Cultural sensitivity goes beyond learning about the culture of immigrant children and families, it requires an understanding of the process of migration, the reasons families migrate, and the process of acculturation. We spearhead the work of increasing cultural competence within Ocean County businesses and organizations to bring improved equitable services to all.
Since 2010 the Latino population of Ocean county has grown from 2.2% to an estimated 9.1% according to a 2016 profile released by the US Census Bureau. Latinos are our nation’s largest minority group, numbering nearly 58 million, or 18% of the U.S. population (Pew Research Center 2016). We are on a mission to simultaneously bring practical hope for immigrant communities and embrace the diversity that at-risk immigrants bring to our Ocean County municipalities.
We are community-based and currently serve within the Toms River, Lakewood, and Brick communities due to the unique needs presented by the immigrant Latino population. Latinos make up 8.1 % of the 91,837 Toms River population (US Census Bureau 2016) and this number continues to grow. Foreign born persons make up 8.7% of the total Toms River population. Lakewood thrives from a community of 100,758 residents (US Census Bureau 2016). Hispanics make up 16.5% of Lakewood’s total population and foreign-born persons comprise 13.2% (US Census Bureau 2016). Finally, Brick’s total populations is 75,061 with Hispanics representing 8.2% (US Census Bureau).
In recognition of this significant sector, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and Police Department have established a significant working relationship with our immigrant community through Community Ambassadors. We continue to generate new partnerships while forging new pathways for Latino immigrants to integrate and lead in service within communities in Ocean County.
TOP FUN FACTS ABOUT NEW JERSEY IMMIGRANTS
- Immigrants’ Economic Impact In New Jersey according to the American Immigration Council 2017.
- Immigrant-led households in the state paid $13.1 billion in federal taxes and $6.5 billion in state and local taxes in 2014.
- Undocumented immigrants in New Jersey paid an estimated $587.4 million in state and local taxes in 2014. Their contribution would rise to $661.1 million if they could receive legal status.
- DACA recipients in New Jersey paid an estimated $66 million in state and local taxes in 2016.
- New Jersey residents in immigrant-led households had $54.6 billion in spending power (after-tax income) in 2014.
- 139,240 immigrant business owners accounted for 32.9 percent of all self-employed New Jersey residents in 2015 and generated $3.3 billion in business income.
- In 2015, immigrants accounted for 35.2 percent of business owners in the New York/Northern New Jersey/Long Island metropolitan area (which spans New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania) and 13.1 percent in the Philadelphia/Camden/Wilmington metro area (which extends from Pennsylvania into New Jersey and Delaware)
As consumers, immigrants add tens of billions of dollars to New Jersey’s economy.
Immigrants account for a third of all self-employed business owners in New Jersey.