Educating the new work force in 72 languages
In 2014, Duniya Yusuf arrived in Denver as a refugee from her home in Ethiopia to start a new life in Denver. She was 22 and spoke two languages— Amharic and Oromo— but knew little English. Immediately, her caseworker enrolled her at Emily Griffith Technical College, where she started English lessons and began work on her GED.
Two years later, she’s fluent in English, on track to receive her high school certificate and focused on her career goal.
“Iwant to become a dental hygienist,” said Yusuf, whowill soon enroll in the dental assistant program at the organization’s College of Health Sciences. “Allmy teachers encouraged me to keep going.”
When Emily Griffith started her Opportunity
School in downtown Denver in 1916, immigrants were a main focus of her desire to help people gain education and contribute to the community’s workforce.
One hundred years later, her vision remains timely.
By 2050, the U. S. population is expected to increase nearly 50 percent from its level in 2000, and immigration will play the largest role in the increase, according to the U. S. Department of Labor. Two out of three immigrants will beworking age when they arrive.
In recent years, Emily Griffith Technical College has expanded to meet the demands of the workplace of the future. It educates about 7,500 students each year, including school students who enroll concurrent with their high school studies and adults retraining for new careers, plus 2,500 immigrants and refugees.
There are three campuses, including one for skilled trades and another for video production and editing.
Two years ago, the main campus relocated to a sleek new building at 1860 Lincoln Street, with light- filled classrooms and modern work stations in places like the medical and dental labs.
And last year, the Emily Griffith Foundation announced plans to team with Zocalo Community Development in Denver to construct a 20- story building across the street from the main campus with 200 income- restricted apartments, a day care and early childhood education center, and a workforce development center operated by experts from Emily Griffith Technical College.
“It’s really interesting to see how much the school remains committed to Emily Griffith’s original principles,” said Emily Dendinger, a playwright who recently toured the school as part of her research for creating theatrical vignettes that dramatize the school’s life. The staff has adapted with the times. During World War I, they trained students in everything from radio communications and gas engine maintenance to ambulance driving— all needed for the war effort.
Now, they offer training in occupations predicted to experience the most job growth over the next decade, including medical assistants, expected to increase nearly 24 percent by 2024, and computer systems analysts, expected to grow nearly 21 percent by 2024, according to the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Luis Carlos Barraza, 55, is a Mexican immigrant who works maintenance and construction jobs during the day and attends Emily Griffith Technical College at night. He first signed up for English classes and has become a top student on the honor roll.
His diligence, fueled by staff encouragement, inspires him to chase his dream of getting back into the computer industry.
“I want something better, with better pay,” he said.
Before he came to America 20 years ago, Barraza worked as a production supervisor for a company thatmade computers in the border town of Mexicali.
He wants to return to the industry and hopes to soon start the certification program in computer networking — learning computer keyboarding, operating systems and Internet technologies— at the College of Business and Technology.
“My goal is to own my own business,” he said.