Description
Book SynopsisCommunity colleges serve as a critical gateway to English-language instruction, higher education, workforce training, and civic engagement for many immigrants and refugees looking to gain an economic foothold in the labor market and integrate into the social fabric of their communities. 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. 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: It showcases the exemplary initiatives of community colleges and their partners working together at local and state levels 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, stren
Trade ReviewThe Community College Consortium for Immigrant Education has provided a significant set of resources with the publication of the companion books, Working Toward an Equitable and Prosperous Future For All: How Community Colleges and Immigrants Are Changing America and Working Together: How Community Colleges and Their Partners Help Immigrants Succeed. Community colleges are the natural choice for immigrants to learn the skills needed to adapt to a new environment and to become successful contributors to American society and our economy. These companion books, written by experienced community college leaders and other experts in the field, provide valuable information to assist our colleges to develop and strengthen programs for this important group of students. -- George R. Boggs Ph.D, Superintendent/ President Emeritus, Palomar College; President and CEO Emeritus, American Association of Community Colleges; Chair, Phi Theta Kappa Board of Directors
These books offer deep insight into the most promising, innovative models for addressing barriers to economic opportunity for immigrants and English language learners and understanding how partnerships can help strengthen, sustain, and replicate this work. You could spend the next few years traveling across the country to meet these thought leaders and see their programs in action. Or you can acquire the knowledge from the frontlines in this two-volume compendium. -- Peter Gonzales, President and CEO of Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians
This publication elevates critical work community college executives and frontline practitioners have led in establishing inclusive institutional strategies and programs for immigrant and refugee students. Community colleges across the country act as the bridge to the middle class and careers with economic mobility. Community college leaders committed to equitable student success can benefit greatly from the promising practices highlighted in the chapters of this CCCIE publication. -- Mark Mitsui, President, Portland Community College, Portland, OR
A book with solutions! As community college practitioners, we must quickly create workforce solutions for emerging career opportunities for diverse industries and diverse communities. This book: Working Toward an Equitable and Prosperous Future for All: How Community Colleges and Immigrants Are Changing America, provides us with many solutions to meeting our current and future workforce challenges for our immigrant communities. -- Girard Melancon, Vice Chancellor for Workforce Education, Baton Rouge Community College, LA
The authors have further informed the consciousness of each reader by providing applicable strategy. Community College executive leaders now have an additional roadmap to borrow from while they begin, create, or enhance their institutional approaches to deeper inclusive practices. This text reinforces beyond the aspirational and achieves sharing tangible proven practices. These are discussions and questions necessary for all of our communities and create a platform for current and future leaders to spring forth. -- Michael Torrence, President, Motlow State Community College; Member, Commission on Diversity, Inclusion and Equity, American Association of Community College
In communities across the country, community and state colleges serve as the backbone of the region’s workforce and economy, ensuring that invaluable opportunities for prosperity are available to all. This includes immigrants who, as new Americans, should have equal access to the opportunities that higher education offers. This book sheds light on the important work being done to ensure that pathways to college and careers are open to anyone seeking a prosperous future and to contribute to this great nation. -- Eduardo J. Padrón Ph.D., President, Miami Dade College
Table of ContentsForeword 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: Executive-Level Commitment: Developing an Immigrant Education Strategy and Making It Work A Reflective Narrative: No Risk, No Reward—Unlocking Opportunity in a Changing America Suzette Brooks Masters, Consultant on Immigration and Immigrant Integration Issues Chapter 1: Managing the New Normal: Presidential Leadership for Effective Community College Immigrant Education Programs Belinda S. Miles, President, Westchester Community College Chapter 2: Toward Equity: The Immigrant Experience at Miami Dade College Malou C. Harrison, President, InterAmerican and North Campuses, Miami Dade College Chapter 3: Taking the Support of Immigrant Students to New Heights Gail O. Mellow, President, LaGuardia Community College Chapter 4: The CEO’s Role in Building Education Pathways for All Aspiring Americans Lee D. Lambert, Chancellor, Pima Community College Chapter 5: Providing Equitable Education as a Daily Call to Action Jeff Wagnitz, Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Rolita Flores Ezeonu, Former Dean of Instruction for Transfer and Pre-College Education, Highline College Part II: Front-Line Teams Dedicated to Success of New Americans: Designing Pathways to College and Careers Chapter 6: LaGuardia Community College’s Noncredit Pathways for New Americans John Hunt, Executive Director, Executive Director for Adult Community Learning, LaGuardia Community College Chapter 7: South Texas College: Accelerated Pathways for Immigrants in the Rio Grande Valley Juan Carlos Aguirre, Dean of Continuing Professional and Workforce Education, and Matthew Hebbard, Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Chapter 8: Helping Skilled Immigrants and Refugees Transition to Jobs: How Pima Community College Taps Unrealized Workforce Talent Adam Hostetter, Director, El Pueblo Liberty Learning Center, Montserrat Caballero, Volunteer and Student Engagement Advanced Coordinator, Norma Sandoval, English Language Instructor and Immigrant Navigator, and Regina Suitt, Vice President of Adult Basic Education and Developmental Education Chapter 9: The Montgomery College Experience with Workforce Education for Adult English-Language Learners Donna Kinerney, Dean of Instruction, Montgomery College Chapter 10: Data-Driven Redesign Provides New Pathways to College and Careers Cynthia Hatch, ESOL & TESOL Program Developer and Instructional Designer, Northern Virginia Community College A Reflective Narrative: We Are Not All the Same: Listening to Concerns of Beginning English-Language Learners Heide Spruck Wrigley, Author and Consultant, Literacywork International Conclusion Jill Casner-Lotto, Director, Community College Consortium for Immigrant Education, Westchester Community College About the Editors About the Contributors Index
