Spring '13 Webinar Series

 

Webinar #1: Supporting Skilled Immigrants: Essential Resources, Effective Strategies

1:00PM - 2:30 PM EDT Tuesday, April 16th

Presenters: Paul Feltman, World Education Services (WES) Global Talent Bridge and Marilyn Rymniak, Literacy Assistance Center (NY)

Description: This session will provide a profile of skilled immigrants and analyze the barriers that often prevent them from fully integrating into academic and professional settings in the U.S. We will introduce proven strategies, innovative programs, and useful tools that help immigrants successfully address these challenges. Presenters will discuss recent policy initiatives that have emerged as this issue has become more widely recognized. They will introduce essential resources, including "Supporting Skilled Immigrants: A Toolkit for ESL Practitioners" that educators and advisors can use to help skilled immigrants navigate unfamiliar educational and career pathways.

Bio:
Paul Feltman is the Director of the Global Talent Bridge initiative for World Education Services (WES), a non-profit organization that helps immigrants gain recognition of their academic qualifications earned abroad. He directs and develops Global Talent Bridge outreach and education programs, community partnerships, and policy initiatives designed to help immigrants successfully integrate into academic and professional settings in the U.S. Paul serves on numerous advisory boards and makes frequent presentations related to immigrant integration and credential recognition.

Marilyn J. Rymniak has been an ESOL specialist and international adult educator for over 35 years, including stints in corporate, workplace, and domestic and international campus-based English language training programs. She is currently the Dean of the Literacy Assistance Center (LAC) Academy and Director of the Professional Certificate Programs and the Contextualized Curriculum Development Services at the LAC. Since 1983, the LAC has been working to expand and strengthen the Adult Basic Education, English for Speakers of Other Languages, and High School Equivalency programs that serve New York's most educationally disadvantaged and economically marginalized adults. 
 

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Webinar #2: Investing in Skilled Immigrant Integration

1:00PM - 2:30 PM EDT Thursday, May 16th

Presenters: Paul Feltman, World Education Services (WES) Global Talent Bridge and Manuela Raposo, Director of Workforce at Dorcas International Institute

Description: There is increased recognition of the importance of providing targeted services to the skilled immigrant population. This session will provide an overview of some of the most effective program models. Along with highlighting best practices, the presenters will illustrate the importance of coalition building and advocacy in creating programs and ensuring their success. They will also describe a number of new policy and programmatic initiatives aimed at addressing this unique population at the local, state and national levels and the broader coalitions that are supporting this work.

Bio:
Paul Feltman is the Director of the Global Talent Bridge initiative for World Education Services (WES), a non-profit organization that helps immigrants gain recognition of their academic qualifications earned abroad. He directs and develops Global Talent Bridge outreach and education programs, community partnerships, and policy initiatives designed to help immigrants successfully integrate into academic and professional settings in the U.S. Paul serves on numerous advisory boards and makes frequent presentations related to immigrant integration and credential recognition.

Dr. Manuela Raposo is a physician and Director of the Rhode Island Welcome Back Center at Dorcas Place in Providence, RI. She graduated from Universidad Iberoamericana in the Dominican Republic. She is a tireless advocate for professionals educated in other countries, creating strategies to help them address barriers and policy issues that prevent them from full participation in the workforce and in our communities. As Director of the RIWBC, she works diligently to provide the necessary resources to help internationally educated professionals enter the workforce in a capacity that is worthy of their education and training. Manuela has worked in research, advocacy and direct services in a range of areas including leadership and civic engagement, mentorship and community development and asset building. Among her many community involvements, she serves on the RI Board of Nursing and Nurse Regulations, the RI State Nursing Institute Middle College Board and the RI Professional Latinos Association.


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