By now you have most likely heard about the recent
influx of asylum seekers
who have made their way to Portland, Maine. It has been encouraging to see Portland, surrounding cities and the community come together to support these new- comers, both through donations and a desire to volunteer time and services. Times like these remind us of why so many people choose to make Maine their home, and how the
#PowerOfWe
can make a difference!
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The Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center (IWC) continues to work to strengthen the immigrant community through language acquisition, economic integration and civic engagement.
Read on to see what we have been up to these past few months.
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Welcome to the Board, Victoria!
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We are pleased to announce that Victoria Lee Hood has joined the IWC Board of Directors. Victoria is the former owner of the West End Inn in Portland. Before moving to Maine, Victoria held senior management roles in the global financial technology industry in London and New York, specializing in the marketing of institutional foreign exchange and fixed income trading systems. Having lived as a child with her immigrant Chinese grandparents in Boston, Victoria has always been a strong advocate of immigrant rights. Victoria earned a BA in Spanish Language and Literature, magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, from Wellesley College.
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English: A Key to Workforce Development
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On June 11, the IWC welcomed Commissioner of Labor Laura Fortman as well as other Department of Labor senior staff for a presentation and round-table discussion about the iEnglish Project and the links between language acquisition and workforce development. We were joined by members of the philanthropic, corporate, and nonprofit sectors to discuss the how these different groups can help integrate immigrant workers into Maine's workforce.
Katie Nielson, Chief Education Officer of
Voxy
, also attended the meeting to share about the benefits of Voxy, the digital English training platform on which the iEnglish Project is built.
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iEnglish in the news!
The iEnglish Project was featured in a segment on Channel 8 News in May.
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Other iEnglish Project Updates:
- In the continuing partnership with MaineHealth, CASAS Test Prep courses have been being developed
- Voxy is now offering a personal financial literacy course available to all our learners using the platform
- The IWC is working to establish a satellite language lab in Augusta with Capital Area New Mainers Project
- Revision Energy has offered a space to the IWC for a satellite language lab in South Portland
- Hope Acts has launched their language lab at Hope House in partnership with the iEnglish Project! Some photos are below.
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Grant Support
A big thank you to these funding partners for helping expand the iEnglish Project.
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The IWC was awarded a $10,000 grant from the Maine Community Foundation's People of Color Fund.
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The IWC was awarded a $20,000 grant from the Clowes Fund to support the iEnglish Project.
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The IWC was awarded $25,000 from UNUM Charitable Giving, a consistent supporter of the iEnglish Project.
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The first initiative of the IWC Immigrant Business Hub was launched last month: the Entrepreneur Greenhouse. Five emerging immigrant entrepreneurs were selected from a pool of ten applicants. The entrepreneurs and their businesses are as follows:
- Oumalkhaire - Childcare
- Adrian Espinoza - Empanada Club
- Marcel Selemani - Blue Jeans
- Papy Bongibo - Nightclub
- Talal Alzefiri - Middle Eastern Market
Over the course of six months of training, the participants will receive:
- Mentoring in partnership with the Portland Rotary Club
- Training
- Community connections (networking)
- Access to business services
- Access to Space
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Every second Thursday of the month we will be hosting a Business Hub Luncheon. This is a space for our Entrepreneur Greenhouse participants, mentors, volunteers and other interested entrepreneurs to come together and talk about business. These photos are from our June luncheon. A special thank you to entrepreneur Steve Goldthwaite for leading our first lunchtime discussion.
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Citizenship & Civic Engagement
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The Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center is in the process of developing partnerships to support its Citizenship & Civic Engagement plans, specifically a voter registration campaign in the run-up to the 2020 Presidential Election and a naturalization program to assist the immigrant community's U.S. citizenship aspirations.
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Community, Art, & Conversation
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On June 8 the Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center joined
Indigo Arts Alliance
in hosting the Welcome Table, an inter-generational event celebrating the cultural and culinary traditions of the African Diaspora. It was a remarkable day full of food, art, music, conversation and learning.
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Welcome Table panel discussion about art, resistance, and resilience.
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Welcome Table lunch prepared by African chef Mercy Kilby
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And dinner prepared by Brazilian guest chef Iyalorixa Valnizia de Ayra
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Printmaking with Daniel Minter
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Drumming with Michael Wingfield
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Movement and Dance with Rene Goddess Johnson
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Some of the Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center and Indigo Arts Alliance staff, volunteers, interns and board members who together made the Welcome Table possible.
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Maine Magazine 50 Mainers Issue
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"Creating a brighter future for the state"
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Each year
Maine Magazine honors 50 Mainers who are leaders in their communities and industries. This year, Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center Executive Director Alain J. Nahimana was chosen as one of the leaders creating a brighter future for Maine in 2019.
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Coffee By Design's 25th Anniversary
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Building Community for 25 Years
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Congratulations to one of our big supporters,
Coffee By Design, and IWC Board Co-Chair Mary Allen-Lindemann for achieving 25 years of business this June. Thank you for all you do to build community in Portland and beyond. (And the great coffee!).
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Opus Consulting Group 10-Year Anniversary Fundraiser
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Cocktail for a Cause Winner
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Opus Consulting Group held a fundraiser to celebrate their 10-Year anniversary, and the IWC was chosen as a beneficiary, along with three other local nonprofit . Thank you Opus, and all those who voted and participated!
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Co-Working: Opportunities for Growth & Collaboration
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The Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center continues to be a space for burgeoning immigrant-run organizations and aligned community groups to meet in and work.
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Join us in welcoming these new members of the Co-Working Hub:
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Co-Working Hub Story
Jenny Van West,
who joined the Co-Working Hub last quarter, shared some information and insights on her work and experience:
"I produce the 4x yearly International Open Mic at Mayo Street Arts and coordinate the Immigrant Music Connection which finds guitars, basses & piano keyboards in good, working, playable condition (and occasionally other musical instruments and gear) for recent immigrants and their families. I also coordinate free guitar classes at the center (open to anyone, with priority given to recent arrivals seeking asylum).
"I wanted to try a desk at the center to bring me into regular contact with recent arrivals and those whose work involves them to help stabilize my programs; as people gain work permits and get jobs, they typically cannot attend class regularly and so I need more students on a regular basis. So far it's been overwhelmingly positive. All are welcome to check it out. Please give me a buzz at
jennyvanwestmusic@gmail.com
if you're interested (
Check in with me, sometimes I'm traveling)
."
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An Immigrant Music Connection class this past spring.
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Other co-working hub news:
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Maine Magazine held their June
Cinq à Sept
event at the IWC office.
Cinq
à Sept is a celebratory gathering for the community to meet up and make connections.
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In the second quarter of 2019, 30 different community organizations have used our meeting spaces, totaling 379 hours.
If you or your organization is interested in using our meeting rooms, book online
HERE
.
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More photos from Cinq
à
Sept.
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Thank you for your support and commitment to immigrant integration in the state of Maine. Without you, our work would not be possible.
We are looking forward to what the rest of 2019 brings.
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Alain J. Nahimana | Executive Director
The Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center
Office: (207) 517-3405
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Find us on social media or visit our website:
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