Agenda for Saturday, April 14, 2012
8:00 am
9:00 am 9:30 am 10:30AM 10:45AM 11:45AM 12:00 pm 1:00 pm 1:45 pm 1:50 pm 2:35 pm 2:40 pm 3:40 pm 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm |
Registration and Breakfast
Conference Opening and Welcome Keynote Speaker: Richard T. Herman BREAK Plenary Panel: New Hampshire Job Creators on the Positive Impacts of Immigration on Local Business Welcoming NH Presentation LUNCH (Included with Registration Fee) Breakout Session (See description below) BREAK Breakout Session (See description below) BREAK Plenary Panel: Regional Efforts of Immigrant Integration in New Hampshire Recognition of Integration Champions and Closing Remarks Celebration of Integration Champions |
Plenary Sessions
Keynote Speaker - Richard T. Herman (9:30 am - 10:30 am)
In his keynote, Richard Herman will change the way you look at immigrants and view the future of our economy.
Historians have long cited immigrants as one of the nation’s uncommon strengths, typically noting the people who dug canals or poured steel or opened corner stores and pizzerias. The positive impact of those hard-working immigrants is still being felt.
In today’s fast-changing, global economy driven by innovation, immigrants in communities across the United States are emerging as leaders and entrepreneurs who will create the companies and the jobs of the future.
Join us as we explore some of the most critical questions facing New Hampshire today:
--What is the impact of immigrants on our economy?
--How can we create a welcoming environment for immigrants that fosters innovation and economic growth?
--What are the qualities of these remarkable individuals that lead to their success, and how can we develop more innovators in our state?
New Hampshire Job Creators on the Positive Impacts of Immigration on Local Business (9:45 am - 10:45 am)
In response to Richard Herman’s keynote presentation, NH Business Leaders will speak to their personal experience either as an immigrant entrepreneur or employer of immigrants. This panel will focus on the specific benefits immigrants have had on local New Hampshire businesses.
Facilitated by Robert Feldstein, Senior Policy Advisor to NYC Mayor Bloomberg – Leader of Partnership for a New American Economy (a coalition of 450 CEOs and Mayors nationwide advocating for immigration reform based on economic principles).
Regional Efforts on Immigrant Integration in New Hampshire (2:40 pm - 3:40 pm)
Hear how several different NH regions have approached immigrant integration in local communities -- a representative panel will share challenges overcome, promising strategies employed, and lessons learned.
Facilitated by Susan Downs-Karkos of Welcoming America, who will help to tease out overarching themes and lessons learned.
In his keynote, Richard Herman will change the way you look at immigrants and view the future of our economy.
Historians have long cited immigrants as one of the nation’s uncommon strengths, typically noting the people who dug canals or poured steel or opened corner stores and pizzerias. The positive impact of those hard-working immigrants is still being felt.
In today’s fast-changing, global economy driven by innovation, immigrants in communities across the United States are emerging as leaders and entrepreneurs who will create the companies and the jobs of the future.
Join us as we explore some of the most critical questions facing New Hampshire today:
--What is the impact of immigrants on our economy?
--How can we create a welcoming environment for immigrants that fosters innovation and economic growth?
--What are the qualities of these remarkable individuals that lead to their success, and how can we develop more innovators in our state?
New Hampshire Job Creators on the Positive Impacts of Immigration on Local Business (9:45 am - 10:45 am)
In response to Richard Herman’s keynote presentation, NH Business Leaders will speak to their personal experience either as an immigrant entrepreneur or employer of immigrants. This panel will focus on the specific benefits immigrants have had on local New Hampshire businesses.
Facilitated by Robert Feldstein, Senior Policy Advisor to NYC Mayor Bloomberg – Leader of Partnership for a New American Economy (a coalition of 450 CEOs and Mayors nationwide advocating for immigration reform based on economic principles).
Regional Efforts on Immigrant Integration in New Hampshire (2:40 pm - 3:40 pm)
Hear how several different NH regions have approached immigrant integration in local communities -- a representative panel will share challenges overcome, promising strategies employed, and lessons learned.
Facilitated by Susan Downs-Karkos of Welcoming America, who will help to tease out overarching themes and lessons learned.
Breakout Sessions (1:00 pm - 1:45 pm & 1:50 pm - 2:35 pm)
Each of the following breakout sessions will be held during BOTH the 1:00pm time slot and the 1:50pm time slot.
Creating Opportunity for School Aged New Americans
A new and complex educational landscape encountered upon arrival in the U.S. can present formidable challenges to new American students and their parents. This session will explore strategies that engage and empower parents, students, school personnel and community members.
Listen to a panel of experts who have worked successfully in the Concord and Manchester School Districts, the Community College system and through other local initiatives to create change and opportunity. Panel members will discuss proven methods to support leadership development, increase academic achievement, build multicultural school communities and create opportunities to encourage full participation of new American students and their parents.
Community engagement is critical to successful schools. The panel members will also offer suggestions for supporting new Americans in community schools. Q and A will follow panel.
Learning objectives:
Beyond Naturalization: The Opportunities and Benefits of Community Engagement
One indicator of successful integration is the extent to which immigrants become involved in civic and community life. Civic participation provides opportunities for immigrants to learn and integrate into their new community. Through their community involvement, immigrants become leaders and problem solvers in many venues—schools, churches and services clubs. They guide emerging policies and engage in the democratic process, ultimately attaining citizenship. In some cases immigrants go on to seek elected office. Healthy and strong communities make these opportunities available to immigrants who choose to give back to their communities
In this breakout session, immigrants will share examples of their broad civic engagement and the motivating factors behind their commitment to the community. Participants will learn about current UNH-Manchester community-based research on the factors that motivate individuals to attain citizenship.
Learning objectives:
After participating in this break-out session, participants will gain:
Finding Common Ground: Exploring Attributes in Cultural Identity
People form their identities and create their worldviews through their own culture. Because we see others first through our own cultural lenses, the ability to fully understand and appreciate another’s cultural heritage may come slowly. While our national identity is one that evokes many cultures, to encourage cross-cultural interaction between immigrants and their new communities, we must intentionally bring people of different cultures together
Through the eyes and hearts of immigrants, panel members in this breakout session reflect on those attributes of culture that make us unique and those we share in common. Participants will consider immigrant reflections and through small group discussions of a World Café format, will identify those common aspects of culture that emerge from the panel’s presentation.
Learning objectives:
After participating in this breakout session, participants will gain:
Economic Security
Although steady employment is often thought of as a ticket to the American Dream, there are many other factors that impact immigrants’ economic security and ability to get ahead. This session will highlight the importance of asset development, and profile NH programs that assist low and middle-income families in leveraging financial resources to achieve long-term economic security.
Learn about Individual Development Accounts (IDAs), matched savings accounts for higher education, homes, small businesses, and vehicles. Hear from a community member who leveraged IDA funds to build assets, despite significant challenges. Contribute your own thoughts in a facilitated discussion on how we can reduce common barriers and promote successful strategies so that immigrants can fully integrate into the economic systems in our state.
Learning Objectives:
After participating in this breakout session, participants will gain:
ESOL: Building Community Inside and Outside of the Classroom
This breakout session will explore best practices regarding community building through the ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classroom. Integration strategies for both English language learners as well as community helpers will be examined. The content will enhance knowledge and understanding of the components that make up effective ESOL instruction including increasing learner persistence and managing expectations.
Learning objectives:
Through participation in this breakout session, participants will:
Immigrant Workers: What you can do to help protect their rights, and promote their health and safety at work!
Presentation will provide basic understanding of the risks/vulnerabilities for immigrant workers.
An overview will also be given about state and federal laws that protect all workers, regardless of status and current local, regional and national efforts and resources that are available to help defend and protect immigrant workers.
Handouts/websites/resources for “helpers” will be provided. Information from state and federal information will be made available that they can copy and disseminate to immigrant workers as needed for their empowerment and education. We hope to put the necessary tools into the hands of the immigrant “helpers” to help them be more effective in their advocacy work.
Speakers:
Breaking Down the Barriers to Health Care
Health is a cornerstone to a person’s and a family’s well-being. With physical and emotional health, children are attending school, parents are able to work, and the family is able to engage with their community. Receiving quality, affordable health care is an important element to maintaining health.
Unfortunately, newcomers may face financial, language, and cultural barriers to receiving quality health care. This session will explore those barriers, and provide information for those wishing to facilitate and empower newcomers to get the care they need for themselves and their families. Overview will be insurance coverage, the Health Access Network discount program, the Medication Bridge Program, places to receive affordable care, interpretation services, culturally and linguistically appropriate care, empowering strategies to navigate our health care system, and dealing with mental health concerns.
Learning Objectives:
After participating in this break-out session, participants will gain improved understanding of:
Welcoming NH: Weaving Cultures, Building Communities
Welcoming America is a national, grassroots-driven collaborative that works to promote mutual respect and cooperation between foreign-born and U.S.-born Americans. The ultimate goal of Welcoming America is to create a welcoming atmosphere – community by community – in which immigrants are more likely to integrate into the social fabric of their adopted hometowns.
Welcoming NH, an affiliate of Welcoming America, selected the theme “Weaving Cultures, Building Communities” to reflect on our state’s vibrant and diverse history built around the textile industry. This industry once helped New Hampshire thrive, as did the many immigrant workers that helped sustain it for so many years.
New Hampshire has a long history of welcoming immigrants. In this session you will learn about the broader Welcoming America and its affiliates, as well as how you can continue the tradition of cultivating a diverse and accepting community through the Welcoming NH initiative.
Speakers: TBD
Your Business, the Economy and Immigration: How it all fits together
Join this panel discussion to further explore topics presented during the keynote presentation and the NH business leader panel. You will have the opportunity to interact with Richard Herman and Robert Feldstein, and hear about the national impact of the Partnership for a New American Economy, a bipartisan group of mayors and business leaders from all sectors and 50 states working to raise awareness of the economic benefits of immigration.
Speakers:TBD
Some breakouts are still being developed so check back for updates on speakers and more!
Creating Opportunity for School Aged New Americans
A new and complex educational landscape encountered upon arrival in the U.S. can present formidable challenges to new American students and their parents. This session will explore strategies that engage and empower parents, students, school personnel and community members.
Listen to a panel of experts who have worked successfully in the Concord and Manchester School Districts, the Community College system and through other local initiatives to create change and opportunity. Panel members will discuss proven methods to support leadership development, increase academic achievement, build multicultural school communities and create opportunities to encourage full participation of new American students and their parents.
Community engagement is critical to successful schools. The panel members will also offer suggestions for supporting new Americans in community schools. Q and A will follow panel.
Learning objectives:
- To acquaint participants with challenges and models for success —new Americans, K-college
- To help participants understand how they can support new American students
- Amadou Hamady, MSW, School Impact Project, International Institute of New Hampshire
- Anna Marie DiPasquale, LicMSW, School Impact Project, Lutheran Social Services
- Amina Chiboub, MA Parent Liaison, School impact Project, International Institute of New Hampshire
- Dawn Higgins, MA, Director of Cross-cultural Education and ESOL, New Hampshire Technical Institute
- Jodi Harper, B.R.I.N.G I.T.!!! Program Coordinator, Southern New Hampshire Services
Beyond Naturalization: The Opportunities and Benefits of Community Engagement
One indicator of successful integration is the extent to which immigrants become involved in civic and community life. Civic participation provides opportunities for immigrants to learn and integrate into their new community. Through their community involvement, immigrants become leaders and problem solvers in many venues—schools, churches and services clubs. They guide emerging policies and engage in the democratic process, ultimately attaining citizenship. In some cases immigrants go on to seek elected office. Healthy and strong communities make these opportunities available to immigrants who choose to give back to their communities
In this breakout session, immigrants will share examples of their broad civic engagement and the motivating factors behind their commitment to the community. Participants will learn about current UNH-Manchester community-based research on the factors that motivate individuals to attain citizenship.
Learning objectives:
After participating in this break-out session, participants will gain:
- An enhanced understanding of the factors that motivate immigrants to become involved in their communities
- Capacity to encourage greater community involvement by immigrants
Finding Common Ground: Exploring Attributes in Cultural Identity
People form their identities and create their worldviews through their own culture. Because we see others first through our own cultural lenses, the ability to fully understand and appreciate another’s cultural heritage may come slowly. While our national identity is one that evokes many cultures, to encourage cross-cultural interaction between immigrants and their new communities, we must intentionally bring people of different cultures together
Through the eyes and hearts of immigrants, panel members in this breakout session reflect on those attributes of culture that make us unique and those we share in common. Participants will consider immigrant reflections and through small group discussions of a World Café format, will identify those common aspects of culture that emerge from the panel’s presentation.
Learning objectives:
After participating in this breakout session, participants will gain:
- Greater understanding of their own views of culture
- Capacity to apply new understandings to their personal and professional lives
Economic Security
Although steady employment is often thought of as a ticket to the American Dream, there are many other factors that impact immigrants’ economic security and ability to get ahead. This session will highlight the importance of asset development, and profile NH programs that assist low and middle-income families in leveraging financial resources to achieve long-term economic security.
Learn about Individual Development Accounts (IDAs), matched savings accounts for higher education, homes, small businesses, and vehicles. Hear from a community member who leveraged IDA funds to build assets, despite significant challenges. Contribute your own thoughts in a facilitated discussion on how we can reduce common barriers and promote successful strategies so that immigrants can fully integrate into the economic systems in our state.
Learning Objectives:
After participating in this breakout session, participants will gain:
- Greater understanding of the role that assets play in economic security/mobility
- Knowledge of IDAs: What they are, how they function, potential benefits
- Resource list of IDA providers throughout NH
- Understanding of the challenges faced by immigrants in accessing IDAs
- Opportunity to contribute their own ideas of strategies/solutions to reduce economic barriers and facilitate successful immigrant integration
- Jessica Santos, PhD Candidate, Social Policy: Assets and Inequalities, Brandeis University, and State Partnership Grant Coordinator, Office of Minority Health & Refugee Affairs
- Marcy Meyer, Director, Asset Development, Community Loan Fund
- Community Partner/Member, IDA recipient - TBD
ESOL: Building Community Inside and Outside of the Classroom
This breakout session will explore best practices regarding community building through the ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classroom. Integration strategies for both English language learners as well as community helpers will be examined. The content will enhance knowledge and understanding of the components that make up effective ESOL instruction including increasing learner persistence and managing expectations.
Learning objectives:
Through participation in this breakout session, participants will:
- learn strategies that highlight integration by expanding learning opportunities both inside and outside the classroom.
- examine ways to build classroom community.
- be able to identify what makes community helpers effective.
- be educated on learner persistent strategies and how to manage expectations.
- Sue Corby, Director, English for New Americans
- Christine Powers, ESL Coordinator/Teacher, Manchester School of Technology
- Joanne DelDeo, Director of Adult Basic Education, Second Start
- Famo Toure, Founder, Concord Development Center for Immigrants
Immigrant Workers: What you can do to help protect their rights, and promote their health and safety at work!
Presentation will provide basic understanding of the risks/vulnerabilities for immigrant workers.
An overview will also be given about state and federal laws that protect all workers, regardless of status and current local, regional and national efforts and resources that are available to help defend and protect immigrant workers.
Handouts/websites/resources for “helpers” will be provided. Information from state and federal information will be made available that they can copy and disseminate to immigrant workers as needed for their empowerment and education. We hope to put the necessary tools into the hands of the immigrant “helpers” to help them be more effective in their advocacy work.
Speakers:
- Judy Elliott, ESOL Trainer, NH COSH
- Eva Castillo, NH AIR – NH Alliance for Immigrant and Refugees
- Margaret Fogarty, AFSC – American Friends Service Committee
Breaking Down the Barriers to Health Care
Health is a cornerstone to a person’s and a family’s well-being. With physical and emotional health, children are attending school, parents are able to work, and the family is able to engage with their community. Receiving quality, affordable health care is an important element to maintaining health.
Unfortunately, newcomers may face financial, language, and cultural barriers to receiving quality health care. This session will explore those barriers, and provide information for those wishing to facilitate and empower newcomers to get the care they need for themselves and their families. Overview will be insurance coverage, the Health Access Network discount program, the Medication Bridge Program, places to receive affordable care, interpretation services, culturally and linguistically appropriate care, empowering strategies to navigate our health care system, and dealing with mental health concerns.
Learning Objectives:
After participating in this break-out session, participants will gain improved understanding of:
- Medicaid and Medicare Eligibility
- Health Access Network Discount Program
- Ways to obtain medications at a discount
- Rights and Responsibilities regarding use of interpretation services at a medical appointment
- Empowering strategies to navigate the health care system
- Typical behavioral health issues, where to get care, and ways to discuss with others this potentially sensitive topic
- Jazmin Miranda-Smith, Community Coordinator, NH Healthy Kids
- Bernie Cameron, Community Health Coordinator, Foundation for Healthy Communities
- Kris McCracken, MBA, Dir. Of Operations, Manchester Community Health Center
- Sarah Mason LICSW; MSW, The Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester
Welcoming NH: Weaving Cultures, Building Communities
Welcoming America is a national, grassroots-driven collaborative that works to promote mutual respect and cooperation between foreign-born and U.S.-born Americans. The ultimate goal of Welcoming America is to create a welcoming atmosphere – community by community – in which immigrants are more likely to integrate into the social fabric of their adopted hometowns.
Welcoming NH, an affiliate of Welcoming America, selected the theme “Weaving Cultures, Building Communities” to reflect on our state’s vibrant and diverse history built around the textile industry. This industry once helped New Hampshire thrive, as did the many immigrant workers that helped sustain it for so many years.
New Hampshire has a long history of welcoming immigrants. In this session you will learn about the broader Welcoming America and its affiliates, as well as how you can continue the tradition of cultivating a diverse and accepting community through the Welcoming NH initiative.
Speakers: TBD
Your Business, the Economy and Immigration: How it all fits together
Join this panel discussion to further explore topics presented during the keynote presentation and the NH business leader panel. You will have the opportunity to interact with Richard Herman and Robert Feldstein, and hear about the national impact of the Partnership for a New American Economy, a bipartisan group of mayors and business leaders from all sectors and 50 states working to raise awareness of the economic benefits of immigration.
Speakers:TBD
Some breakouts are still being developed so check back for updates on speakers and more!