By Thomas J. Stefanchik
As the wave of Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war in their country continues to break upon our shores, one local program is doing its part to help them assimilate to life here in the City of Yonkers.
Pathways to Success, the Adult Education Program of the Yonkers Public Schools, has been reaching out to Ukrainian families who have recently enrolled students in the school district, to offer assistance and training to their parents. This outreach has been conducted through phone calls, emails and networking with other organizations supporting the refugees. Even the program’s flyer has been translated into Ukrainian.
The Pathways to Success Program features a wide range of educational programs, including English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), High School Equivalency (HSE) Diploma Preparation and vocational training. All classes are provided to Yonkers residents at no cost to the student. Prior to entering an ESOL or HSE Program, students are assessed using assessment tools mandated by the New York State Education Department. Based on their scores, they are then placed in a class which will best suit their educational needs
“It has been very rewarding to help these families in their greatest time of need,” says Principal of Career & Technical/Adult Education Sanah Susan Naber, who has overseen the Pathways to Success Program since its inception. “We can assist them with language acquisition, academic and vocational training and even other services to help ease their transition to this country.”
Pathways to Success offers various support services which can further assist the immigrant, or anyone else, to navigate the complexities of living in a major urban community such as Yonkers. At the Family Welcome Center, individuals and families are connected with the community resources necessary to meet their goals. The Family Welcome Center coordinates referrals with numerous partner organizations in order to provide for such needs as immigration/citizenship assistance, translation, evaluation of foreign educational credentials, health care, housing, insurance and more.
In order to assist students in finding a job, Pathways to Success provides training geared toward various high-demand fields. Pathways’ current vocational training programs, and the industry-recognized credentials they provide, are as follows: Barbering (Infection Control), Carpentry (OSHA), Culinary Arts (ServSafe), Computers (Microsoft), and Retail/ Entrepreneurship (National Retail Federation). To further prepare students for successful employment, Pathways also provides job readiness classes, resume preparation, interview skills training, assistance with online job applications and other employment services.
Currently celebrating its fifteenth year of serving the community, Pathways to Success has enhanced the lives of tens of thousands of Yonkers residents, as overseen by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edwin M. Quezada and Principal Naber. Although the Vive School serves as the program’s hub, they offer day end evening programs at various schools throughout the School District.
Whether you have just arrived in the City of Yonkers or have been a lifelong resident, Pathways to Success can assist you in achieving your educational and employment goals. For more information please visit the Vive School at 75 Riverdale Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10701, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:30 am and 3:30 pm.
You can also:Call the school at 914-376-8600. Send an email to pathwaysinfo@yonkerspublicschools.org. Visit their website at yonkerspublicschools.org/vive.
