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power of immigrants. Detroit Mayor Dave Bing plans to launch soon an

Office of Immigrant Affairs. The Republican governor of Michigan, Rick

Snyder, now likes to refer to himself as the most pro-immigrant governor in

the country. He recently launched a statewide initiative, Global Michigan.

Dayton Mayor Gary Leitzell likes to go on national television and say that he

looks at immigrants and sees a path to a more entrepreneurial, global and

diverse future. He is fond of quoting studies saying that immigrants are

twice as likely to start a business as native-born Americans.

Curiously, Global Cleveland's leaders rarely use the I word to describe their

plans and programs.

This omission is shocking. Global Cleveland grew out of a grassroots

movement to revitalize Cleveland by welcoming immigrants and refugees.

The founders were inspired by the Welcoming Center for New

Pennsylvanians, which helped revive Philadelphia, and a 2010 plan crafted

by the Jewish Federation of Cleveland that is bluntly titled, Cleveland Needs

More Immigrants: Why and How to Welcome More Foreign-Born Residents.

Now we are at an inflection point. We hope Global Cleveland can recapture

the community-driven conversation focused on creating an immigrant-

friendly city. To do this, it will need an urban revitalization strategy, as well

as an appeal to Latinos, the most powerful demographic force in America

today.

We should welcome all immigrants, even those who don't have advanced

degrees. Most of our ancestors arrived in America with only grit and

determination. Many of them started businesses and raised children who

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accomplished great things. We should keep this in mind, as we prepare to

demolish thousands of abandoned but inhabitable homes that could house

Cleveland's new immigrant families and taxpayers, but instead seem slated

to become urban farms.

(Richard Herman is a Cleveland immigration lawyer and a former board member of Global Cleveland.

Roberto Torres is a former economic development director for the city of Canton and is president of T

& R Group LLC, a consulting firm that specializes in Latino and international business development.)