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.
In addition to the weekly workshops, individual intensive sessions are starting soon. The most asked about topics will have their own 8 hour sessions to go into detail on the questions most often asked by new Americans.
Blog Article: New Americans Find Their Bearings With Community Orientation Workshops
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.
Community Orientation Workshops
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 choose which class they would like to attend. Level 1 is for beginning-level English students who may need interpretation.
In-person classes: Level 1
Online classes: Level 1 & Level 2
Schedule
- 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
⇒ Register for Community Orientation Workshops
For more details on class content or if you are interested in volunteering, contact Matt Bergquist or Ilse Griffin.
Special Workshops
Money and Finance
The workshops can be joined individually or taken as a whole class. Money and Finance focuses on how we use money in the United States from cash and shopping to understanding credit scores, bills, and mortgages.
In-person classes: Tuesdays, 1:15 – 3:30 p.m.
Online classes: Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
⇒ Register for Special Workshops
For more details on class content or if you are interested in volunteering or hosting COW at your site, contact Matt Bergquist or Ilse Griffin.
