Page 4 - CNA Annual Report for 2017 FINAL.pdf

FROM THE BOARD CHAIR

ince 1992, Center for New Americans has maintained the vision of an immigrant-centered welcome
‹ ‡•–‡” ƒ••ƒ Š—•‡––• ‘—‹–‹‡•Ǥ Š‡ ˆ‘—†‡”• ™‡”‡ ϐ‹”•– ‘‡ –‡† ™‹–Š –Š‡ ‹„‡–ƒ ‡ˆ—‰‡‡
‡•‡––Ž‡‡– ’”‘Œ‡ – ‹ Š‡”•– ƒ† ™‹–Š –Š‡ ȋ ‰Ž‹•Š ˆ‘” ’‡ƒ‡”• ‘ˆ –Š‡” ƒ‰—ƒ‰‡•Ȍ ’”‘‰”ƒ
Sƒ– ”‡‡ϐ‹‡Ž† ‘—‹–› ‘ŽŽ‡‰‡Ǥ Š‡‹” ˜‹•‹‘ •‘‘ „‡ ƒ‡ Dz–Š‡ ƒ›ǡdz „ƒ•‡† ‘ Ž‹•–‡‹‰ ƒ†
”‡•’‘†‹‰ –‘ ‡™ ‘‡”•ǯ ‡‡†• ™Š‡ –Š‡› ϐ‹”•– ƒ””‹˜‡† ‹ –Š‡ ‹‘‡‡” ƒŽŽ‡›Ǥ • ‡–‡” ˆ‘” ‡™ ‡”‹ ƒ•
has grown, the participation of its students has also grown, contributing to course design, establishing an
alumni association, and even signing on as teachers and volunteers. Center for New Americans’ students
participate not only in learning English, but also in the life of their new communities.
‡”‡ ‹• ƒ‘–Š‡” ’ƒ”– ‘ˆ ‘—” •–‘”›ǣ –Š‡”‡ ‹• ƒ —‹ϐ‹‡† ˆ‘ —• –Šƒ– ”—• –Š”‘—‰Š‘—– ‡–‡” ˆ‘” ‡™ ‡”‹ ƒ• ƒ•
staff, volunteers, donors, and students all seek to empower local immigrants, refugees and migrants. That
focus has made serving on the Board of Directors particularly gratifying
during the upheavals of 2017. It is inspiring to meet with Center for New
Americans staff around goals for our strategic plan. It is inspiring to share
ideas with board colleagues, knowing we are working toward a common goal.
It is inspiring to hear from staff members about their progress in curriculum
development and citizenship training. Our Executive Director, Laurie
Millman, working with an experienced and dedicated staff, has overseen
Center for New Americans effectively and with imagination throughout the
›‡ƒ”Ǥ ‘ƒ”† ‡„‡”• Šƒ˜‡ ‹†‡–‹ϐ‹‡† ƒ† ’”‘‘–‡† ‡™ ”‡•‘—” ‡•Ǥ ‡–‡”
ˆ‘” ‡™ ‡”‹ ƒ• ‹• ‘•–ƒ–Ž› ƒ†ƒ’–‹‰ –‘ ‡™ ‡‡†•ǡ ϐ‹†‹‰ ’ƒ”–‡”•ǡ
and solving problems creatively. For example, Center for New Americans’
capacity-building around technology this year enhances students’ language
and work-related skills, and also improves communication among Center for
‡™ ‡”‹ ƒ•ǯ ˆ‘—” •‹–‡• ‹ Š‡”•–ǡ ”‡‡ϐ‹‡Ž†ǡ ‘”–Šƒ’–‘ ƒ† —”‡”•
Falls.

In spite of, or because of challenges to supporting new immigrants in our
towns, most inspiring of all has been the outpouring of many, many local
voices offering their help and support for Center for New Americans. This
has been more than encouraging. It has expressed the values that founded CRISTIN L.
‘—” ‘—–”› ‹ –Š‡ ϐ‹”•– ’Žƒ ‡Ǥ – Šƒ• ‡Šƒ ‡† –Š‡ ƒ”‡ –Šƒ– †‡ϐ‹‡• ‡–‡” ˆ‘” CARPENTER, Ph.D.
New Americans’ mission. As we all explore new resources, we can count what
Center for New Americans has right now as most precious: the dedication INTERIM CHAIR,
of staff and volunteers, the courage and determination of its hardworking BOARD OF DIRECTORS
students, and the responsive, generous support from local communities for In spite of, or because of
Center for New Americans’ worthy cause. challenges to supporting new
immigrants in our towns, most
We look forward to discovering next year’s challenges and inspirations inspiring of all has been the
together. outpouring of many, many

local voices offering their
Kit Carpenter
Kit Carpenter
help and support for Center
for New Americans...It has
expressed the values that
founded our country in the
Interim Board Chair ÀUVW SODFH

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