Welcome How do we welcome and support people from different cultures in our community?

What are the needs of new community members? What resources provide support? How are they welcomed? Food Convenience Stores Work Community Centers Housing Nashua City Hall & Family General Resources Medical Hospitals Spiritual Churches Education Nashua Schools & Community Colleges Interview with Veronica Bodden

Need: Food, Supplies, Banking, News & Events Resource: Sally’s Market Sally’s Market How are newcomers welcomed? Mini-grocery store Large variety of items including phone cards, provide banking functions, bill pay Signs in Spanish Store window displays in Spanish Spanish spoken by employees

Need: Food, Supplies, Banking, News & Events Resource: Rosalinda’s Mini-Market Rosalinda’s Mini-Market How are newcomers welcomed? Mini-grocery store with large variety of items Identified by sign as a Spanish market Flyers advertising church events, entertainment information, concerts, boxing and cultural events in Nashua and Lowell Spanish spoken by employees

Need: Education, Training, Employment,Resources Resource: Adult Learning Center, Lake Street Adult Learning Center Lake Street How are newcomers welcomed? Enthusiastic welcome from the Executive Director, Carol Baldwin Bulletin board advertising for free College Preparatory ESOL classes, free citizenship courses, education and training, employment help, medical and “211”

Need: Find Resources Resource: (United Way) How are they welcomed? Offers information about resources available to Nashua residents. It appears to be offered only in English.

Need: Education, Training, Employment Resource: Nashua Community College Nashua Community College Amherst Street How are newcomers welcomed? Receptionist, Elizabeth Berry (Department Chair) and assistant, Stephanie warmly greeted World language club International Café (to practice English skills, form friendships and network professionally) Multicultural awareness activities Conversational Partners program

Need: Housing Resource: Friends and Family Friends & Family How are newcomers welcomed? Elizabeth Diaz, the Spanish interpreter and secretary at FMS, reports that most Spanish newcomers stay with family or friends when they first arrive in Nashua

Need: Housing Resource: City of Nashua City of Nashua Language Assistance Plan for HUD How are newcomers welcomed? Federal program with the goal of “Improving access to services by persons with Limited English Proficiency” Contracted Services (Language Line Services) – translation & simple “point to language” cards Bilingual employees “I speak” cards at front desk Callers are asked to identify preferred language Employees are trained Translated signs advertise the free translation services

Need: Medical Resource: Southern NH Medical Center Southern NH Medical Center How are they welcomed? Signs in Spanish informed of patients rights and responsibilities, safety issues, care quality, legal notices No person was at the front desk

Need: Medical Resource: Saint Joseph’s Hospital Saint Joseph’s Hospital How are they welcomed? No person at the front desk No signs in languages other than English Small sign for language interpreters written in English No signs in Spanish or pictures to assist in getting to the emergency room

Need: Social, Spiritual, Food & Financial Aid Resource: Catholic Church St. Aloysius of Gonzaga West Hollis Street How are they welcomed? Mass given in Spanish entirely 2 fluent priests Bulletin board in both Spanish and English Bulletin board has a “welcome” message Bulletin board contains information about Corpus Christi Food Pantry and NH Catholic Charities

Need: Education - Child Location: Nashua School District Nashua School District How are they welcomed? Web site translation by clicking on Globe in corner (80+ languages) “For Community/New Residents” tab “ELL services tab” with contact information ELL teachers & community outreach Plans to alter student records to provide pop up with language proficiency level and description

How do we welcome and support people from different cultures in our community? “Welcoming” Elements Body language and gestures of greeters L1 spoken and visible on signs Word of mouth Meets a need FMS Ideas Bilingual Embassadors at parent conferences & open house Bilingual Lobby with “Hello” in different languages Multi-cultural PTO meetings Multilanguage academic vocabulary in classrooms Invitation for open house from their child written in native language

Open House Invitation Activity (Written by child in native language) Materials Paper Writing Utensil Dictionaries Template Art supplies Directions In Advisory or Home room Provide the template to students Ask students to write a letter to their parents with important information Student may decorate the invitation Template