MCC Hosts Graduation for Students Residing at ICC

Starting in Spring 2024, Middlesex Community College partnered with MassHire Lowell Career Center to develop trainings for 17 students from Haiti currently residing in the Lowell Inn and Conference Center (ICC). After completing sessions in Home Health Aide (HHA) and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Middlesex hosted a graduation ceremony on Friday, July 19 to celebrate the students’ accomplishments.

“Education is the key to success,” said Berline Coimin, student speaker at the graduation. “With a lot of effort and determination, I took the HHA class and the English class. It was a life experience because communicating in English is the key that will open the door for us in this country. According to my experience, I realized that no one can move forward without the push of others. We need each other for everything in our life, and this wonderful team gave us this push.”

In the program, students completed six weeks of MCC’s ESOL and 80 hours of HHA training, as well as a written and hands-on HHA exam. Instructors from each program worked together to make sure the training was individualized to track students’ advancement in their English and HHA skills.

“We are grateful to MassHire for bringing the idea of this program to us and for their support throughout, as well as to MCC’s Corporate and Community Education and Training division for working on this labor of love,” said Phil Sisson, MCC’s President. “To the graduates, keep going and congratulations on all your accomplishments. We are very proud of you, and I expect that one day I will shake your hand as you earn an associate degree or certificate at our commencement ceremony. This is just the beginning of your time at MCC.”

MassHire Lowell helped identify eligible students to go through the program. Upon completion, students are now able to apply for jobs or continue their healthcare education with MCC.

“The ESOL/HHA program for the emergency shelter residents is another great example of a successful collaboration between MassHire and MCC,” said Nancy Gagnon, MassHire Career Center Manager. “By addressing some of the most glaring barriers the immigrants face, this program allows these individuals to find employment and start their career in our community. We are proud of the commitment demonstrated by the staff of MassHire and MCC in serving the new arrivals to Lowell.”

MassHire also hired a Creole interpreter Myrlande “Mimi” Emanuel to work with instructors to help students go through the program. Emanuel catered the graduation, making traditional Haitian food for the attendees.

“It was a very nice experience to get to help the students,” Emanuel said. “At the beginning, it was challenging, but seeing the way the students were able to understand everything that was said without my help interpreting was very rewarding.”

Taught by MCC instructor Charles Zhang, the ESOL classes focused on listening, reading, speaking and writing in English. These skills help students learn how to share and describe personal information, numbers, locations, tasks and routines, people, feelings and emotions, making appointments, basic questions, and more.

“We need to do a better job in tapping into the talents and brilliance of our immigrant population,” Zhang said. “The HHA/ESOL program is a ground-breaking project pioneered by MassHire and MCC to train a group of newcomers in Massachusetts to be employment ready in this high demand field in just a few months. Trainees get to develop their healthcare skills while acquiring English and familiarizing themselves with the American culture. I hope this program can be modularized throughout the New England area and beyond.”

In the HHA classes, the students learned healthcare skills, such as patient care, safety and rights; tracking vital signs, record keeping and stress management; and lifting and turning patients. Instructor Debra Shaw was impressed by the students’ commitment to completing both trainings at the same time.

“As a group, they demonstrated a strong work ethic along with a caring and compassionate manner,” Shaw said. “Many were juggling work, childcare and school as well as trying to navigate this new culture and language. They all persevered! These are the very skills that will lead to success in their future healthcare career."