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Employment First Tempe Proclamation

On March 26, 2019, the City of Tempe became the first Employment First City in the state of Arizona. By becoming an Employment First city, Tempe becomes a model for city-wide initiatives promoting competitive, integrated outcomes for individuals who have disabilities.

Councilmembers Jennifer Adams, and Robin Arredondo-Savage and HR Department Representatives receiving the proclamation from the Mayor Mark Mitchell.
Councilmembers Jennifer Adams, and Robin Arredondo-Savage and HR Department Representatives receiving the proclamation from the Mayor Mark Mitchell.

Proclamation

WHEREAS, The City of Tempe recognized that from 2015 to 2016, the number of working age residents with Developmental Disabilities rose to over 2,000 individuals, an increase in Tempe's population of 4%; and that there is approximately a 28% employment rate of people with Developmental Disabilities, and,

WHEREAS, The initiation of Employment First Tempe promotes competitive, integrated employment in the general workforce as the first and preferred outcome for working age residents who have disabilities, and,

WHEREAS, Employment First Tempe's mission promotes advocacy and education of people with disabilities, families, administrators, policy makers, service providers and agencies, to create system change resulting in competitive, integrated employment; and

WHEREAS, An Employment First Tempe formally recognizes the system change efforts beginning to benefit people who have developmental and other disabilities by adopting a strengths-based perspectives; emphasizing that each person who had a disability, offer skills and assets that contribute to the labor force and local economy; and

WHEREAS, Research shows that there are no cities in Arizona currently designated as an Employment First City; and

WHEREAS, Through Tempe's BEST Program, funded in part by the Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, and with support from the Arizona Employment First Initiative stakeholders, the Arizona Association for People Supporting Employment First local chapter, and Tempe's Commission on Disability Concerns, the recognition of an Employment First Tempe will proudly serve as the FIRST municipal model of competitive integrated employment in the state.

SO, THEREFORE, I, Mark W. Mitchell, Mayor of the City of Tempe, Arizona, do hereby declare:

On March 26, 2019 Employment First Tempe as the first Employment First City in Arizona.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand this 26th day of March, Two Thousand and Nineteen.

Signature of Mayor Mark W. Mitchell