Community Orientation Workshops, a partnership between the International Institute of Minnesota and Minnesota Council of Churches, provide English and life skills education across a variety of topics. Individual workshops occur once weekly, covering themes including transportation and community resources, job readiness, financial literacy and health literacy. Classes are designed to assist adults in their transition to life in the U.S. while building literacy skills in the areas of reading, writing, listening and speaking English.
Note: During the COVID-19 crisis, all workshops are being held online.
Student Eligibility
Qualifying students are all adults with humanitarian protection immigrant status who have been living in the United States for five years or less. This includes individuals with refugee, asylee, certified victim of human trafficking, special immigrant visa, Amerasian or Cuban/Haitian entrant status.
Class Structure
Workshops are grouped in eight-week sessions. Students are welcome to begin classes at any point throughout the eight weeks and may remain in class as long as desired; however, workshops repeat after completion of eight weeks. During each session, there is a Level 1 class and a Level 2 class available; students can chose which class they would like to attend.
- Week 1: Transportation
- Week 2: Housing
- Week 3: Community resources & navigation
- Week 4: Financial literacy
- Week 5: Health literacy
- Week 6: Education and family adjustment
- Week 7: Job readiness
- Week 8: Community bridges & progress toward citizenship
For more details on class content or if you are interested in volunteering, contact Cora Neisen. To enroll in the course, contact Jami Flesner.
