The Denver City Council approved $2,250,000 contract with Centro de los Trabajadores in May, which will provide funding to address Colorado’s labor shortage. This collaboration, which is part of the Denver Asylum Seeker’s Program, will provide individuals on a path to work authorization access to education, training and employment opportunities across the city of Denver.
Centro San Juan Diego, among other organizations and schools, has partnered with Centro de los Trabajadores in this effort, and will provide beginning ESL and computer classes to nearly 100 newly arrived immigrant students between June and December. These classes, exclusive to Centro de los Trabajadores members enrolled in the city’s WorkReady program, are currently being offered in addition to the variety of existing courses already available to the general Spanish-speaking public and Centro San Juan Diego’s student community.
“Returning to Centro to teach has filled my heart with joy!” says Erin Scherer, Centro San Juan Diego’s former program manager and returning volunteer. After hearing about Centro’s involvement with the WorkReady program, Scherer jumped at the opportunity to teach English.
Scherer has spent the past few years serving migrants in Central and South America on their journey north, which has given her a first-hand look at the risks they are willing to take to create a better life for themselves and their families. Now that she is back in Colorado, she is excited to continue her work among the migrant community.
“I will never cease to be inspired by the people who take steps to achieve their goals and improve their situation despite all obstacles,” she says. Despite the difficulties, Scherer’s students are motivated to learn. “The first day, a few women arrived late and started introducing themselves in Spanish,” she recounts. “I didn’t say anything, but the rest of the class in unison all shouted, “No! What is your name? My name is…” It made me laugh, because it wasn’t even me, but rather the students who were encouraging each other to use this language of their new home!” she concludes.
With Scherer’s help, and that of several other teachers and volunteers, Centro San Juan Diego is proud to partner with Centro de los Trabajadores in this project to accompany newly arrived immigrants as they gain necessary skills to establish their lives and integrate more fully into their new community.
