CLC and Cambridge Health Alliance honored for Supporting English Classes for Immigrants

Photo: MA Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Rachel Kaprielian and Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh present English Works Certificate of Recognition and citation from Governor Deval Patrick to Cambridge Health Alliance Associate Chief of Human Resources Mursal Khaliift (second from right) and Mina Reddy, Cambridge Community Learning Center (first from left).

The Cambridge Community Learning Center and Cambridge Health Alliance, through a partnership with Spaulding Hospital in Cambridge, were among 20 Massachusetts businesses and labor-management partnerships honored for recognizing the importance of helping their workers learn English. Through the Cambridge Healthcare Worker Education Partnership (CHWEP), the three agencies provide two Healthcare related English classes. The project was funded by Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and managed by Commonwealth Corporation.

The awards ceremony on October 15 at Northeastern University in Boston was hosted by English for New Bostonians (ENB) and its English Works Campaign, and helps highlight the importance of immigrants to the Massachusetts economy, where one in six workers is foreign-born. It also raises awareness about the tremendous shortage of affordable, high-quality English language instruction, while demonstrating how companies are solving the shortfall problem and meeting their own business needs - workplace ESOL boosts customer service, client/patient care and productivity. Mayor Martin J. Walsh and Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Rachel Kaprielian, joined ENB for the ceremony that included an audience of more than 200 state officials; business, labor and community leaders; and ESOL students.

As a result of the 20 partnerships, a total of 869 workers have received an average of 131 hours of ESOL instruction each, customized to their particular industries and work responsibilities.

in Cambridge, managers have reported that employees participating in the CHWEP program feel more comfortable speaking up in staff meetings. Participants have reported feeling more confident in their interaction with patients, co-workers and supervisors. Perhaps most importantly, the employees who have taken CHWEP classes have described seeing their career possibilities expand.

“We are honored to receive this recognition for the Cambridge Healthcare Worker Education Partnership, a joint program between Cambridge Health Alliance and Spaulding Hospital that has provided on-site Healthcare English and College Preparation classes for the past four years,” said Cambridge Health Alliance CEO Patrick Wardell. “With the help of the Cambridge Community Learning Center and its wonderful faculty, many of the students have now enrolled in associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs, with several receiving scholarships and awards for their academic excellence. We salute the staff for their commitment to personal and professional development while continuing to provide outstanding care to patients.”