More on our Federal Mandate and Welcoming America Certification

Our Federal Mandate for Language Access

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects individuals from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, and national origin in programs that receive federal financial assistance, and national origin has been interpreted to include language. Failure to ensure that persons who do not speak English very well, or are “limited English proficient,” can effectively participate in, or benefit from, federally assisted programs may violate Title VI’s prohibition against discrimination based on national origin. 

Read the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 full policy.

In 2000, then President Bill Clinton issued Executive Order 13166, titled, “Improving Access to Services by Persons with Limited English Proficiency,” Executive Order 13166 requires federal agencies to assess and address the needs of otherwise eligible persons seeking access to federally conducted programs and activities who, due to their limited English proficiency, cannot fully and equally participate in or benefit from those programs and activities.

Section 2 of the Executive Order 13166 directs each federal department or agency “to prepare a plan to improve access to…federally conducted programs and activities by eligible LEP persons….”

For more information on federal resources for serving LEP individuals, visit the LEP website.

Our responsibility as a Welcoming City

In 2020, Baltimore City became one of the first 10 communities across the United States to become Certified Welcoming, a standard for communities that have created policies and programs reflecting their values and commitment to immigrant inclusion. The Welcoming Certification process is overseen by Welcoming America, and Baltimore’s continued certification is contingent upon the availability of language access services across City agencies.

Designation as Certified Welcoming requires that communities demonstrate that they have components in place, including language access services, that are at the core of what it means to be welcoming. The core components together form the Welcoming Standard are divided among seven categories:

  • Government LeadershipStar in a circle with text certified welcoming Baltimore, MD A certified welcoming place for all of us to call home
  • Civic Engagement
  • Equitable Access
  • Education
  • Connected Communities
  • Economic Development
  • Safe Communities      

For more information on Welcoming America visit, certifiedwelcoming.org