Boston – The English Works Campaign, a statewide effort led by English for New Bostonians, is soliciting nominations of businesses and labor-management programs that support English language classes for immigrants in Massachusetts. The Certificate of Recognition is a cornerstone of the Campaign, serving to raise the visibility of the need for English classes and critical role that businesses and unions play in developing the Commonwealth’s workforce.
Respondents from across the state are welcome to nominate a business or labor-management program of their choice, and self-nominations are accepted and encouraged. Certificates will be presented by Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh along with state officials and Campaign leaders at a business breakfast event on October 15, 2014, hosted by English for New Bostonians.
“Our English Works Campaign promotes a broad investment in the state’s vibrant immigrant workforce,” said Claudia Green, executive director of English for New Bostonians. “One way we do that is by helping businesses to conduct English language classes in the workplace, thereby ensuring immigrants’ abilities to communicate and contribute in their communities. We are seeking nominations of businesses and labor-management partnerships that support ESOL. We look forward to celebrating the successes of the Massachusetts business and labor community with Mayor Walsh at our event.”
English Works Certificates of Recognition were previously awarded in 2011, presented by then-Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray. Successful recognition events were also led by former Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Somerville Mayor Joseph P. Curtatone. Past awardees include Federal Management of Boston, Traditional Breads of Lynn, Boston Children’s Hospital, Wrentham Developmental Center and AFSCME Local 646 of Wrentham, and United Plastics Group, Inc. of Chicopee.
Nominations are due August 22, 2014. A link to the electronic form can be found directly on the homepage of the English Works Campaign website, www.english-works.org.
English Works is a multi-stakeholder Campaign calling upon business, labor, community and government leaders to dedicate the needed public and private resources to create a sustainable, high-quality English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) system that addresses the needs of immigrants and their employers.
English for New Bostonians’ mission is to increase access to high-quality English language learning opportunities for adult immigrants in Boston.