WELCOMING CENTER for NEW PENNSYLVANIANS Expanding Your Reach: Using Technology to Improve Retention Bahiya Cabral-Johnson, Deputy Director PAACE Webinar October 2015 WELCOMING CENTER for NEW PENNSYLVANIANS Agenda Welcoming Center Overview Objectives and Topics Defining the Problem The Digital Diaspora Welcoming Center Strategies Discussion and Debrief WELCOMING CENTER for NEW PENNSYLVANIANS PRESENTERS Bahiya Cabral-Johnson, M.S., M.Ed. Experienced in multicultural program development and evaluation, she holds a Masters degree in sociology from Temple University and in Multicultural Education and TESOL from Eastern University. She is responsible for oversight of Program Delivery at the Welcoming Center. WELCOMING CENTER for NEW PENNSYLVANIANS ABOUT THE WELCOMING CENTER The Welcoming Center is an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. We see ourselves as an economic development organization rather than a social services agency. Our mission is to promote immigrant participation in the Philadelphia area's political, social, and economic life. President and CEO Peter Gonzales WELCOMING CENTER for NEW PENNSYLVANIANS WELCOMING CENTER FOR NEW PENNSYLVANIANS We work to connect immigrants with the opportunities they need to succeed in the Philadelphia region. The Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians connects immigrants from around the world with the economic opportunities they need to succeed in the city of Philadelphia and its vicinity. Since opening our doors in 2003, we have helped more than 11,000 immigrants from more than 140 countries. Our one stop centralized service center helps immigrants and others: We also offer technical assistance: to entrepreneurs and business associations seeking to make their services more accessible to immigrant entrepreneurs. To businesses and nonprofits who want to provide culturally sensitive services to the immigrant community Find employment Start their own businesses Learn English Earn their GED Prepare for Citizenship Receive legal support WELCOMING CENTER for NEW PENNSYLVANIANS Objective and Topics Objective: To share the findings of our study on how immigrants use technology To share our experiences in incorporating this information into new service delivery models that incorporate technology in various ways Topics How Immigrants are capitalizing on todays technology Using technology to address retention issues Intake Databases Case Management Call Em All WELCOMING CENTER for NEW PENNSYLVANIANS Defining the Problem Though the Welcoming Center is committed to an Integrated Services model, the actual experience of participants tended to be more segmented than we would have liked. Participants therefore were not always aware of the full complement of services available to them. Retention and continuity of services was therefore not as high as we desired. We required cost effective solutions. WELCOMING CENTER for NEW PENNSYLVANIANS The Data Youre About to See... Focuses on our findings A detailed report with methodology and survey questions is available at: WELCOMING CENTER for NEW PENNSYLVANIANS The Impetus: An Untold Story We saw that immigrant entrepreneurs and journalists were using mobile technology in innovative ways We also noticed that virtually all our immigrant clients had cell phones, and often had smart phones Mainstream research on technology usage did not seem to have documented these phenomena And so WELCOMING CENTER for NEW PENNSYLVANIANS From Bhutan to Syria: Our Sample Population 118 respondents (79 online surveys; 39 oral interviews) 50% male and 50% female Born in 43 countries (and one U.S. territory) Working age (18-64 years old) Half have lived in the US for 5 years or less WELCOMING CENTER for NEW PENNSYLVANIANS What We Found Immigrants have embraced mobile technology to an extraordinary degree. Their utilization is: I. Personal and social II. Global and interactive III. Inventive and entrepreneurial WELCOMING CENTER for NEW PENNSYLVANIANS In a Nutshell: Our Findings in One Graph Sources: Statistics on all US cell phone users & smartphone users from Pew Internet & American Life Project, Pew does not specifically ask about nativity, but as a national sample will inevitably include immigrants. Statistics on immigrants from the Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians' Digital Diaspora report, *Welcoming Center survey combined video & audio recordings +Pew data combined photos & videos WELCOMING CENTER for NEW PENNSYLVANIANS Creating & Sharing Activity Immigrant Respondents Overall US Cell Phone Owners Record video or audio 70%34%* Upload video or audio 47%22%** Take photos89%73% Upload photos62%22%** *Pew survey looked at video production only **Pew survey combined photo and video into one category Sources: Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians, Pew Internet & American Life Project WELCOMING CENTER for NEW PENNSYLVANIANS Facebook Explodes As a Source for Intl News WELCOMING CENTER for NEW PENNSYLVANIANS Radio Renaissance More than half (57%) of immigrants report listening to radio via their mobile devices. Listening options include: US-based AM/FM stations with online streams Traditional radio stations based abroad Online-only services such as Pandora or Spotify Specialized stations (such as Haitian gospel music) tailored for immigrant populations And one more surprising source N=118 WELCOMING CENTER for NEW PENNSYLVANIANS When that Conference Call is a Radio Show Radio host Souleymane Diallo, in his US apartment (Photo Credit: Abdulai Bah, WYNC) Using Free Conference Call technology, African immigrants have pioneered a new approach to community radio Dozens of shows air each week in French, Fulani, and other languages Listeners simply dial a long-distance number and enter the conference code. The only cost is in cell phone minutes Hosts can DJ the show from a bedroom or kitchen table, using a web-based interface WELCOMING CENTER for NEW PENNSYLVANIANS Beyond Dictionaries: Phones as Acculturation Tools Many respondents use their phones to learn English vocabulary or translate articles Others use mobile technology to practice information they need for their jobs such as a restaurant cashier who must memorize an order-input screen WELCOMING CENTER for NEW PENNSYLVANIANS When Migration Jump-Starts Technological Literacy An Algerian respondent told us that coming to the US inspired her to learn how to use a computer for communication She recently attended a family wedding via iPad, including dressing up for the occasion and then dancing with guests! Migration provides powerful incentives for learning new skills in language and technology WELCOMING CENTER for NEW PENNSYLVANIANS What Does All this Mean? How Can ESL Educators Tap IntoThis Reality Revamped Integrated Intake Developing a Data System that works for everyone Case Management Call Em All WELCOMING CENTER for NEW PENNSYLVANIANS Revamped Integrated Intake WELCOMING CENTER for NEW PENNSYLVANIANS Developing a Data System that Works for Everyone WELCOMING CENTER for NEW PENNSYLVANIANS Case Management Student NameESL 3-43 AddressMWF 1:00-4:00 Phone Number / Instructor: Name Attendance Behaviors - insert late time, D(distracted) F(focused), P(present) T(tutor) J(job) Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Aug 5 Aug 7Aug 9Aug 12Aug 14Aug 16Aug 19Aug 21Aug 23 Week 4 Week 5Week 6 Aug 26 Aug 28Aug 30Sept 2 No Class Sept 4Sept 6Sept 9Sept 11Sept 13 Week 7 Week 8Week 9 Sept 16 Sept 18Sept 20Sept 23Sept 25Sept 27Sept 30Oct 2Oct 4 Week 10 Week 11Week 12 Oct 7 Oct 9Oct 11Oct 14 No Class Oct 16Oct 18Oct 21Oct 23Oct 25 WELCOMING CENTER for NEW PENNSYLVANIANS Blended Learning LEGEND: Attendance Behaviors - insert late time, D(distracted) F(focused), P(present) T(tutor) J(job) Reason - CM(Case Manager), PI(Personal Issue) MI(Medical Issue) FI(Family Issues) CS(Career Services) Interventions- TC(Teacher Conf.), CMC(Case Manager Conf), CS(Call Student), GS(Goals Set), GR(Goals Review ) Behavior Comments: WELCOMING CENTER for NEW PENNSYLVANIANS Welcoming Centers Projects Call Em All Using technology to assist in retention efforts WELCOMING CENTER for NEW PENNSYLVANIANS Discussion and Debrief Q & A Sharing agencies' projects Feedback from session WELCOMING CENTER for NEW PENNSYLVANIANS Bahiya Cabral-Johnson Deputy Director John F. Kennedy Blvd. Suite 555 Philadelphia, PA 19103