FY’19 was another great year at the Maria del Pilar Quintana Family Center. Program Manager, Zulma Liriano has continued to grow programming at the Center and address the needs of both the newcomer community as well as 2nd and 3rd generation families in the City of Lawrence. Financial Literacy for Newcomers Program In partnership with the Massachusetts Office of Refugees and Immigrants (ORI), the Quintana Center launched a Financial Literacy for Newcomers program. The first of four sessions was launched at the end of FY’19 with great success, and she will work with ORI to continue providing these workshops throughout FY’20. With newcomers coming into the state from a variety of different economic systems, understanding and being able to work with the U.S. and Massachusetts economies is an essential component of the immigrant experience. Urban College Working with Urban College’s Partnerships' Coordinator, the Quintana Center became a satellite campus for the Urban College of Boston. Urban College offers classes in English reading and writing as well as classes in infant and child development 4 days a week and on Saturdays. The partnership between the Quintana Center and Urban College is a positive asset for both organizations: Urban College is able to expand their outreach in the City of Lawrence by providing diploma track classes for the Spanish speaking community in the Merrimack Valley; and Lawrence Prospera is able to provide higher education options for Quintana Center students. BIA Accreditation During FY’19, the Quintana Center Program Manager, Zulma Liriano completed the training, application process and has been approved to receive accreditation as a Department of Justice Board of Immigration Appeals representative, one of Lawrence’s only BIA accredited representatives. As a BIA accredited representative, Ms. Liriano is able to represent clients before the Department of Homeland Security as well as provide assistance with immigration documents and filings. The Quintana Center is just 1 of 3 Department of Homeland Security BIA Approved providers in the Merrimack Valley LAWRENCE PROSPERA FY’2018–2019 ANNUAL REPORT During the past year, Lawrence Prospera began providing human resource focused workshops for ESL and Citizenship students at the Quintana Center. A trained and certified Human Resources professional worked with students to identify their past experiences and marketable skills and helped them to create a resume appropriate for today’s workforce. Students also learned to use job search tools and websites that have changed the way employers recruit and hire qualified candidates. Immigrants have driven 2/3 of U.S. economic growth since 2011. PAGE 7
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