MIAMI -- Miami Dade College (MDC) will announce a partnership with the National Immigration Forum (the Forum) at 11 a.m., Nov. 13, to design an innovative new program to increase the English language skills among retail workers for whom English is a second language.

MDC’s President Eduardo J. Padrón will participate in the news conference along with Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum; and Teresita Wisell, Associate Dean of the Community College Consortium for Immigrant Education (CCCIE).

The Forum has joined forces with the leadership from MDC, CCCIE and the Walmart Foundation to announce the program, which is funded by the Walmart Foundation. MDC will work with the Forum and its partners to design and implement a contextualized English language learning program, utilizing online and worksite training methods.

"It is an honor to partner with such forward-thinking and compassionate organizations to make a difference in an area where so much impact can be made. As an immigrant, I know the importance of learning English in order to achieve the American Dream," said MDC’s President Eduardo J.  Padrón.   "We are proud to continue offering real and innovative solutions to address our nation’s workforce challenges." 

The retail sector has one of the highest levels of limited English-proficient workers, at nearly 1.5 million, approximately half of whom are women. Leaders within the retail sector are recognizing the profound impact improved access to educational opportunities can have on advancement, retention, improved work quality, and economic success. This program creates a scalable, sector-wide contextualized English language learning program that will help retailers build stronger career pathways for their employees. 

One of the first of its kind specific to the retail sector, the program is part of the of the Forum’s New American Workforce initiative. The initiative works to create public-private partnerships between employers and service providers to increase employee English language proficiency, and in turn help accelerate their advancement and mobility in the retail sector. 

“The Walmart Foundation’s investment in this innovative project allows immigrants to increase their skills, creating new opportunities for the individual worker, their employer and the retail sector overall,” Noorani said. “New Americans are crucial contributors to the retail sector, and the new English Skills for the New American Workforce program helps the sector increase productivity, workforce engagement and retention, and employee skill and satisfaction.”

The program will be piloted in Houston, Miami and New York with a range of retail businesses.

For more information, please contact Jennie Murray, Forum Director of Integration Programs, 202- 383-5986, jmurray@immigrationforum.org 

WHAT:            Miami Dade College to Host News Conference with National Immigration Forum and Partners

WHEN:            Friday, Nov. 13, 11 a.m.

WHERE:         MDC Wolfson Campus, Room 6100, 300 NE 2nd Ave.