>>>GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. IT
IS 9:35, FEBRUARY 22nd, 2024.
MEETING OF THE LIBRARIES,
EDUCATION, AND NEIGHBORHOODS
COMMITTEE WILL COME TO ORDER.
I'M MARITZA RIVERA, CHAIR OF
THE COMMITTEE. I WANT TO GIVE
AN APOLOGY TO ANYONE WHO IS
LOCKED IN ON LINE. WE WERE
HAVING TECHNOLOJOY HOLLINGSWORTH
COUNCILMEMBER CATHY MOORE
COUNCILMEMBER TAMMY J. MORALES.
>> WE HAVE FOUR COUNCILMEMBERS
PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. ONE ITEM ON
TODAY'S AGENDA. IT IS A
BRIEFING FROM THE OFFICE OF
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE AFFAIRS.
IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED READ
HEARING NO OBJECTIONS, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED. WE WILL OPEN
THE HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD. PUBLIC COMMENTS COULD
SHOULD RELATE TO TODAY'S
AGENDA ITEM. THEY SHOULD AND
WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THIS
COMMITTEE. CLARK, HOW MANY
SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP TODAY?
>> WE HAVE ONE PERSON. NOBODY
REMOTE.
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE MODERATED IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER. PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS UP TO 20
MINUTES. SPEAKERS WILL BE
CALLED AN ORDER IN WHICH THEY
REGISTER. EACH SPEAKER WILL
HAVE TWO MINUTES. SPEAKERS WILL
ALTERNATE BETWEEN FIVE IN
PERSON, AND FIVE REMOTE. WE
DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TODAY
UNTIL THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
HAS ENDED. SPEAKERS WILL CHIME
WHEN THEY HAVE 10 SECONDS LEFT.
SPEAKERS MICROPHONES WILL BE
ENDED IF THEY DO NOT END WITHIN
THE ALLOTTED TIME TO ALLOWED US
TO CALL ON THE NEXT PERSON.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
OPEN. WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE
FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
>> PLEASE.
>> HELLO. I WAS GOING TO SAY
THAT I THINK THE NEW LIGHT RAIL
SHOULD BE WHERE THE GOODWILL IS
IN THE INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT.
I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE
INVESTIGATED THAT. I WANT TO
SEE THE INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT
WHERE THERE ARE A LOT OF
REFUGEES. DID SOMEONE SAY
SOMETHING?
>> THIS ISSUE IS NOT RELATED TO
THIS COMMITTEE.
>> IT IS. AND THERE ARE LOTS OF
REFUGEES THAT COULD BE
DISPLACED IF THEY PUT THE LIGHT
RAIL STATION WHERE THEY
DISCUSSED PUTTING IT. REFUGEES
ARE LIVING THERE. THEY WOULD BE
DISPLACED. IT IS RELEVANT TO
REFUGEES. IS THAT OKAY?
>> YOU CAN CONTINUE THIS TIME.
>> THAT IS WHY I THINK THEY
SHOULD BUT THE NEW LIGHT RAIL
WHERE THE CURRENT SEATTLE
GOODWILL IS. THEY HAVEN'T
INVESTIGATED THAT AS FAR AS I
KNOW. THEY ARE ERASING MORE OF
CHINATOWN. I ALSO WANT TO SAY
THAT ANYONE WHO MAKES LESS THAN
$200,000 A YEAR WORKING FOR
AMAZON, SHOULD BE ABLE TO VOTE
IN SEATTLE.
>> AGAIN, THAT ISSUE IS NOT
WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THIS
COMMITTEE.
>> PEOPLE WHO CAN'T VOTE ARE
IMMIGRANTS. THAT'S WHY I THINK
IT IS RELEVANT. 20% OF AMAZON
EMPLOYEES THAT MAKE UNDER
$200,000 PER YEAR, ARE
IMMIGRANTS. THAT IS WHY I
THOUGHT IT WAS RELEVANT. IS
THAT FAIR? I DON'T WANT TO
BREAK RULES. DO YOU THINK THE
FACT THAT THOSE PEOPLE ARE
IMMIGRANTS AND CAN'T VOTE,
ISN'T IT RELEVANT TO THEM?
ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE
MAKING SO MUCH MONEY FOR THE
CITY IN TAXES THAT AREN'T
ALLOWED TO VOTE, SHOULD BE
ALLOWED TO VOTE. THAT IS WHAT I
WANTED TO SAY. WHY DID THE
TIMER GO OFF? IS THAT A
WARNING? THAT IS ALL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NO OTHER REGISTERED
SPEAKERS.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE. A
BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE AFFAIRS.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE,
DIRECTOR HAMDI MOHAMED. DEPUTY
DIRECTOR, INTRODUCE YOURSELVES
FOR THE RECORD. YOU CAN BEGIN
YOUR PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, AND
HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE
COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE. MY NAME
IS HAMDI MOHAMED. I'M THE
DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE AFFAIRS.
I HAVE RODHA SHEIKH, JOINING ME
TODAY. THEY WILL BE HELPING
MANAGE THE SLIDES. WE HAVE A
THOROUGH PRESENTATION FOR YOU
ALL. WE ARE LOOKING AT THIS
OFFICE IS A STRATEGIC PLAN THAT
COVERS THE YEARS OF 2023,
THROUGHOUT 2026. I'M HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AS WE ARE
PRESENTING TODAY. JUST BEFORE I
BEGIN, I'M LOOKING AT THE
OVERVIEW OF OUR OFFICE, AND THE
NEXT SLIDES. I WANT TO FORMALLY
INTRODUCE MYSELF. I WANT TO
GIVE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY
BACKGROUND. I GREW UP IN KING
COUNTY. I SPENT A CHUNK OF MY
LIFETIME IN SEATTLE AS WELL. I
WENT TO BEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
ALSO A TWO TIME HUSKY.
UNDERGRAD AND GRADUATE DEGREES
ARE BOTH FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON. I ALSO CAME TO THIS
COUNTRY AS A THREE-YEAR-OLD
REFUGEE FROM SOMALIA. THE WORK
THAT THIS OFFICE HAS BOTH BEEN
PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL FOR
ME, I HAVE CARRIED THE
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE PORTFOLIO
FOR OVER THE LAST DECADE. I
HAVE ADDRESSED THOSE ISSUES AT
THE LOCAL AND FEDERAL LEVEL. IT
IS AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO SERVE
IN THIS ROLE, AND SERVE THE
RESIDENTS OF SEATTLE. NEXT
SLIDE. THERE IT GOES. THE
SLIDES ARE WORKING. A LOT OF
EFFICACIES ARE COMING FROM
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. THE
PURPOSE OF THE OFFICE, WAS TO
STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS TO
SEATTLE COUNCILS. THIS INCLUDES
COMMUNITY MEMBERS. INCREASING
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
COMMUNITIES. THEY ARE TRYING TO
PUSH THIS POLICY FOR REFUGEE
COMMUNITIES. THEY HAVE EQUITY
AND ACCESS. SIMILAR TO MANY OF
THE DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
COMMUNITIES ARE AN IMPORTANT
FABRIC OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
THEY ADD TO THE ECONOMY. THEY
ARE ESSENTIAL WORKERS. SHARING
A LITTLE BIT OF DATA IN 2019.
2019, $12.7 BILLION WAS PAID
IN TAXES BY OUR IMMIGRANT
COMMUNITIES IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. SEATTLE'S IMMIGRANT
POPULATION HAS ACTUALLY GROWN
TO 47% FROM 2000 TO 2020. THIS
IS WHAT THE DATA SHOWS. OVER
140,000 SEATTLE RESIDENTS
REPORTED BEING BORN. THERE ARE
STILL A LOT OF MANY CHALLENGES
THAT THIS COMMUNITY FACES.
WHETHER IT IS ACCESSIBILITY,
TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, WHAT IF
YOU HAVE EVER BEEN TO THE DMV.
IF YOU THOUGHT THAT WAS
COMPLEX, THINK ABOUT WHAT BEING
A LIMITED ENGLISH SPEAKER MAY
BE. TRYING TO NAVIGATE THE
BUREAUCRACIES AND GOVERNMENT
AGENCIES. HAVING AN OFFICE THAT
CAN STREAMLINE THOSE AGENCIES.
THEY CAN PROVIDE IT PLACE WHERE
THESE COMMUNITIES CAN PROVIDE.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT OUR OFFICE
IS TRYING TO DO. WE DO THAT
THROUGH THE PROGRAMS THAT WE
DEVELOP IN OFFICE. THIS IS AT
THE SEATTLE LEVEL. IN THE
FEDERAL POLICIES. ENGAGE IN
DIRECTLY WITH OUR COMMUNITY
MEMBERS. WE ARE A SMILE AWAY
FROM BEING A SMALL BUT MIGHTY
OFFICE. THIS COMES FROM THE
GENERAL FUND. WE HAVE OTHER
DOLLARS THAT WE GO FOR. THIS IS
RIGHT FROM THE STATE. WE ALSO
ARE LOOKING FOR GRANT
OPPORTUNITIES. WE ARE TRYING TO
BE INNOVATIVE AS A SMALL
OFFICE. WE ARE TRYING TO
DEFINE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS THAT
CAN SUPPORT THE PROGRAMS THAT
WE ARE LOOKING TO SERVE THE
RESIDENTS OF SEATTLE WITH. NEXT
SLIDE.
>> DIRECTOR HAMDI MOHAMED, FOR
THE FOLKS THAT WERE WATCHING
ON THE SEATTLE CHANNEL, ARE
FULL-TIME FTE EMPLOYEES.
>> BECOMING A BUREAUCRAT.
LOOKING AT THE ABBREVIATION.
>> NO WORRY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HERE ARE THE SIX PRIORITY
AREAS. I CAN SPEND THIS ENTIRE
PRESENTATION TALKING ABOUT EACH
OF THOSE PRIORITY AREAS THAT WE
HAVE. I WILL HONE IN ON A
COUPLE OF THEM. FOR US, THEY
HAVE REGIONAL AND ACROSS
INTERDEPARTMENTAL COLLABORATION
AREAS. THEY ARE BREAKING DOWN
SILOS. WE KNOW THE NEEDS OF
IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES, CUT
THROUGH DEPARTMENTS. REALLY, WE
LOOK TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT
DEFINE OPPORTUNITIES TO
PARTNER. THEY ARE ADDRESSING
THE COMMUNITY, AND SOME OF
THOSE EXAMPLES, WE HAVE
COLLABORATED WITH THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THIS IS
ALL THROUGH OUR OFFICE, AND THE
PAYROLL EXPENSE ACT. THIS
FOCUSES ON FOUR SUBELEMENTS. WE
HAVE DONE THAT IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH THE OFFICES. IT ALSO
PROVIDES GUIDANCE, AND SUPPORT,
TO ALL OF THEM AS WELL. WE HAVE
ALSO STOOD UP FROM EIGHT
DIFFERENT IMMIGRANT SAFETY
ACCESS PROGRAM. WE HAVE SEEN A
NUMBER OF HOMICIDES IN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE. WE HAVE SEEN THAT
IMPACT DIRECTLY OUR YOUNG
COMMUNITY MEMBERS. WHETHER THEY
ARE FIRST-GENERATION, OR THEIR
PARENTS ARE LIMITED ENGLISH
SPEAKERS. OFTEN, WE ARE TALKING
TO THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, WHEN THOSE
INCIDENTS HAPPEN. TRYING TO
COORDINATE AND MAKE SURE THAT
WE ARE BEING THE MOST
RESPONSIVE. THAT CROSS
DEPARTMENTAL COLLABORATION, WE
SEE THAT HAPPENING AT THE STATE
LEVEL. YOU ALL RECENTLY HAD A
NUMBER OF MIGRANTS THAT SHOW
THE SEATTLE CHAMBERS. OUR
OFFICE HAS BEEN FACILITATING
DISCUSSIONS AT THE STATE LEVEL
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
COORDINATED IN OUR RESPONSE,
AND A LOT OF THE MIGRATION
ISSUES ARE A FEDERAL ISSUE, AND
HUMANITARIAN ISSUE. OUR OFFICE
FACILITATES THOSE DISCUSSIONS
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
ADDRESSING THAT FROM A LOCAL
LEVEL. WE ARE COLLABORATING
NATIONALLY AS WELL. OUR OFFICE
IS PART OF A COALITION OF
NEARLY 200 U.S. MAYORS AND
COUNTY EXECUTIVES PAID IT IS
CALLED CITIES FOR ACTION. IT IS
THE COALITION MADE UP OF
MAYORS. OUR OFFICE SERVES ON
THE COALITION AS A MEMBER ON
BEHALF OF THE MAYOR. THE OTHER
THING THAT WE HAVE FOCUSED ON,
IS ECONOMIC RECOVERY. COVID-19
IMPACTS HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANT
TO OUR REFUGEE COMMUNITIES.
UNEMPLOYMENT RATES MAY BE LOW,
THAT DOES NOT CROSS CUT WHEN
YOU ARE LOOKING AT ON
EMPLOYMENT RATES FOR OUR
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
POPULATIONS. BEING INTENTIONAL
ABOUT HOW WE MAKE INVESTMENTS
RECOVERING FROM THE PANDEMIC,
MAKING SURE WITH THE SMALL
BUSINESS COMMUNITIES HAVE THE
SUPPORT THEY NEED, MAKING SURE
THE WORKFORCE HAS THE NEEDS
THAT THEY HAVE MET. WELCOMING
REFUGEES, THIS MIGHT BE AN AREA
OF INTEREST THAT I MIGHT WANT
TO SHARE. THE UNITED STATES HAS
HAD A LONG TRADITION OF BEING A
WELCOMING PLACE FOR THOSE WHO
ARE FLEEING PERSECUTION, AND
VIOLENCE AROUND THE WORLD.
SINCE 1975, WASHINGTON STATE
HAS WELCOMED OVER 150,000
REFUGEES FROM 70 DIFFERENT
COUNTRIES. WE HAVE DIFFERENCES
BETWEEN THE POPULATIONS. WE ARE
FLEEING PERSECUTION. THIS
IDENTIFIES THEM. THEY CONNECT
THEM TO THE U.S. RESETTLEMENT
AGENCY. WE HAVE ABOUT 20
MILLION REFUGEES AROUND THE
WORLD. ONLY 1% OF THAT 20
MILLION ACTUALLY END UP LEAVING
THE COUNTRY, AND COME INTO
COUNTRIES LIKE THE U.S. AND
EUROPE. THE NUMBERS ARE REALLY
SLIM. OUR OFFICE HAS BEEN VERY
RESPONSIBLE WHEN IT HAS COME TO
THE UKRAINIAN REFUGEES THAT
HAVE ARRIVED. AS WELL AS AFGHAN
REFUGEES WHEN THE U.S.
GOVERNMENT HAS EVACUATED
AFGHANISTAN CITIZENS, AND
BROUGHT THEM INTO SEATTLE. IN
THE LAST TWO YEARS, IN THOSE
EFFORTS COORDINATING WITH OUR
RESETTLEMENT AGENCIES,
PROVIDING THE RESOURCES,
HELPING THOSE FOLKS INTEGRATE
IN OUR REGION. I WILL MOVE US
TO THE NEXT SLIDE. YOU GUYS
HAVE A COPY OF OUR STRATEGIC
LAND. I WON'T GO INTO ALL OF
IT. REALLY, THAT GIVES US A
THOROUGH OVERVIEW. THIS IS WHAT
WE ARE PUSHING FOR. THIS IS
WHERE OUR FOCUS WILL LIE IN THE
NEXT FEW YEARS. THE OTHER
THINGS THAT I WANTED TO SHARE,
WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON A
REPORT. WE HAVE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENTS, LOOKING AT
IMPACTS FOR THE REFUGEE
POPULATIONS. I HOPE THAT I COME
BACK IN FRONT OF YOU ALL, ONCE
THAT REPORT IS OUT. WE ARE ABLE
TO PRESENT. THIS IS GOING TO
IMPACT THE IMMIGRANT
PROFESSIONALS. WE ARE
IDENTIFYING KEY BARRIERS, TO
CAREER MOBILITY. WE WORK WITH
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR STANDARDS
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
STANDARDS. WE ARE FOCUSING ON
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE NEEDS. AS
OF RIGHT NOW, THERE HAVE BEEN
OVER 45 INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE
PARTICIPATED IN THE DEVELOPMENT
OF THAT REPORT. THIS INCLUDES
LOCAL UNIONS. THE TECH
COMPANIES, AND SO FORTH. WE
HOPE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A
CONFERENCE OF THE REPORT, AND
THERE WILL HOPEFULLY BE SOME
RECOMMENDATIONS IN THERE THAT
YOU GUYS MAY OR MAY NOT CHOOSE.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
I'M BRINGING THAT BACK.
>> DO YOU HAVE A TIMELINE FOR
THE REPORT?
>> IT WILL BE COMPLETED BY THE
THIRD QUARTER OF THIS YEAR.
>> NEXT SLIDE.
>> HERE ARE THE SIX PROGRAMS
THAT WE HAVE IN OUR OFFICE. I
WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE AN
OVERVIEW ON IT. THIS IS ALL
FROM THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
IF YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT
SLIDE, I CAN GO ON TO EACH ONE
OF THOSE. THE LANGUAGE ACCESS
PROGRAM, IS REALLY CENTERED
AROUND EQUITY. WHEN THE
PANDEMIC HIT, WE REALIZE THOSE
WHO HAVE DISABILITIES, OR THOSE
WHO ARE LIMITED ENGLISH
SPEAKERS, REALLY NEED TO BE
ABLE TO ACCESS INFORMATION THAT
IS TIMELY. WE HAVE TRANSLATED
CITY DEPARTMENTS. WE ARE DOING
THAT WITH COMMUNITY
TRANSLATORS. THIS IS CENSORED
AROUND PARTNERSHIPS. WE ARE
MAKING SURE THAT INFORMATION IS
NOT ONLY BEING TRANSLATED.
THESE ARE THE MATERIALS THAT
YOU ARE TRANSLATING. THEY ARE
MEETING THE NEEDS OF YOUR
AUDIENCE AS WELL. I'M HAPPY
TO BRING BACK THE DATA TO YOU
ALL. WHEN THE WHOLE ENTIRE CITY
USES THE SMART SYSTEM, IT IS
LIKE A MEMORY BANK TOOL. WE
HAVE COST SAVINGS FOR THE CITY.
HIS DEPARTMENT IS TRANSLATING
THE SAME THING. THE SMART CASTE
SYSTEM, ALLOWS YOU TO CAPTURE
THOSE TERMINOLOGIES. THE NEXT
TIME THAT YOU GO IN THERE TO
PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION FOR
PARTICULAR DOCUMENTS, THEY CAN
IDENTIFY THE DIFFERENT WORDS.
IT MAKES THE WHOLE PROCESS OF
TRANSLATION MOVE A LOT QUICKER,
AND ULTIMATELY, IT'S A CITY
DEPARTMENT DOLLARS. I THINK WE
ALL LIKE THAT. THIS IS A TOUGH
BUDGET YEAR. THIS IS ONE OF
THOSE PROGRAMS THAT HELP DO
THAT. LOOKING AT TOP-TIER
LINKAGES, WE HAVE 150 LANGUAGES
SPOKEN IN THE SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS. SOMALIANS, CANTONESE,
AND OTHERS, THERE ARE A LARGE
GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE
SPEAKING OTHER LANGUAGES
OUTSIDE OF ENGLISH IN OUR CITY.
MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE
ADDRESSING THEIR NEEDS IS A
PRIORITY OF THIS PROGRAM. I
WILL MELISSA LONG. OUR OFFICE
HAS TWO CITIZENSHIP PROGRAMS.
WE HAVE THE NEW CITIZENSHIP
CAMPAIGN. I WILL GET INTO THAT
NEXT. THEY ARE PROVIDING THIS
TO ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS. THIS IS
WITHIN THE COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS. 2022, UNDER
MERRILL -- MAYOR HERALDS
LEADERSHIP, WE ARE CONTINUING
TO MOVE THIS WORK FORWARD. WE
ARE HOLDING A PRESS CONFERENCE
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
NATURALIZED 2022 CAMPAIGN.
THEY HAVE ACTIVE CITIZENSHIPS.
WE HAVE THE NATIONAL PARTNERS
TO BRING THE AMERICANS
ORGANIZATIONS. WE HAVE NEW
CITIZENSHIP PROGRAM PARTNERS.
WE HAVE 10 COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT KING
COUNTY. A LOT OF THESE PROGRAMS
ACTUALLY COME FROM WASHINGTON
STATE'S DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
HEALTH. THIS INCLUDES THESE
SERVICES. WE HAVE SOME DOLLARS
THAT WE COVER. WE CAN MOVE ON
TO THE NEXT PROGRAM. WE HAVE
100,000 IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES
LIVING IN KING COUNTY. THEY ARE
ELIGIBLE TO BECOME CITIZENS
TODAY. THIS CAMPAIGN WAS PUT IN
PLACE TO HELP MAKE THE PROCESS
EASIER. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
WE KNOW, IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, WE HAVE PARTNERS
THROUGH THESE TWO PROGRAMS. WE
HAVE HELPED 32,600 APPLICATIONS
THROUGH THIS, TO HELP PEOPLE
APPLY, AND BE ABLE TO GET THE
DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED. OVER
16,000 APPLICATIONS WERE
SUBMITTED COLLECTIVELY THROUGH
THESE TWO PROGRAMS. STUDIES
INDICATE THAT NATURALIZATION
HAS A DIRECT CORRELATION WITH
INCREASING SPENDING POWER IN
OUR REGION. WE ARE
ENCAPSULATING THE WORK BETWEEN
THESE TWO PROGRAMS. IT HAS LED
TO APPROXIMATELY $56 MILLION OF
INCREASED IN SPENDING POWER FOR
NEWLY NATURALIZED CITIZENS.
THEY INCREASE THEIR ANNUAL
INCOME, RESULTING IN 3200
ADDITIONAL SPENDING POWERS.
RESEARCH FROM 2023, ALSO SHOWS
THAT THERE ARE ABOUT 22,646
ELIGIBLE LEGAL PERMANENT
RESIDENTS. THEY ARE ELIGIBLE TO
BECOME CITIZENS, WITHIN THEIR
ANNUAL INCOME. IF THEY DID
BECOME CITIZENS, THEY WOULD
INCREASE. THAT WOULD ADD AN
ADDITIONAL $72.5 MILLION BUDGET
SPENDING POWER IN OUR CITY
ALONE.
>> DIRECTOR HAMDI MOHAMED,
32,600 APPLICATIONS, WHAT IS
THAT? OVER WHAT PERIOD OF TIME?
>> I'M GOING BACK TO 2015.
THEY HAVE BEEN AROUND BEFORE.
THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH
HSB. AND THE DEPARTMENT OF
HUMAN SERVICES. THAT DATE MIGHT
BE BACK. THIS WAS ESTABLISHED
IN 2015. I CAN GET YOU THAT
EXACT DATA. I CAN MOVE ON TO
THE NEXT ONE. WE ARE TRYING TO
HELP PEOPLE BECOME JOB READY.
IT THEY ARE GETTING THE SKILLS
THAT THEY NEED, TO ADD TO OUR
ECONOMY, AND BECOME
SELF-SUFFICIENT. THE
PARTICIPANTS IN THIS PROGRAM,
GO FROM HAVING NO STRUGGLING
ENGLISH, OR THEY ARE STRUGGLING
TO FIND EMPLOYMENT. FULL-TIME
JOBS. THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
COME TO BE SELF-SUFFICIENT. THE
NATIONAL SKILLS COALITION,
HIGHLIGHTED READY TO WORK AS A
NATIONAL BEST PRACTICE MODEL.
THIS IS FOR LEVERAGE IN THE
WORKFORCE FUNDING, TO SUPPORT
IMMIGRANT INTEGRATION IN THE
LABOR FORCE. THEY ARE READY TO
WORK DURING THIS TIME. 239
PARTICIPANTS, JUST IN 2023
ALONE. WE HAVE 10
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
THAT WE ARE PARTNERING WITH.
THIS IS TO SUPPORT THIS
PROGRAM. WE ARE MOVING FORWARD.
WE ARE SHARING SOME STUDIES,
AND DOING RESEARCH TO LOOK
CLOSER AT THE WORKFORCE OF
ELEMENT. WE ARE TRYING TO
ADDRESS SOME OF THE CHALLENGES
THAT WE SEE TODAY WITH THE
MIGRANTS. SO MANY OF THEM ARE
JOB READY. THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO
HAVE THEIR EMPLOYMENT
AUTHORIZATION CARD. WE ARE
SUBMITTING ANOTHER ASYLUM
APPLICATION. WE HAVE A LOT OF
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
COMMUNITIES THAT ARE TRYING TO
FIND PATHWAYS TO PERMANENT
JOBS, QUALITY JOBS, AND THESE
PROGRAMS HELP DO THAT. THEY
ULTIMATELY ENDED UP
CONTRIBUTING TO THIS SEATTLE
ECONOMY. MOVING ALONG, WE HAVE
THE LEGAL DEFENSE PROGRAM. THE
CITY OF SEATTLE AND KING
COUNTY, WE ESTABLISHED THE
FIRST LEGAL DEFENSE NETWORK.
THIS IS REALLY IN RESPONSE TO
THE INCREASE OF ANTI-IMMIGRANT
RHETORIC. WE ARE SEEING THIS ON
A NATIONAL LEVEL. IMMIGRATION
ENFORCEMENT, WE ULTIMATELY
KNOW, NO MATTER HOW YOU FEEL
ABOUT IT, CITIES ARE PROVIDING
SERVICES LOCALLY TO THESE NEW
MEMBERS. WHEN PEOPLE ARE
HEARING THIS FROM GOVERNMENT
AGENCIES, IT LOCALLY HAS A
NEGATIVE IMPACT FOR EVERYBODY
WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO ACCESS
HEALTH SERVICES OR CITY
SERVICES. THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO
REPORT CRIMES THEMSELVES. AS A
CITY, WE ARE MAKING A
COMMITMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE HERE LOCALLY. THEY FEEL
LIKE THEY CAN ACCESS GOVERNMENT
SERVICES HERE LOCALLY. I THINK
BASED ON THOSE VALUES, YOU SAW
THAT THIS LEGAL DEFENSE NETWORK
COULD BE ESTABLISHED. WE SEE
THE IMMIGRATION SYSTEM IS VERY
BROKEN AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
THEY ARE STRUGGLING TO FIND A
PATHWAY. THIS IMMIGRATION
SYSTEM IS BROKEN. THEY ARE
LOOKING AT THE PHOTO THAT WE
SEE THEM GOING THROUGH TODAY.
THE IMMIGRATION SYSTEM TODAY,
IT IS A CIVIL LOSS. THIS IS
FROM CIVIL SYSTEM. WE CAN SEE
THEM OPERATING IN A CRIMINAL
SYSTEM. YOU CAN SEE THE
INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE DETAINED
AND ARRESTED, SHOWING UP TO
COURT HEARINGS. A
THREE-YEAR-OLD CHILD, LOOKING
AT A COURT PROCEEDING. THEY
DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO ATTORNEYS
IN THE SAME SORT OF WAY THAT
YOU WOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO
HAVE ACCESS TO FOUR. THIS
PROGRAM, PARTNERS WITH OUR
LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, MAKING
SURE THAT CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS
TO LEGAL SERVICES WHEN THEY ARE
GOING THROUGH THESE REALLY
CHALLENGING TIMES. THEY HAVE
RECEIVED DIRECT REPRESENTATION.
UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS,
CONTRIBUTED BILLIONS OF DOLLARS
INTO OUR TECH SYSTEMS TODAY.
THIS IS FROM THE ANNUAL TAXES
IN THE PAYROLL THAT THEY ARE
LOOKING AT. THEY ARE POINTING
TO ESTIMATES BY THE SOCIAL
SECURITY ADMINISTRATION. JUST
ONE GIVEN YEAR. THIS IS
APPROXIMATELY $12 BILLION IN
TAX REVENUES. THIS IS FROM
SOCIAL SECURITY ALONE. WE HAVE
FEDERAL DOLLARS AND FEDERAL
FUNDING PROGRAMS READ I THINK
THIS PROGRAM IS UNIQUE. THIS IS
FROM THE COUNTY. WE HAVE SEEN
SOME SUCCESSES WHERE FAMILIES
ARE ABLE TO STAY TOGETHER.
THIS IS A PILOT PROGRAM THAT WE
HAVE AN OFFICE RIGHT NOW. THIS
IS FROM KING COUNTY AS WELL.
$100,000 FROM KING COUNTY. HOW
DO WE COORDINATE AND PARTNER?
WE WERE ABLE TO STAY IN THIS
PROGRAM. WE ARE TRYING TO
INCREASE HOMICIDE CASES IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. THIS IS WHAT
WE ARE HEARING FROM IMMIGRANT
AND REFUGEE COMMUNITIES. THEY
ARE NAVIGATING THE SYSTEM. IT
IS REALLY COMPLEX WHEN SOMEONE
LOSES A RELATIVE. WE HAVE
PEOPLE FROM ALL FAITH GROUPS.
THIS IS IF SOMEONE DIES. THIS
IS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN IN A
48-HOUR PROCESS. WE ARE WORKING
WITH THE KING COUNTY EXAMINERS
OFFICE. WE ARE ABLE TO LOOK AT
THIS VICTIM SUPPORT. THIS IS A
DIFFERENT CRISIS. THEY HAVE
DIFFERENT INFLATION SERVICES.
WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PARTNER WITH THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT. SO MANY TIMES,
UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE
ACCOMPANIED THE POLICE CHIEF
AND THE MAYOR, MEETING WITH
FAMILY MEMBERS. THEY LOST THEIR
LOVED ONES TO GUN VIOLENCE. IT
ALLOWS FOR THE BYSTANDERS. THIS
IS WHAT THESE OTHERS ARE
SERVING. IT IS A VERY UNIQUE
PROGRAM. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM,
THESE ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING
OFFICE, HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
RESPOND AND LOOK AT THE BAR
SHOOTING THAT YOU GUYS WERE
RECALLING RECENTLY. THIS IS THE
KID WHO LOST HIS LIFE ACROSS
THE STREET FROM CHIEF TOWN HIGH
SCHOOL. THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING
WITH THE FAMILY AND THE
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
THAT WERE PART OF THIS NETWORK.
THEY WERE TRYING TO PROVIDE
SUPPORT. WE HAVE A SEATTLE
RESIDENT AND A YOUNG PERSON, 17
YEARS OLD. THEY WERE DECEASED.
THEIR FAMILY HAD NEEDED
SERVICES. THEY NEED TO BE ABLE
TO DO THE BURIAL PROCESS. WE
HAVE RELEASED THIS, RECOGNIZING
THAT THIS IS A REAL NEED TODAY.
WE ARE LEARNING A LOT FROM THIS
PILOT PROGRAM. SOME OF OUR
METRICS FOR SUCCESS, LET US
KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
SERVED. WE KNOW HOW THEY HAVE
BEEN SERVED. IT WE ARE QUICKLY
RESPONDING. WE ARE TRACKING
THEM. HOPING TO MAKE IT A
PERMANENT PROGRAM. THIS IS ONCE
WE PASS SOME OF THOSE RESULTS.
THE LAST PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE,
IS THE EPIC MEDIA EXTERNAL
AFFAIRS. THIS IS HONESTLY A
PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN ABLE TO
BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT. NOW, WE
ARE SEEING, A LOT OF
DEPARTMENTS ARE PARTICIPATING
AND COMMUNICATING WITH THE
MEDIA GROUPS. WE HAVE A LOT OF
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT RIGHT
THERE. REALLY, WE ARE
RECOGNIZING THE FACT THAT OVER
30% OF SEATTLE'S POPULATION IS
CLASSIFIED AS ISOLATED. THIS IS
FROM THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU.
I'M SURE THOSE NUMBERS ARE
EVEN HIGHER TODAY.
LINGUISTICALLY, RELATED FROM
THE HOUSEHOLD THAT HAS THE
SPEAKING INDIVIDUAL OVER THE
AGE OF 14. THEY ARE PROFICIENT
AS A NON-ENGLISH SPEAKER. THE
ETHNIC MEDIA PROGRAM, IS
ENSURING THAT WE ARE PARTNERING
WITH LOCAL NEWS OUTLETS, AND
OTHER AGENCIES. THESE ARE NOT
THE TYPICAL NEWS OUTLETS THAT
WE ARE THINKING ABOUT. WE ARE
MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE
INTENTIONAL, MAKING SURE THAT
THEY HAVE THE INFORMATION FROM
THE CITY OF SEATTLE, TO GET OUT
TO THE RESIDENTS. THEY ARE
GETTING SOME INFORMATION FROM
WORD-OF-MOUTH. THEY ARE GETTING
THE NEWS OUTLETS THAT THEY
TRUST. THEY ARE LOOKING TO BE
ABLE TO FIND INFORMATION. THEY
ARE IDENTIFYING WHO THOSE NEWS
OUTLETS ARE. WHO ARE THE
COMMUNITY AGENCIES THAT ARE
RUNNING A BLOG? THEY ARE BEING
INTENTIONAL. THEY ARE GETTING
INFORMATION OUT. I THINK THE
PANDEMIC IS ANOTHER ONE OF
THOSE THAT LOOK AT THAT NEED.
THEY'RE TRYING TO GET THEM
INSIDE THINGS LIKE THAT. WE ARE
WORKING WITHIN THESE GROUPS.
THEY ARE HOPING FOR THAT
RESPONSE. THAT CONCLUDES MY
SLIDES. I JUST WANT TO SAY
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVITING
US TO PRESENT TODAY. I'M HAPPY
TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. AGAIN,
THE WORK OF THIS OFFICE IS
SMALL. EVERYONE WHO IS ON MY
TEAM, THE SUPER PASSIONATE.
THERE IS SO MUCH EXPERIENCE. SO
MANY FOLKS WHO IDENTIFY THE
INSTAGRAM -- IMMIGRANT
REFUGEES, I CONSTANTLY HAVE TO
REMIND MY TEAM OF THIS BREAK.
WE CAN GET BACK AT THIS
TOMORROW. I ALSO WANT TO THANK
THEM FOR THEIR PUBLIC SERVICE
FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE. THIS
WORK CAN'T HAPPEN WITH JUST
THE DIRECTOR. IT TAKES AN
ENTIRE TEAM TO DO IT. THANK YOU
ALL FOR INVITING US.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR HAMDI
MOHAMED, FOR YOUR VERY
THOROUGH PRESENTATION ON THE
WORK THAT OFFICE DOES. I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR OPPRESSION. --
PASSION. I REALLY APPRECIATE
THE WORK. I WANT TO SHARE AND
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PERSONAL
STORY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
THIS WORK IS ALSO PERSONAL TO
ME. THIS IS WITHIN MY FIRST
LANE. I REMEMBER FIRST STARTING
SCHOOL, NOT SPEAKING ENGLISH.
THIS IS ALL UNSUCCESSFUL. IT
IS IMPORTANT TO LEARN THE
LANGUAGE, SO THAT YOU CAN BE
SUCCESSFUL IN THE WORKFORCE. I
CERTAINLY APPRECIATE ALL THE
EFFORTS THAT THEY DO. I LOVE
THAT EFFORT. THERE IS SO MUCH
HERE THAT I CAN REALLY TALK
ABOUT AND SUPPORT. FROM THE
ETHNIC COMMUNITY, I REMEMBER
SPANGLISH LANGUAGE TELEVISION
WAS HOW WE GOT OUR NEWS IN OUR
HOME AS WELL. I THINK THEY WILL
MAKE MEDIA WORK. THIS IS GOING
TO WORK FROM THE CITY. I REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT WORK. THIS IS
FROM A DIFFERENT NETWORK. SOME
OF THESE PROGRAMS THAT YOU ALL
ARE DOING. I REALLY WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR THAT. TO MY
COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> I DID. MARITZA RIVERA, IS
THAT OKAY WITH THAT?
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR HAMDI
MOHAMED, FOR BEING HERE. YOU
GO INTO DETAIL WITH HOW YOU ALL
WORK WITH THE COUNTY AND STATE.
WE HAVE THE OTHER SURROUNDING
CITIES. THIS IS THE WORK THAT
YOU DO IN COLLABORATION WITH
THE OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.
>> I'M HAPPY TO SHARE THAT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
REALLY, IT IS RELATIONAL. WE
ARE PICKING UP THE PHONE. FOR
INSTANCE, RIGHT NOW, WITH MY
RESPONSE, WE DID STAND UP WITH
AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL TASK
FORCE. I SHARE THAT WITH SARAH
PETERSON. SHE WORKS FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF DHSS AT THE STATE
LEVEL. THIS IS THE HUMAN STATE
SERVICES DEPARTMENT. TOGETHER,
SHE RUNS ALL THE IMMIGRANT
REFUGEE AFFAIRS, FROM THE CITY
OF SEATTLE. THERE ARE ABOUT 40
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES WHO
PARTICIPATE IN THE
INTERGOVERNMENTAL TASK FORCE.
THIS IS FROM THE STATE. THIS IS
FUNDING THAT IS COMING OUT OF
THE COUNTY. WE KNOW WHERE THESE
NEEDS ARE. WE STILL HAVE ALL OF
THESE DISCUSSIONS. WE ARE
COORDINATING MEDIA WITHIN THE
STATE. WE ARE GOING TO TRY
HAVE SOME ORGANIZATION ACTIONS
FOR A VERY LONG TIME. I HAVE
BEEN FACILITATING DISCUSSIONS
WITH THEM. I HAVE BEEN
REPORTING BACK TO THOSE
INTERGOVERNMENTAL TASK FORCE
TEENS. AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL,
WITH CITIES FOR ACTION PLANS
FOR INSTANCE, THIS IS WHAT WE
HAVE BEEN A PART OF. WHAT WE
SEE, ARE THINGS THAT ARE
HAPPENING. THEY END UP
TRICKLING DOWN TO THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. WE ARE GETTING AHEAD
OF SOME OF THOSE ISSUES. WE ARE
TRYING TO LOOK AT THESE AT THE
FEDERAL LEVEL. AT THE NATIONAL
LEVEL, THEY ALSO HELP BEING
INTENTIONAL WITH OUR RESPONSES.
THIS IS GOING TO BE FOR THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. HOW DO WE
RECORD OUR DOLLARS? WE ARE
TRYING TO LEVERAGE THE
COORDINATION OF OUR DOLLARS. WE
KNOW THAT WE CAN MAKE DOLLARS
GO FURTHER, WE HAVE
COLLABORATION WITH THE COUNTY
OR STATE. WE ARE TRYING TO
CONTRIBUTE $100,000 TO THAT.
THAT'S IN COORDINATION WITH
OFFICES. IT WE ARE TRYING TO
PER REPORT BACK OUT TOAND
BOUNDARIES. THEY'RE WORKING IN
SEATTLE. WE THINK HAVING THOSE
COLLABORATIONS, REALLY HELPS
US. THEY HELP LOOK AT OUR SMALL
DOLLARS IN OFFICE AS WELL.
>> JUST ANOTHER COMMENT, I'M
LOOKING AT THE THEORY OF CHANGE
PIECE. THESE ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITIES PIECES, WHICH I
LOVE, ARE ALWAYS ABOUT
ECONOMICAL ABILITIES. IT IS
LARGE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES.
THEY START PHENOMENAL SMALL
BUSINESSES. THIS IS A STAPLE TO
A LOT OF THEIR FAMILIES. THEY
WERE ALL RAVAGED DURING COVID
TRADE I'M SURE THAT YOU ARE
WORKING WITH THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. WE HAVE
DIFFERENT WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN
CONTINUE TO UPLIFT THEM. WE CAN
MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE
SUCCESSFUL. MAKING SURE THAT
THEY ARE CREATING GENERATIONAL
WEALTH FOR OUR FAMILIES. THANK
YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER TANYA WOO?
>> NO QUESTIONS. I HAVE A
COMMENT. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE
WORK THAT YOU DO. THIS IS
ACTUALLY FROM THESE HAPPY
SITUATIONS, AND TRAGIC
SITUATIONS. THAT HAS BEEN VERY
HARD. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK
THAT YOU DO.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS --
>> I SEE COUNCILMEMBER TAMMY J.
MORALES'S HAND UP. WE WILL
ADJOURN THE MEETING. I WANT TO
THANK YOU AGAIN, RECTOR HAMDI
MOHAMED, FOR THIS GREAT
PRESENTATION. THE COUNCIL
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THIS
CONCLUDES THE FEBRUARY 22nd,
2024 MEETING, FOR THE LIBRARIES
OF EDUCATION AND REFUGEES
COMMITTEE. OUR NEXT COMMITTEE
IS SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY,
MARCH 7, 2024, 9:30 A.M. IT IS
10:13. IF THERE IS NO FURTHER
BUSINESS, THIS MEETING WILL
ADJOURN. NO FURTHER BUSINESS,
10:13, THIS MEETING IS
ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.