Video Encourages Immigrant Families To Move To Baltimore
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake encourages Marylanders to remember the contributions of immigrants in building Baltimore and the state.
Political reporter Pat Warren has more on a new video encouraging immigrant families to move to Baltimore.
The mayor has a goal to bring 10,000 new families to Baltimore in 10 years and this video may help keep the city on track.
The non-profit media group Next City has released a video outlining how the rise of an immigrant population figures into the mayor's plan to reverse the city's decline in numbers.
"I think it's important for us to remember our history in Baltimore," Rawlings-Blake said.
She spoke with WJZ Tuesday about her continuing efforts to encourage immigrants to make Baltimore their home.
"It's built on immigrants. Immigrants coming to this country, building a sense of community, building businesses, creating jobs and my administration wants to welcome that," she said.
"Immigrants and refugees are some of the most resilient people on the planet," said Baltimore activist Angelo Solera.
Solera says people come here expecting to improve their lives.
"Here you have to work, pay taxes, take care of your responsibilities," Solera said.
In 2012, the mayor ordered city agencies not to question anyone's legal status.
"Some people in other cities want to focus on what the status of an individual is; I'm focused on having a thriving community," Rawlings-Blake said.
And, as this video promotes, immigrants are a target demographic.
"I really want us to focus on how we can continue to have a thriving city by welcoming a diverse population," she said.
That includes services for immigrant business owners.
The intended result is to drive down crime and vacancy rates, as well.
The video is called Building Resilience in Baltimore and is posted on the video website Vimeo.
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