INTENDED PARTICIPANTS
The meeting is intended for service providers working directly with the newcomers as well as all organizations and institutions (both governmental and non-governmental) dealing with immigrants in Maryland and neighboring states as well as researchers and business owners.

OVERVIEW
Best practices will be shared and themes will be examined that link the efforts of governmental, non-governmental, academic and business sector interests related to immigrants' social integration. Conference will explore a new, comprehensive, development-based approach to managing the challenges of social integration and the benefits to local and national structures to improve our sustainable social and economic development. We hope the conference will mark a new beginning in thinking about social integration and its role in the wider goals of the host communities on local and regional scales.

This conference project shall make an important step in advancing efforts of all newcomers and their organizations, local, state and federal governments and governmental agencies, service providers, businesses and people and organizations working towards their support having a common goal in the prosperity and socio-economic development of United States and its citizens.

BACKGROUND
Social integration vital topics arise also in light of the Maryland Governor's recent establishment of a council composed of experts on newcomers' issues to improve related policies in our State. The central issues are also relevant given Maryland's growing ethnic diversity. And it is a benefit to the local economy to explore the topic since Maryland has one of the largest populations of highly skilled immigrant workers in the United States. Thanks to further improvements in its policies, the State of Maryland can play in this respect a leading role among U.S. states. The recommendations from the now being completed Maryland Council for New Americans report will be presented during the conference. Other findings to be presented are the outcomes of the Urban Institute report on immigrant families and children in Maryland. A speaker from the Canadian Government will present the Metropolis Project being a large-scale knowledge creation and knowledge transfer governmental initiative.

The conference is a joint effort of four organizations: Social Integration and Community Development Association, Maryland Office for Refugees and Asylees of the Government of Maryland, Asian American Studies Program of the University of Maryland and the GRL (Global, Regional, Local) Development LLC. This conference is second in the series of meetings devoted to the issues of immigration and immigrants in the United States. First event was held in Washington. D.C. (Phillips Collection) on October 10th, 2008 with more than 200 participants and 18 speakers exploring the potential synergies of the immigration policies of the U.S. on the country's social and economic development.

The webpages about the Conference can be found at: www.sicda.org and www.grldevelopment.net.