At a time when our nation is facing bitter political divides over its immigration policies and gridlock at the federal level, this book tells a different story in two parts: First, it showcases the exemplary initiatives of community colleges and their multiple partners working together to integrate immigrants and refugees into the economic, social, and cultural fabric of our communities and our country, and it illustrates the various ways immigrant and refugee students enrich campus life, strengthen communities, and benefit our economy. Second, it describes how community colleges and other key stakeholders are collaborating to replicate and expand initiatives at regional, state, and national levels and the policy implications involved. Coming from various walks of life with different goals and aspirations, immigrants and refugees have turned to community colleges to help them further their education, prepare for citizenship, or launch new careers. And while community colleges are well positioned to be critical change agents in improving educational and workforce access, increasing economic mobility, and ensuring a more equitable future for a diverse immigrant and refugee population, they face significant challenges in sustaining programs and taking them to scale. This book provides practical models for change, with an emphasis on what works, but also considers the critical challenges and lessons learned as community college partnerships have evolved in response to student, employer, and community needs.
Foreword Walter Bumphus, President and CEO, American Association of Community Colleges Preface Teresita B. Wisell, Vice President, Workforce Development and Community Education, and Executive Director, Community College Consortium for Immigrant Education, Westchester Community College Acknowledgements Introduction Jill Casner-Lotto, Director, Community College Consortium for Immigrant Education, Westchester Community College Part I: Meaningful, Multi-Sector Partnerships: Building a Community of Support On and Off Campus Chapter 1: Foreign-Trained Talent for Local Jobs: The Skilled Immigrant Project at Howard Community College Jeff Gross, Policy Consultant, World Education Services Chapter 2: The Roots of Our Story: The Latino Leadership and College Experience Camp Erin Howard, Director of Latino Outreach and Global Learning, and James Fenton, Associate Professor in Humanities, Bluegrass Community and Technical College Chapter 3: Building Retail Career Pathways for the New American Workforce Jennie Murray, Director, Integration Programs, and Ana Negoescu, Manager, Integration Programs, National Immigration Forum Chapter 4: Empowering Student Scholars, Activists, and Advocates for Social Change Jeannett Manzanero, Director, Dr. Kathryn W. Davis Global Education Center, Palm Beach State College A Reflective Narrative: How Community Colleges Can Reframe the Immigration Narrative Denzil Mohammed, Director, Public Education Institute, The Immigrant Learning Center Part II: Scaling Our Initiatives: Strategies and Policy Implications for Program Replication and Building a Field Chapter 5: Washington's I-DEA: Increasing Equity for English-Language Learners Jodi Ruback, Program Administrator, William S. Durden, Policy Associate, and Jon Kerr, Director, Basic Education for Adults, Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges Chapter 6: ALLIES-Partnerships That Promote English Learner Success in College, Career, and the Community Jenny Castello, ESL Professor Emeritus, Canada College, and ALLIES Board Member, and Ilse Pollett, Executive Director, ALLIES Chapter 7: How Community Colleges Can Serve Immigrant Professionals Jeff Gross, Policy Consultant, World Education Services Chapter 8: Creating Career Pathways for All Oregonians Kate Kinder, Career Pathways Director, and Marc Goldberg, Associate Vice President for Workforce Development and Community Education, Portland Community College A Reflective Narrative: English Plus Integration: Shifting the Instructional Paradigm for Immigrant Adult Learners to Succeed Margie McHugh, Director, and Catrina Doxsee, Research Assistant, National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy, Migration Policy Institute Conclusion Jill Casner-Lotto, Director, Community College Consortium for Immigrant Education, Westchester Community College Afterword Suzette Brooks Masters, Consultant on Immigration and Immigrant Integration Issues About the Editors About the Contributors Index
