GAINESVILLE, FL – UF Geography senior Paula Roetscher was delighted when the Gainesville City Commission unanimously agreed to make Gainesville Florida’s first ‘Welcoming City’ at their Thursday evening meeting. The City Commission will make the decision official at their March meeting.
This was a big victory for Ms. Roetscher, a double major in Geography and Sustainability Studies and a minor in Arabic Language and Literature at the University of Florida. For the past year, Ms. Roetscher has been working with Gainesville’s Interfaith Alliance for Immigrant Justice and Welcoming America to help the city pass a resolution to be a ‘Welcoming City’ – a first for the State of Florida. Gainesville will join Hillsborough County as a member of the Welcoming America network.
Upon graduation, Ms. Roetscher will start a full time job as the Executive Director of the newly founded nonprofit Welcoming Gainesville, Inc. At Welcoming Gainesville she will continue her work helping local nonprofits, faith communities, and student groups to collaborate and coordinate their actions, making Gainesville a more welcoming to all people.