2008 Woodie Awards
Lincoln Literacy Council improves future of immigrants, community
Issue date: 2/26/08 Section: Opinion
CLAY NAFF
Last summer, the world looked on in horror as Burma's military regime brutally crushed protests led by the Southeast Asian nation's Buddhist monks. Before the year was out, Lincoln welcomed its first Burmese refugees. While the two events are not directly related, they do illustrate how dramatically life here has changed.
Whatever happens "out there," no matter how remote from Nebraska it may seem, soon has a ripple effect on our community. The biggest effect is human.
Over the last few decades, Lincoln's population has undergone rapid change. The federal government has resettled thousands of refugees here. Additionally, thousands of others - part of the largest wave of immigration to the United States since the 19th century - have made Lincoln their new home.
As a result, U.S. Census figures now indicate that more than 10 percent of Lincoln residents use some language other than English at home. That amounts to some 23,500 immigrants, and the number continues to rise. The newcomers are by and large poor, but hardworking and eager to learn English.
That's where Lincoln Literacy Council comes in. Although we still perform our original mission of helping English-speaking adult Americans improve their reading and writing, today the vast majority of our volunteer tutors are working with English Language Learners from around the world. In doing so, they are not only helping immigrants; they are making an important contribution to our community.
The population flow is two-way. Census figures indicate that Nebraska has lost nearly 37,000 of its citizens in the decade to date. A University of Nebraska study shows that even Lancaster County is losing homegrown population, but here the loss is more than offset by international immigration.
In short, today's newcomers are tomorrow's workers, homeowners, consumers and citizens - if they can successfully transition.
The key challenge for the successful integration of immigrants is to assist them in learning English. Without English, newcomers are isolated, powerless and dependent, or at best relegated to menial jobs at the bottom of the economy. Moreover, their children are likely to do poorly in school.
Last summer, the world looked on in horror as Burma's military regime brutally crushed protests led by the Southeast Asian nation's Buddhist monks. Before the year was out, Lincoln welcomed its first Burmese refugees. While the two events are not directly related, they do illustrate how dramatically life here has changed.
Whatever happens "out there," no matter how remote from Nebraska it may seem, soon has a ripple effect on our community. The biggest effect is human.
Over the last few decades, Lincoln's population has undergone rapid change. The federal government has resettled thousands of refugees here. Additionally, thousands of others - part of the largest wave of immigration to the United States since the 19th century - have made Lincoln their new home.
As a result, U.S. Census figures now indicate that more than 10 percent of Lincoln residents use some language other than English at home. That amounts to some 23,500 immigrants, and the number continues to rise. The newcomers are by and large poor, but hardworking and eager to learn English.
That's where Lincoln Literacy Council comes in. Although we still perform our original mission of helping English-speaking adult Americans improve their reading and writing, today the vast majority of our volunteer tutors are working with English Language Learners from around the world. In doing so, they are not only helping immigrants; they are making an important contribution to our community.
The population flow is two-way. Census figures indicate that Nebraska has lost nearly 37,000 of its citizens in the decade to date. A University of Nebraska study shows that even Lancaster County is losing homegrown population, but here the loss is more than offset by international immigration.
In short, today's newcomers are tomorrow's workers, homeowners, consumers and citizens - if they can successfully transition.
The key challenge for the successful integration of immigrants is to assist them in learning English. Without English, newcomers are isolated, powerless and dependent, or at best relegated to menial jobs at the bottom of the economy. Moreover, their children are likely to do poorly in school.
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