: public transportation, housing, public safety a...
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