Immigrant and Refugee Support Summit: Connecting Learners to Education and Career Pathways

Event Announcement

Immigrant and Refugee Support Summit: Connecting Learners to Education and Career Pathways, May 22nd and May 23rd, 2024

Join us for an in-person event at Northeast WI Technical College in Green Bay. Instructors, program administrators,  employers, and community-based organizations are invited to attend for a dynamic and impactful summit.  Together, we’ll lean into enriching  presentations, round table discussions, and panels to enhance our understanding and collaboration around serving immigrants and refugees  as they pursue their career and education goals.

Who should attend:

  • WTCS faculty, student services staff, program administrators and leaders
  • Community-Based organizations
  • Employers
  • Refugee Resettlement Agencies
  • Workforce Development
    And anyone who is interested in connecting immigrant and refugee learners to career pathways.

Registration closes on May 10th.

1 day, 2 day registrations available. Limited virtual options are available on day 2.

For information on virtual sessions, contact Colleen Larsen.

For general inquiries, contact: rose@wisconsinliteracy.org; Phone: (608) 257-1655 ext. 6. 

Register for the Summit

 

Agenda  Day 1 ( subject to change)

Gathering : 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM: Breakfast

Session 1: Opening Remarks 10:05 AM – 10:30 AM

  •  Welcome 
  •  Keynote: Understanding the Importance of Education for Refugee Integration  – Bojana Zoric Martinez, Director of Refugee Programs

 Session 2: Panel Discussion: English for Everyday Life  10:30 AM-11:20AM 

    • Eric Johnson, Milwaukee Public Library 
    • Said Mohamed, COMSA 
    • Shannon Schuren, Literacy Council of Sheboygan County 
    • Nate Andrews, Forward Service Corporation 

 Session 3: Roundtable Discussions  11:25 AM- 11:55 AM 

  • Roundtable 1
    • Topic 1: Strategies for Promoting Financial Literacy in various settings  
    • Topic 2: How to advocate for ELLs in the community (ex. Interpretation, signage, use of translate apps, linguistically appropriate drop-in hours)
  • Roundtable 2 
    • Topic 1: Creating authentic, client-centered solutions (how to include client voice)  
    • Topic 2: How to support integration in the community (library/community centers/etc)? 

 Lunch and speaker 12:20 PM- 1:30 PM 

  • Speaker:  Isaak Mohamed 

 Break: 1:30-1:45 

Session 4: Collaborative Action Planning with Technology  

Session 5: Closing Remarks and Networking  1:55PM- 2:15PM 

 Session 6: (Optional for those staying for day 2)  

  • 3:30 PM: Tour of Literacy Green Bay

Agenda Day 2 ( subject to change)

Register/Breakfast  8:00 AM- 9:00AM 

Welcome and Opening Plenary  9:00 AM- 9:55 AM 

  • Welcome & Overview of Today’s Gathering
  • Keynotes: Federal Strategies to Welcome & Support Immigrants and Refugees – Karen Phillippi, Office of Citizenship, Partnership and Engagement (OCPE)
  • Immigrant Inclusion in Wisconsin: State of Play and Opportunities, Debra Means- West, Director of Resource & Development, World Education Services (WES)  

Networking break  10:00 AM-10:15 AM

Concurrent Breakout Sessions 1 & 2 10:15-11:30am 

Session 1- Opportunities and Challenges: Employer Perspectives on Supporting Immigrants and Refugees in the Workplace 

Virtual Option Available 

  • Panel Facilitator: Hannah Somers (Talent Beyond Boundaries)   
  • Vice President of HR Kari Hawkenson & Robin Wolzenburg Miravida Living (Oshkosh) 
  • Sabrina Zerhouni – JBS, Green Bay 
  • Jeff Lamirande – Lycon Construction, Madison 

Session 2 – Accessing Healthcare & Mental Health Resources 

A presentation on refugee health requirements and resources and factors impacting refugee and immigrant mental health and ways to support the community’s mental health.

  • Savitri Tsering, WI Refugee Health Coordinator 
  • Tony Lee, Covering Wisconsin  
  • Dr. Sebastian Ssempijja 

Lunch & Student Panel-11:30-12:30pm   

Virtual Option Available

  • Diane Nyriamahirwe, Milwaukee Area Technical College 
  • Ingrid Salazar, Madison College 
  • Ana Juarez, NWTC 

Concurrent Breakout Session 3 & 4  12:30-1:45pm 

Session 3- Refugee and Immigrant Navigator Training: Immigration Legal Service Models and Capacity Building Strategies 

Virtual Option Available

Across the country, there is a dire need for affordable and accessible immigration legal services. Wisconsin is no exception, as organizations find themselves stretched to meet the legal needs of the immigration and refugee communities. In this session, participants will share immigration legal service models and strategies to overcome challenges and build capacities.  

  • Facilitator: Sarah Mesick, National Partnership of New Americans 
  • Guest speakers: Fabiola Hamden (Dane County Immigrant Affairs), Laurie Martinez (Accredited Rep, CCGBay), Casa Alba Melanie (Maria & Pilar) 

Session 4-Effective Community Partnerships to Support Immigrant and Refugee Career Pathways   

Host Karen Phillippi, Office of Citizenship, Partnership and Engagement (OCPE)

  • Facilitator: Tara DeGrave, Catholic Charities Resettlement Director, Green Bay
  • Makayla Hix, Employment and Career Specialist, Catholic Charities, Green Bay 
  • Julio Garcia, Education Director, Latino Academy of Workforce Development, Madison- 
  • Tana DeLonay ECDC Multicultural Community Center  
  • Bara Omari, ELL Instructional Chair, Milwaukee Area Technical College 
  • Shelley Karnz, Adult Education Navigator, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College 

Networking break – 1:45-2:00pm

Session 5 & 6  2:00-3:15pm 

Session 5 – WIOA Overview (Titles I, II, III, IV) and Services for Immigrants and Refugees

  • Title I– Stephanie Elmer, Bureau of Workforce Training, DWD 
  • Title II Cristina Parente, Wisconsin Technical College System 

Session 6 -Career Pathway Tools, Resources, and Evaluation Services- Supporting the Economic Inclusion of Immigrants and Refugees with International Education and Experience 

Presenter Name: Debra Means-West, World Education Services 

Recent data indicates that over two million college-educated immigrants and refugees in the U.S. face unemployment or underemployment, constituting 17% of the total college-educated labor force. This underutilization not only represents a significant loss of human capital but also underscores the urgent need for comprehensive solutions. 

As representatives of World Education Services, we are committed to amplifying this issue through resources and tools that can be used to support internationally trained immigrants and refugees. Our presentation will highlight key topics, including streamlined credential recognition and resources for individuals navigating U.S. workforce inclusion. The session will also cover the Pathways Tool and Career Pathways e-Guides on our website, providing comprehensive information on academic requirements, career options, and licensing and certification. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of career pathways, tools for successful navigation, and WES as a national partner and resource. 

Closing Remarks 3:15 – 3:30pm