On October 20th the NAA held its first public meeting in Chelsea, covering the Greater Boston region. The meeting was very well attended with a crowd of over two hundred representing the diversity of the greater Boston immigrant community with individuals from the Latino, Brazilian, Haitian, Somali, Somali Bantu, Chinese, Russian, Bosnian, and Irish communities. At the meeting members of the Governor's Advisory Council on Refugees and Immigrants heard testimony from a panel of community members and then from individuals in the in audience. The topics covered ranged from better access to state services, to successful youth and employment programs, to better funding for ESOL and job training classes, and many other important topics. This Event was hosted by the Chelsea Collaborative, ROCA, the Irish Immigration Center, and the MAA Coalition.
On November 19th the NAA held the Cape Cod region public meeting in Hyannis. The meeting featured a wonderful array of community members with diverse view points. Over 160 individuals attended, and the meeting followed a traditional public hearing format, with the Governor's Advisory Council on Refugees and Immigrants hearing first from a panel and then from the general audience. Members of the panel addressed the topics of access to in state tuition, ESOL and bridge programs, the importance of H visas and Immigrant workforce of the Cape, wage enforcement and Attorney General's Office, issues of professional re-certification, and the need for centralized services.
On December 10th the NAA held the Southeastern MA region public meeting in New Bedford. This meeting followed a more informal small group discussion model. Approximately 90 participants from greater New Bedford representing the Latino, Mayan, Portuguese, Cape Verdean, and Haitian communities attended. People were able to sit in a group based on their language and the topic they wished to discuss. These groups were lead by community facilitators who received training in facilitation prior to the event. The groups were lead through two rounds of discussion, producing recommendations and challenges on immigrant integration which were recorded on large sheets of newsprint. Then at the closing each group reported one recommendation to the entire room. The informal model insured that all attendees were able to speak to the issues of immigrant integration and was generally well received. This event was hosted by the Community Economic Development Center and the Immigrants Assitance Center.
On January 21, NAA held the Merrimack Valley New Americans Agenda public meeting. The meeting was a terrific event with a turnout of over 250 people. Attendees from the meeting represented the ethnic diversity of Lowell, with speakers from the Latino, Brazilian, Cambodian, and African immigrant communities. In addition participants covered a wide range of ages and discussed a variety of important topics from greater supports for high school students, to access to state services, and public safety. This event was hosted by One Lowell.
On Feb. 18 NAA held the Western Massachusetts New Americans Agenda public meeting in Springfield. The meeting was a terrific event with a turnout of over 340 people. Participants formed small discussion groups, with a trained community member facilitating. The great crowd represented the ethnic diversity of greater Springfield, with participants from Central and South America, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Europe. Participants covered a wide range of important topics from workplace discrimination, to the need for increased ESOL classes, to greater support for immigrant students. This event was hosted by Alliance to Develop Power (ADP) and Center for New Americans.