Page 7 - CNA 2016 Annual Report

Center for New Americans, we facilitate by providing the opportunity to learn English, to become familiar with career options and
protocols, and by reminding students and alumni that goals are achieved little by little. Yangjor’s first job in healthcare, Lin Hua’s purchase
of the building that houses his restaurant after many long years of hard work, Renu’s admission to Greenfield Community College
after her participation in Center for New Americans’ College Readiness class are compelling examples of what happens when highly
motivated immigrants and highly dedicated staff and volunteers share a vision of possibility.

Technology: Center for New Americans Students and Teachers
Learning Together

n any Center for New Americans classroom, students who have had little formal education
in their home countries practice English with students who were college-educated
professionals before they immigrated. In addition to their commitment to learning
IEnglish, they share in common their reliance on their cell phones. An enterprising teacher
recognized that tablets, in their similarity to cell phones, represent an innovative and effective
vehicle of teaching literacy. Thanks to a grant from The Agnes Lindsay Charitable Trust and
training from the Massachusetts department of Elementary & Secondary Education, Center
for New Americans teachers started experimenting with using tablets to make reading
and writing in English more accessible to all students. Computer classes were offered in
all program sites. Once students demonstrated comfort using computers and worked with
instructors to create their own email accounts, they were eligible to be enrolled in our
distance learning classes. Fifteen students met with our distance learning coach, were introduced to an online English program and then
worked independently for five hours/week learning English on their own. One student, Gaby, loved the program so much, she had a
hard time stopping in order to be on time for class. Another student, Olga, worked so assiduously on the program that she progressed
two levels in one year. She recently became proficient enough in English to secure a part-time job.
30 Poems in November!

A Community Celebration of Poetry and Literacy

om Clark, known to the literary community as Tommy Twilite, used his role as Chair
of Center for New Americans’ eighth annual 30 Poems in November! to reinforce his
status as a force of nature. he messaged U.S. Poet Laureate Juan Felipe herrera
Tabout the event and received this response: “30 Poems in November! brings 30,000
inspirations into our lives.” Tommy decided that this year’s event would raise $30,000 – $5,000
more than it had ever raised before. he was indefatigable in his outreach, his Facebook posts, his
sharing of poems and encouragement. Seventy-five writers signed on to write and affirm their
commitment to immigrants in our country and to Center for
New Americans’ work on their behalf. Writers included Center
for New Americans teachers and board members as well as long-time supporters and Smith College
students. The director of the Smith College Poetry Center, which hosts the 30 Poems in November!
Reading & Celebration, decided to translate a poem each day. Thanks to participants’ outreach and the
generous responses of many family members and friends, the event raised over $35,000 for Center
for New Americans’ literacy programs and provided a forum for reminiscences about immigrant
grandparents and outpourings of support for immigrant neighbors. Our thanks go to all of the writers,
their supporters, Tom Clark, the Poetry Center at Smith College, and Levellers Press for producing a
beautiful anthology of this year’s poems.

“...I will wish for a lovely world with peace everywhere.
I believe that a dream
doesn’t have an expiration date.”
— Abdessamad, Center for New Americans student Tom Clark
CENTER FOR NEw aMERICaNS 2016 aNNUal REpORT pagE 5