Friday 4/26 Multilingual Action Council Sixth Annual Conference

MAC Sixth Annual Conference: “The Immigrant Experience: Identifying and supporting the needs of multilingual children and families” will take place from 9 am to 3:30 pm on April 26, at Wheelock College 43 Hawes St., Brookline, MA 02446.

New Start: Supporting Multilingual Children and Immigrant and Refugee Families

More than 1 in 4 children under age 6 live in households that speak a language other than English. In order to prepare children from birth to school readiness in immigrant and refugee families, a focus on early learning for these children and meaningful engagement of their parents and communities is essential. The trainings will be conducted by the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA) in partnership with the Multilingual Action Council (MAC) at the Aspire Institute of Wheelock College.

Endicott College Opens Boston Site Specializing in ESL and Accelerated Programs

Endicott College is pleased to announce today the opening of its Boston academic center, a non-traditional higher-education resource focused on serving immigrant populations and first generation college students. The center, located just off Boston Common at 19 Temple Place, will initially offer associate and bachelor degrees in Business, Liberal Studies, Education, and Hospitality, as well as five levels of English as a Second Language (ESL) courses. Future plans include offering many of Endicott’s Master programs at this location.

‘The Joy Luck Club’ examines Chinese immigrant identity

In Amy Tan’s novel “The Joy Luck Club,” an old woman brings a swan from Shanghai to America. On her journey, she coos to the swan, “In America I will have a daughter just like me. But over there nobody will say her worth is measured by the loudness of her husband’s belch. Over there nobody will look down on her, because I will make her speak only perfect American English. And over there she will always be too full to swallow any sorrow! She will know my meaning, because I will give her this swan — a creature that became more than what was hoped for.”

Are you new here? You’re not the only one!

Did you know that in 2008, more than 1.1 million immigrants became legal permanent residents of the United States? There is a great deal of media coverage surrounding immigration, but oftentimes the stories behind immigration are left untold.

From leaving loved ones behind to adapting to a completely different culture, immigrating can be difficult. Read for a firsthand story, as well as information about adjusting to a new country.