New Neighbors -- Community Collaboration and Access

Our students receive information about a variety of community services from guest speakers and field trips.

• Guest Speakers: To help our new neighbors with needs other than English, we invite representatives of community organizations to talk to students. Guest speakers provide information about jobs, healthcare, housing, computer courses, children's programs, and legal services for immigrants and refugees. After explaining the resources available through their organizations, speakers respond to questions from students. Because the content is so important, advanced students translate for others during the presentations.
  
  Students take full advantage of the opportunity to talk to speakers about personal issues, and to collect fliers about community services and contacts.
  
• Field Trips: We take students on field trips to acquaint them directly with community resources that many do not even know exist. Our students visit the local public library where the librarian introduces them to the wide variety of materials and programs available, and helps them apply for library cards and borrow books. Our students also tour the facilities of a city employment service where counselors explain their services and how to use them. Jobs are a key concern and many ask for help in finding employment.
• Access to Social Services: We identify, evaluate, and collaborate with other community groups to help our students receive a comprehensive set of social services. When students ask for help, we locate services through the networks we have developed. One of the organizations with which we cooperate--a healthcare clinic--sends a specialist to our site to help students enroll in free or low-cost health insurance.
  

English Classes for Immigrants and Refugees -- Fall 2010

Registration: Students must register in person. A placement test will be given. Childcare will be provided. Space is limited.

Classes: September 22 - December 6, 2010
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
9:30 am until 12:00 noon

There are nine levels of classes, from beginning to advanced, and computers supplement classroom instruction. Childcare is provided during class.

Cost:

• $100 for adult ESL (includes books)
• $100 for one child in childcare ($25 for each additional child)