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There is now a CONTENT FREEZE for Mercury while we switch to a new platform. It began on Friday, March 10 at 6pm and will end on Wednesday, March 15 at noon. No new content can be created during this time, but all material in the system as of the beginning of the freeze will be migrated to the new platform, including users and groups. Functionally the new site is identical to the old one. webteam@gatech.edu
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The city of Norcross is partnering with Georgia Tech to study the city’s growing immigrant population. More than 40 percent of people in Norcross were born in another country. According to the 2013 American Community Survey, Latinos and Asians make up about 60 percent of the population. Mayor Bucky Johnson said there’s a gap between the city and its immigrant population and is hoping this study will allow the city to learn about serving its diverse residents.
This is an opportunity for us to really hear from that population, or populations,” Johnson said. “Sometimes folks are reluctant to talk to elected officials or police.” So the city had Georgia Tech step in. City planning students have been surveying immigrants in four different languages – Hindi, Vietnamese, Spanish and English. Anna Kim, a professor of city planning at Georgia Tech, said the study is not just for the city of Norcross but can be helpful in giving a snapshot of the Atlanta region.
“Right now, we’re looking at Norcross because it’s the perfect example of what might now be a typical Georgia town,” Kim said. About one in 10 people in Georgia are foreign-born, and that number has been growing, according to recent census data.
“Figuring out how do we adjust infrastructure to accommodate a community that’s looks very different than it used to look,” Kim said.
