Working toward an Equitable and Prosperous Future for All: How Community Colleges and Immigrants Are Changing America

(Paperback)

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Community 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, strengthen communities, and benefit our economy. This book shares the perspectives of community college CEOs and examines the role of leadership in adopting institution-wide strategies and allocating resources that have advanced immigrant and refugee integration on campus and in the community. We also learn how front-line practitioners make those strategies work through educational and career pathways that have enabled immigrants and refugees to pursue their academic and career goals and contribute to the economic prosperity and cultural vibrancy of their communities.

Reviews

Working toward an Equitable and Prosperous Future for All, an outgrowth of the Community College Consortium for Immigrant Education, is the first volume in a two-book series that touts community college programs focused on providing equity and access to immigrants. Community college leaders offer effective strategies and reliable roadmap[s] (p. 24) to chart college and career success among some of the country's most vulnerable populations. Each chapter acts as an insiders view into innovative programmatic and curricular opportunities and, according to Walter Bumphus, president and CEO of the American Association of Community Colleges, practical models for change (p. viii). Framed through the lens of dynamic leadership, the volume portrays the power of partnerships and the effective and creative leadership that encourages immigrants as they pursue academic degrees and prepare for careers that will transform their lives. The cutting-edge programs described here are mission driven and fueled by passion, community partnerships, and contextualized curricula to ensure that immigrants have the confidence and employment skills needed to achieve career success. Ultimately, this study is a guidebook of programs and best practices in immigrant education that could be replicated on campuses across the nation. Summing Up: Recommended. All levels. * Choice Reviews *
The Community College Consortium for Immigrant Education has provided a significant set of resources with the publication of the companion books, Working Towardan 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 regions 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. Padrn Ph.D., President, Miami Dade College

Author Bio

Jill Casner-Lotto serves as director of the Community College Consortium for Immigrant Education (CCCIE), where she oversees research, communications, and policy development. She is the author of several CCCIE reports and articles providing best practices and resources to guide colleges in implementing immigrant/refugee education and workforce programs focused on ESL integrated career pathways, holistic student support services, and community-based, cross-sector partnerships.

Teresita B. Wisell is executive director of CCCIE and serves as vice president of workforce development and community education at Westchester Community College, part of the State University of New York. In 2014, the White House recognized Ms. Wisell as a Champion of Change for her contributions to workplace citizenship programs.