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December 11, 2002: Task force members were introduced and co-chairs reviewed the goals and objectives of the initiative. Three speakers from The International Institute provided statistics on immigrant populations in the region and described the challenges they face, specifically in the area of education.
January 8, 2003: Thirty-five task force members attended the first of two January meetings. Task force members heard from three panelists in the education field. Representatives from St. Louis Public Schools, Parkway School District and Collinsville, IL School District each spoke to the group and entertained questions from task force members. The panelists reviewed their role in the education system, offered their view of the needs of New American students, addressed any gaps in services and suggested ways that the task force might be able to improve the system.
January 22, 2003: Task force members attended the third fact-finding session included in the task force process. The topic of the day included employment training and workforce preparation. The citizen-based group welcomed local experts from the Metropolitan Employment and Rehabilitation Service (MERS) and St. Louis Community College. The panelists shared their experiences and insights in preparing young adult immigrants and refugees for workforce success in the United States. Task force members also enjoyed the opportunity to ask questions of the panelists and engage in dialogue with each other.
February 12, 2003: Task force members reflected on the first three meetings and identified several common themes that have emerged from testimony by community, education, and workforce experts. Led by co-chairs, task force members participated in a group exercise and identified priorities for future work. Task force members also suggested additional resources needed to address the priorities. Working in small groups participants determined key questions they would like answered at subsequent meetings.
March 12, 2003: Task force members invited New American students, parents and community leaders to share their experiences and insights of the educational opportunity of New Americans in the St. Louis region. A diverse panel of New Americans answered questions and engaged task force members in a lively dialogue around topics including the need for more cultural understanding in schools, the importance of mentors and the linguistic challenges students face in local schools. Task force members also reviewed resource material in preparation for the next phase of the task force, drafting community recommendations.
April 9, 2003: After hearing from education practitioners, social service providers and New American students during the previous meetings, task force members took time to evaluate what they had learned and begin drafting recommendations for change. Task force members worked in two small groups. The first group looked at the issues of Language Skills and Educational Barriers while the second group discussed Cultural Differences and the Role of the Community. In brainstorming recommendations for change each group:
- Identified facts
- Identified current programs and services in the community
- Identified needs and ideas expressed by the panelists
- Discussed findings and promising practices from the research
- Suggested recommendations for school districts, states, community groups and individuals.
Each group shared their ideas with the full task force and agreed to continue discussion at the next meeting.
May 14, 2003: Task force members engaged in a lively discussion around the proposed recommendations from the previous meeting. Members expressed their preferences as to how each recommendation should be developed and whether or not the proposed idea should be included in a final report. The task force members formed a writing committee to continue the process and present ideas to the task force at the June meeting.
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