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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHR National Immigrant Heritage Month City of San Rafael Proclamation in Recognition of NATIONAL IMMIGRANT HERITAGE MONTH June 1 – 30, 2025 WHEREAS, People from around the globe have migrated to the United States, seeking opportunity, safety, connection, and a new beginning. While many have arrived in pursuit of better livelihoods and family reunification, others have been displaced by forces beyond their control—including violence, war, political instability, corruption, climate change, and poverty; and WHEREAS, any discussion of migration must be grounded in the historical context of colonization, which disrupted Indigenous cultures, ecosystems, and sovereignty. The lands on which we live—including the land now called San Rafael—were first stewarded by the Coast Miwok people, who remain an integral part of the community and whose enduring presence calls us to honor their heritage and recognize the lasting impacts of settler colonialism; and WHEREAS, communities enriched by the diversity of backgrounds, languages, and traditions benefit from shared values, innovation, and cross-cultural exchange. When people come together to acknowledge historical wounds, build understanding, and collaborate, they lay the foundation for inclusive progress and a shared future; and WHEREAS, many immigrants have had pathways to citizenship, and others have faced multiple barricades to their start or process of pursuing of citizenship, rights, and freedoms, through the systemic challenges of the immigration process and systems; and WHEREAS, more than 1 in 4 residents of San Rafael were born in another country. The City of San Rafael supports and encourages the community to welcome and embrace new residents who have immigrated here, respect and acknowledge their pathways to this point, and work to better understand each other and the common threads that unite us. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Rafael hereby proclaim June 1 – 30, 2025, as National Immigrant Heritage Month, and encourages all residents to recognize their own heritage, the immigration stories of our families, and the continued need for acceptance and understanding, and that all voices and experiences have a need to be heard, valued, and respected. Kate Colin Mayor