Littleton Immigrant Resource Center. City Council Debbie Brinkman Phil Cernanec Peggy Cole Bruce Stahlman Jim Taylor Jose Trujillo Doug Clark

Transcription

1 Littleton Immigrant Resource Center City Council Debbie Brinkman Phil Cernanec Peggy Cole Bruce Stahlman Jim Taylor Jose Trujillo Doug Clark

2 City of Littleton Located in Arapahoe County, Congressional District 6. Suburbs of Littleton are Denver, Centennial, Englewood, Greenwood Village, Highlands Ranch. Approximately 42,00 residents. Citizens are: fiscally conservative, politically active, tree hugging rocket scientists who care deeply about education.

3 History Between the 1990 and 2000 U.S. Censuses, the number of foreign-born residents in Littleton, CO increased from 2% to 8% of the city's total population. 54 Languages spoken in Littleton Public School System schools. Some may see an increase in new people as a challenge. We choose to see it as an opportunity. Jim Woods, Littleton City Manager

4 Littleton Immigrant Integration Initiative (LI3) Planning grant from The Colorado Trust In 2005 citizen group started discussion on immigrant issues. A year of community meetings and organizing Four-year, $300,000 grant from The Colorado Trust. Grant money -> staff. City -> facilities. Volunteers -> work.

5 Transition Valuable lessons learned. Real need, finally effective. Large number of dedicated volunteers. Excellent director. Grant money running out. No immediate prospects for money from heaven. Decision point!

6 LI3 Becomes LIRC LI3 staff member (director) becomes City employee. Governance now by City Manager / Council, instead of citizen board (LI3). Mission changes to reflect transition to public money but services remain the same. Volunteers stay on board.

7 Change in Mission LI3 mission statement: To become a community in which all people who live, work, study or play feel they belong and can contribute. OK for private money not public money.

8 What is LIRC? Littleton Immigrant Resource Center (LIRC) is: Resource Center. Connecting immigrants to already existing resources. English Language Partners. Pairing non-english speakers with a tutor. Citizenship Services and Mentoring. Providing tutor for test, and other assistance.

9 Why Do It? If you could speak perfect English, what would you do? Get a better job. Talk to my children's teachers at school.

10 Why Do It? Economic development: higher wages = better city. Involved parents = better schools. English required to be involved in schools. Assimilate community values Vested in city, value education, report crimes, help neighbors, etc. Right thing to do Our fathers or grandfathers were immigrants The promise of America We are enriched by their coming

11 Resource Center Housing Healthcare Immigration services Legal referrals Education Employment Financial matters Food and clothing assistance Recreation

12 Language Partners Community volunteers are trained to serve as tutors. LIRC coordinates the initial meeting of the tutor-student pair. LIRC provides English as a Second Language (ESL) curriculum and serves as an ongoing resource for students and tutors. Pairs usually meet for 1-2 hours per week, at their convenience.

13 Language Partners - Why It Works Accommodates ALL levels and learning styles. Allows learning opportunity for students whose schedules prohibit group class attendance. Allows community members with varying availability the opportunity to volunteer; people donate as much or as little time as they wish. Fosters camaraderie based on equal relationships.

14 Citizenship Services Eligibility determination. Collect necessary supporting documentation. Process file. Submit application and fees.

15 Citizenship Test Mentoring One-on-one tutoring program matches volunteer teachers with immigrant students. Third grade English skills needed to pass the test. Very high rate of success.

16 Staffing Program Coordinator: Alejandra Harguth. Board of Immigration Appeals Accredited Representative, Bilingual English-Spanish Part-time Assistant: Melina Leodas. Bilingual English-Spanish Volunteer staff: Over 200 dedicated community volunteers.

17 Salaries Benefits +Operating costs =$92,400 What Does It Cost? Plus Littleton Public Schools offers 4 ESL Classes. Office and classes are in Bemis Library

18 What Does It Buy? 137 immigrants have become citizens. Over 400 immigrants served.

19 Who We Serve The immigrant communities we serve mirror Colorado as a whole. 30% of immigrants came from North and Central America, 30% from Asia and 24% from Africa. The largest number come from Mexico. (24%)

20 What We Learned People matter keep the good ones. Volunteers applying for grants!= program funding. English skills biggest impediment for immigrants. More structure = less success with volunteers. Schedule flexibility = more success for immigrants. Immigrants want to succeed.