Loading ...Wayne County Citizen Guide Books Now Available in Arabic, Spanish
SOURCE: PRESS & GUIDE
The 2019-20 edition of A Citizen’s Guide to Wayne County Government, a handbook detailing county elected officials, departments and services, is available in Arabic and Spanish upon citizens’ request.
The Arabic and Spanish language guides were created as an initiative of Wayne County Chair Alisha Bell (D-Detroit).
“We are the most diverse county in Michigan with many new Americans and households where English is not the primary language spoken,” Chair Bell said. “Making this vital information available in additional languages is a good way to reach out to those residents, build trust and encourage their participation in county government.”
The citizen’s guide contains detailed information on the county commission, offices of the county executive, sheriff, prosecutor, treasurer, register of deeds and all county departments, including parks and public services. It also includes contact information for each agency.
In addition, it provides breakdowns of county budget areas that show how county revenue is raised and spent.
The county is home to at least 80,000 Arab Americans and includes new arrivals from Iraq, Yemen and other Middle Eastern nations.
Demographic studies have also indicated that Wayne County is home to more than 95,000 Hispanic and Latino Americans.
Information provided through the Wayne Regional Education Service Agency (RESA) indicates that more than 35,000 Wayne County schoolchildren come from households where English may not be the primary language spoken.
“These numbers show the need to reach out to our citizens in additional languages,” Chair Bell said.
Copies of the citizen guides are also available in English.
To order a copy of the guide, in whichever language is preferred, please call (313) 224-8523.
Source: Wayne County Commission