ORDINANCE NO. __________, SERIES 2022
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AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 35 OF THE LOUISVILLE METRO CODE OF ORDINANCES ("LMCO") TO CREATE A LANGUAGE ACCESS POLICY FOR LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT.
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SPONSORED BY: COUNCIL MEMBERS ARTHUR, GEORGE, CHAMBERS ARMSTRONG, WINKLER, AND PIAGENTINI
WHEREAS, Metro Council seeks to memorialize Louisville Metro's commitment to language access as part of the existing diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies across all Metro departments; and
WHEREAS, Louisville Metro reaffirms itself as a "Welcoming City" - a truly welcoming place with intentional, inclusive policies, practices, and norms that enable all residents to live, thrive, and contribute fully - including immigrants, and has met or exceeded all core requirements within the categories of Government Leadership, Equitable Access, Civic Engagement, Connected Communities, Education, Economic Development, and Safe Communities as designated by Welcoming America; and
WHEREAS, Louisville Metro is a vibrant city that engages its residents and encourages its immigrant and refugee residents to fully participate in and integrate into the social, civic, and economic fabric of their adopted city; and
WHEREAS, diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential building blocks in the relationship with all other communities and neighborhoods, especially for under-represented and under-served communities including, but not limited to, immigrants, refugees, and communities of color who are among our most vulnerable residents; and
WHEREAS, Title VI of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 states that "[n]o person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance" and requires federal grant recipients to provide language access; and
WHEREAS, according to 2020 U....
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