Model partnership for immigrants in Lawrence
All I only know about it is what’s in today’s Boston Globe, but it sure seems like a great business, government, and nonprofit partnership ripe with winners for the City of Lawrence. (How can we do it in Lowell?) The article, entitled “Employer eases path to citizenship” explains a partnership where a businessman—Salvatore Lupoli of Lupoli’s chain of pizzerias—earmarked company funds to pay attorney and application fees for his employees to apply for citizenship while area nonprofits provide English and citizenship classes. Also sponsored by the City of Lawrence, the plan helps legal immigrants prevail over a citizenship process that can often be mired in bureaucracy and expensive fees. This pilot initiative is expected to impact 10 immigrants to start, but the plan is that as more businesses that rely heavily on immigrant employees see the impact in terms of turnover and staffing, it will grow. Can’t you just imagine such a partnership here in Lowell between employers, our Adult Education program, which is the largest and most respected in the state, and the many nonprofit groups in the area? This model would provide yet another way to build on already successful citizenship programs.