Forum Partners with National Council for Workforce Education
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new partnership will help workers improve their English and workplace skills.
The National Council for Workforce Education (NCWE) is joining the National Immigration Forum to provide technical assistance for the Forum’s English at Work initiative, a worksite-based contextualized English training program for existing immigrant employees.
More than 1,700 employees have received training through English at Work, which continues to grow in industries including retail, manufacturing, food services, facilities management, ridesharing, amusement parks, and hospitality and gaming resorts. English at Work offers online and in-person modules, with the goal of improving employees’ English and workplace skills — and helping employers build stronger career pathways.
NCWE will provide support to instructors throughout the training, ensure quality instruction and facilitate an English at Work community of practice — a space for sharing good practices and real-time feedback from instructors to improve the program.
The NCWE’s technical assistance will fill the role that the Community College Consortium for Immigrant Education (CCCIE) has provided since English at Work began in 2016. As a national founding partner, CCCIE, which is transitioning its work to other partner organizations, has been central in engaging community colleges — engagement that will continue through NCWE.
“The National Council for Workforce Education’s mission, strong leadership, large network of community colleges and workforce educators, and commitment to diversity, inclusion and equity make it a great fit for English at Work,” said Ana Negoescu, Assistant Vice President for Business Engagement and Inclusion Programs, National Immigration Forum. “The NCWE is uniquely positioned to continue the work of the Community College Consortium for Immigrant Education, whose contributions have allowed English at Work to expand.”
“We’re delighted that our new partnership with the National Council for Workforce Education will help us continue to partner with companies looking to upskill, retain and promote their immigrant workers to meet critical needs in a tight labor market,” said Emily Foster, Vice President for Business Engagement and Inclusion Programs. “The council’s focus on workforce solutions and extensive connections to businesses and other industries will strengthen the Forum’s collaboration with employers and enhance immigrant workers’ path to career success.”
“NCWE’s agenda includes an increased focus on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, including support for immigrant and refugee students as well as other underserved student populations,” said Darlene Miller, Executive Director, National Council for Workforce Education. “We’re thrilled that our collaboration with the Forum on the English at Work initiative will expand our capacity to implement culturally responsive workforce development practices.”
“This new partnership and transition of CCCIE’s work into NCWE represents a tremendous opportunity to expand our outreach and engagement of community colleges,” said Teresita Wisell, President, National Council for Workforce Education Board of Directors; outgoing Executive Director, Community College Consortium for Immigrant Education; and Vice President for Workforce Development and Community Education, Westchester Community College. “The missions of the Forum, NCWE and CCCIE are aligned: to increase immigrant and refugee students’ advancement and further education, training and careers.”
Through English at Work, the National Immigration Forum partners with businesses to offer industry-contextualized English language training at the worksite, bolstering the skills and career potential of immigrant workers while meeting important business operational needs.
The National Council for Workforce Education is a nonprofit membership organization that partners with business, industry, and national leaders to transform workplace education programs to ensure student success and meet local labor market needs.