6. Durham, N.C.
In Durham, five-time mayor William Bell has made it a priority to serve the city’s fast-growing immigrant community. From 3.8% in 1990 to 14.6% estimated for 2008, Durham’s immigrant community is mostly Latin American, and almost 80% of immigrants are not naturalized U.S. citizens. In 2002 the city kicked off the Mayor’s Hispanic Latino Initiative, which “seeks to reduce the high number of violent crimes against Hispanics by building a stronger partnership among the Hispanic community, the city government and police.” The NLC report goes on to note the program’s notable successes. “As the relationship between the police and the Hispanic community was strengthened, there was a reported decrease of crimes against Hispanics.” Beyond crime, the NLC highlights increases in Spanish-language employees and police officers, Spanish-language employment fairs and a number of cultural events.
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