Page 4 - CNA 2016 Annual Report

FROM THE BOaRD CHaIR

enter for New Americans’ longstanding commitment
to supporting immigrants and refugees was echoed
this year in our community and across the country
Cby old friends and many new partners. For this and
so much else, we are grateful.
We are grateful that support in 2016 was truly a large-
group effort, with contributions from many staff members,
teachers, volunteers, funders, sponsors, foundations, partner
organizations, poem-writers, and donors, including former
students who want to “give back” in appreciation for the caring
support they received at Center for New Americans.

Center for New Americans’ growth this past year has come in
many different areas. It has involved new uses of technology;
career and literacy-related initiatives; exciting new events
like the first Immigrant Voices: A Celebration of Arts, held in
April to a crowded theater in Turners Falls. The citizenship
program continues to serve more people, some of whom are
former students, and some of whom are refugees who became
citizens as soon as they were eligible.

This year, several new staff members were hired. Laurie
Millman, our long-time Marketing & Development Coordinator,
became Center for New Americans’ new Executive Director,
sparking new ways for Center for New Americans to serve our
local communities. Her transition into the role was facilitated
by the expertise and unflagging hard work of Center for New
Americans’ veteran staff of teachers, advisors, and program
coordinators.

Our board members, too, made invaluable contributions to
Center for New Americans’ resources and to Center for New Americans’ CRISTIN l.
Board processes. We thank them for their work this year: Bernie CaRpENTER, ph.D.
Baker, Wendy Berg, Jean Blakeman, Anne-Marie Demetz, new member INTERIM ChAIR,
Moses Kibara, and Sara Nolan de Aguilar. Special thanks go to Wendy, BOARd OF dIRECTORS
who stepped down during the year, for her many years of dedicated
board service.
It is especially gratifying to
It is especially gratifying to recognize the gifts we receive from the recognize the gifts we receive
from the warm-hearted, brave
warm-hearted, brave and determined immigrants and refugees we
work with. They remind us of how our nation has been built, and what
and determined immigrants
it needs to continue to thrive. We know that you, our community, share and refugees we work with.
our admiration for the immigrants we serve, and we thank you for all
your support this past year. They remind us of how our
nation has been built, and
Sincerely,
what it needs to continue to
thrive.

Cristin L. Carpenter

pagE 2