The Mayor’s Office of New Americans is now accepting applications for MyCity Academy. The first of its kind in the nation, this free program empowers New Americans to understand and participate in Nashville's government. More than twenty countries have been represented so far among MyCity participants.

Over the course of seven months, MyCity participants meet with leaders from Metro departments and tour Metro facilities. In doing so, they gain a better understanding of how their government works and learn how to resolve issues and obtain information. 

Upon graduation, MyCity participants are able to help their communities understand and access government services. MyCity graduates also have the opportunity to interact with New Americans from other communities through their participation in the MyCity alumni network.

The fourth session of MyCity Academy begins in March 2015. Individuals interested in applying should refer to the specific course information and apply for MyCity Academy online. Applications are due February 13, 2015.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact newamericans@nashville.gov. Make sure to watch out for more information on Twitter at #MyCityAcademy15!

Mayor Dean recently welcomed six new members to his New Americans Advisory Council (MNAAC), which he created in 2009 to help foster a link between Nashville's New American communities and Metro Government. These community leaders will help ensure that MNAAC continues to represent a broad cross-section of Nashville's New American organizations and communities.  

MNAAC meets monthly in the Mayor's Office to discuss issues relevant to the New American population and to share ideas with government leaders. Its members have played a key role in developing a number of important Metro initiatives to empower New Americans.

Congratulations to each new member: 

• Jose Gonzalez, Co-Founder and Finance Director at Conexion Americas

• Nawzad Hawrami, Office Manager at the Salahadeen Center

• Dr. Srivatsan Pallavaram, Vice President of the India Association of Nashville

• Yussuf Issa, Executive Director at the Center for Refugees and Immigrants of Tennessee

• Delfine Fox, CEO and Certified Diversity Professional at DFOX LLC 

• Meg Nugent, Executive Director at the Nashville Adult Literacy Council

Mayor Signs Executive Order to Help Ensure a Diverse Metro Workforce

Earlier this month, Mayor Dean signed an executive order creating a Diversity Advisory Committee to help ensure that Metro Government's workforce reflects Nashville's rich diversity.

"The more our workforce reflects the diverse cultures in our community, the better job we do as a local government to provide needed services to our citizens," Mayor Dean said. "We also want our local government to serve as a model for employers in Nashville when it comes to having a diverse workforce."

The Diversity Advisory Committee will serve in an advisory capacity to the Mayor and will develop a plan that will ultimately assist all Metropolitan Government agencies, boards and commissions in their efforts to recruit, hire and retain a workforce that is inclusive and representative of Nashville's local demographics.

New Study Shows that Immigrant Entrepreneurs in Nashville Create Jobs

A new report released this month by Americas Society/Council of the Americas (AS/COA) and the Fiscal Policy Institute shows that immigrants in Nashville play an outsize role in Main Street businesses—grocery stores, restaurants, clothing stores and other enterprises that are key to neighborhood growth and vitality. 

The report took an in-depth look at immigrant small business ownership, economic growth and neighborhood revitalization in Nashville, and it concluded that immigrants here have helped transform neighborhoods and supported the economic revitalization enjoyed by the city as a whole.

Last month, President Obama visited Nashville to discuss his recent executive actions related to immigration.  His visit was a recognition of all we have done as a city to welcome New Americans.  As the White House press secretary said, "Nashville is an example of an American city that has done really interesting work to integrate new immigrants to their city in a way that has led to a lot of dynamism in their community and a lot of dynamism in their local economy."

The President held a town-hall meeting at Casa Azafran, and more than 150 MyCity Academy graduates, New American leaders and others watched via live stream from the Mayor's Office of New Americans-sponsored watch party nearby.

Nashville last month joined Cities for Citizenship, a national partnership that works at the local level to reduce barriers to citizenship and to increase citizenship among eligible U.S. residents. It will work with cities across the country--from Boston to Los Angeles--to share best practices and to foster new initiatives designed to promote citizenship. 

“Cities for Citizenship’s aims match Nashville’s: making it easier for immigrants who are eligible for citizenship to reach that life-changing goal,” said Mayor Dean. 

More than 18,000 New Americans in Nashville are estimated to be immediately eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship.  

The Nashville Financial Empowerment Center, a program of the Office of Mayor Karl Dean in partnership with United Way of Metropolitan Nashville, now has a new branch in Donelson.

The Financial Empowerment Center provides free, one-on-one help to all Nashvillians regarding how to open a bank account, create a budget, improve credit scores, manage debts and save for the future.  Through financial counseling, the center has helped clients collectively reduce their debt by over $900,000. 

The Donelson branch will be open every Friday from 9am to 3pm at the Donelson Goodwill Career Solutions Center. To make an appointment, call (615) 748-3620 or visit their website.