R7K-Execute Agreement Assist Eligible Employees To Obtain Their Citizenship -LeCOMMISSION ITEM SUMMARY
Condensed Title:
A Resolution of the Mayor and Commission of the City of Miami Beach, Florida, Approvlng and
Authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to Execute an agreement with the National lmmigration Forum to
work with the City of Miami Beach to assist eligible employees to obtain their citizenship through a series
of outreach events, workshops, and civics instruction.
Item Summary/Recommendation :
The New American Workforce, formerly known as The Bethlehem Project and a project of the National
lmmigration Forum, is seeking to work with organizations to assist their eligible immigrant employees with
the citizenship process. Nationally, there are 8.8 million immigrants eligible for citizenship, including
approximately half a million in Miami-Dade County. The project's original name came from Bethlehem
Steele's experience when in 1915 it was one of the first employers in the United States to provide free
English language instruction to its workforce.
This project facilitates citizenship assistance by providing information workshops, application workshops
and civics instruction which includes a providing a basic knowledge of U.S. history and proficiency in
English. Group and one-on-one tutorials are an option. The language requirement notwithstanding, a
greencard holder who is 50 years or older and has been living in the United States for at least 20 year, or
is 55 years or older and has been living in the United States for at least 15 years can take the citizenship
test in his or her native language.
The Administration recommends adoption of this resolution to begin the process, identify eligible and
interested employees and determine what other assistance, if any, the City can provide. The matter is
still under review as any benefit offered employees covered by a collective bargaining unit must be
negotiated.
Financial !nformation :Source of
Funds:
Amount Account
1
2
Total
Financial lmpact Summary:
Sylvia Crespo-Tabak, Human Resources Director
n-Offs:
Department Director ACM/Cr.D City M{neger
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AGENDA '',' R7 KMIAMIBEACHa,fr:" ll'M-lq727
MIAMIBEACH
City of Miomi Beoch, I 700 Convention Center Drive, Miomi Beoch, Florido 33.l39. www.miomibeochfl.gov
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO:Mayor Philip Levine and Members 0f the City
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: November 19,2014
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND
CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE NATIONAL
IMMIGRATION FORUM TO WORK WITH THE GITY OF MIAMI BEAGH TO
ASSIST ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES TO OBTAIN THEIR CITIZENSHIP THROUGH A
SERIES OF OUTREACH EVENTS, WORKSHOPS, AND CIVIC INSTRUCTION.
RECOMMENDATION
The Administration recommends adoption of the resolution.
BACKGROUND
The New American Workforce, formerly known as The Bethlehem Project and a project of the
National lmmigration Forum, is seeking to work with organizations to assist their eligible
immigrant employees with the citizenship process. Nationally, there are 8.8 million immigrants
eligible for citizenship, including approximately half a million in Miami-Dade County. The
project's original name came from Bethlehem Steele's experience when in 1915 it was one of
the first employers in the United States to provide free English language instruction to its
workforce.
This project facilitates citizenship assistance by providing information workshops, application
workshops and civics instruction which includes a providing a basic knowledge of U.S. history
and proficiency in English. Group and one-on-one tutorials are an option. The language
requirement notwithstanding, a greencard holder who is 50 years or older and has been living in
the United States for at least 20 year, or is 55 years or older and has been living in the United
States for at least 15 years can take the citizenship test in his or her native language.
A greencard holder may become a naturalized citizen if he or she can meet all of the following
requirements:
o The applicant must be at least 18 years of age, and must have resided continuously in
the United States as a legal, permanent resident for at least five years. An applicant
married to a U. S. citizen, need wait only 3 years.
. Greencard holders must be of good moral character usually determined by checking with
the Federal Bureau of lnvestigations (FBl) for any record of a criminal background.
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City Commission Memorandum
November 19,2014
National lmmigration Forum
Page 2 of 2
. The applicant must demonstrate an ability to speak, read, write ordinary English and
have a general understanding of U. S. government and history. The language
requirement notwithstanding, a greencard holder who is 50 years or older and has been
living in the United States for at least 20 year, or is 55 years or older and has been living
in the United States for at least 15 years can take the citizenship test in his or her native
language.
. The greencard holder must appear for an interview with an examiner and is tested on
English ability and civics knowledge.
According to the information provided by the New American Workforce, statistics show a direct
correlation between immigrant integration and happier, more effective workers directly affecting
business profitability or services. Additional benefits to the City of Miami Beach associated with
this project include: celebrating the diversity among our workforce; building employee
recruitment, loyalty, retention and productivity; generating goodwill among a growing foreign-
born consumer; and creating an opportunity for the City to be at the forefront of this effort.
CONCLUS!ON
The Administration recommends adoption of this resolution to begin the process, identify eligible
and interested employees and determine what other assistance, if any, the City can provide.
The matter is still under review as any benefit offered employees covered by a collective
bargaining unit must be negotiated.
Attachment
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729
THE BETHLEHEM
A PROJ{-CT OF THE NATIONAL
PROJECT:
I N4 1,,1 | G RATt 0 t',i [0 RU N4
Date
Letter of Agreement: Nationar tmmigration Forum & company/organization Name
The National lmmigration Forum ancl Company/organization are extremely excited to worktogether to raunch the Bethrehem project in Miami, Frorida.
The Bethlehem Project draws inspiration from Bethlehem steel, which in 1g15 was one of the firstU S employers to provide free English language instruction to its immigrant workforce and welook forward to leaders like company/organization Name continuing the American tradition ofaiding their employees.
specifically' the National tmmigration Forum will work together with company/organizationName to engage their employees in obtaining citizenship if they are eligible. This will occurthrough a series of outreach events, workshops, and civics instruction.
This work will be a win-win for company/organization Name and its employees. Employees vrillbe ablc to obtain information about the citizenship process, receive assistance completing theapplication form and accessing civics instruction to successfully pass the citizenship test.
we look forward to this partnership, which will provide opportunities for immigrant employeesto be full participants in the workplace, community, and economy.
(Siq rtotu re)
Nanrc
Title
Com pa ny/Organ ization
Ad d ress
City, Statc Zip
(Sig noture )
Ali Noorani
Executive Director
National lmmigration Forum
50 F St. NW, Surte 300
Washington, DC 20001
APPROVED AS TO
FORM & ISNGUAGE
& FOR EXECUTION
Mlo-tu"tk
City Attomey Dab730
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING
THE MAYOR AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH
THE NATIONAL IMMIGRATION FORUM TO WORK WITH THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH TO ASSIST ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES TO OBTAIN U.S.
CITIZENSHIP THROUGH A SERIES OF OUTREACH EVENTS,
WORKSHOPS, AND CIVIC INSTRUCTION.
WHEREAS, 8.8 million immigrants in the United States are eligible for citizenship,
including approximately half a million eligible employees in Miami-Dade County; and
WHEREAS, this project facilitates citizenship assistance by providing informational
workshops, citizenship application workshops, and civics instruction, which includes providing a
basic background in U.S. history and English proficiency instruction; and
WHEREAS, benefits to the City of Miami Beach associated with this project include:
celebrating the diversity of our workforce; building employee recruitment, loyalty, retention, and
productivity; generating goodwill among a growing number of foreign-born consumers; and
creating an opportunity for the City to be at the forefront of this citizenship effort; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City
Commission hereby approve and authorize the Mayor and the City Clerk to execute an
agreement with the National lmmigration Forum to work with the City of Miami Beach to assist
eligible employees to obtain U.S. citizenship through a series of outreach events, workshops,
and civic instruction.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this day of 2014.
ATTEST:
Philip Levine, Mayor
APPROVED AS TO
FORM & LANGUAGE
Rafael E. Granado, City Clerk
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