Recent Winners

#1 Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), under the leadership of Paul Levy, President and CEO, partners with JVS to support English language learning in the workplace. BIDMC covers the full cost of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes for its employees and collaborates with JVS and other hospitals in the Longwood Medical Area to provide on-site classes. Classes, at multiple skill levels, are held twice a week for 37 weeks. Summertime pronunciation lab classes are also offered, as well as weekly lunchtime conversation sessions known as “Table Talk.” Other offerings include assistance with naturalization applications, as well as career counseling, college preparation, and job training to help employees increase their skills.

#2 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA), under the leadership of Cleve Killingsworth, Chairman and CEO, partners with English Onsite to make English language learning a benefit for its employees. Since 2001 BCBSMA has offered on-site ESOL classes, graduating over 100 employees to date. Administered by English Onsite, intermediate and advanced level classes serve 12 employees each, and run two hours per week for ten weeks, after which a graduation ceremony is held. BCBSMA covers the total cost of this program, including classroom space, access to technology and materials, and paid release time to employee learners. As another strategy to institutionalize language learning, the company also uses support for English language learners as a criteria in its performance evaluations of supervisors. BCBSMA’s goal is to enhance written and oral communication, increase professional and social confidence, improve relationships, and facilitate advancement opportunities for its employees.

#3 Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), under the leadership of Dr. Gary Gottlieb, President and CEO, partners with JVS and Bunker Hill Community College to provide ESOL classes for employees. Begun in 1997, the program has since expanded into the BWH Workforce Initiative and now includes both the ESOL program and basic literacy courses. The focus is on “everyday English,” and specifically on communication with supervisors, patients and co-workers, as well as problem-solving. To date 300 employees have participated, many of whom have since enrolled in training or career development opportunities and received promotions. BWH covers all costs including paid release time and flex- time to employee learners, as well as space and access to technology and materials. BWH offers learning opportunities off-site as well.

#4 Federal Management
Federal Management, under the leadership of Richard Henken, President, partners with Educational Development Group (EDG) to provide English language learning classes to its employees. Federal Management covers tuition and offers paid-release time for employee learners to attend class 6-10 hours per week for 10 weeks off-site at EDG. Federal Management also gave EDG access to its worksites so that EDG could design a curriculum that is beneficial to both management and to the learning needs of employees.

#5 The Greater Boston Hotel Employees Local 26 Health and
      Welfare Fund
The Greater Boston Hotel Employees Local 26 Health and Welfare fund, with leadership by James Stamas, Chair of GBHE Trust Fund, and Janice Loux, President of UNITEHERE/Local 26, has a long history of supporting workplace English language learning. In 1986, the HERE Local 26 hotel workers union and its hotel members decided to include an education benefit through a collective bargaining agreement. The 21 hotel employer partners currently contribute over $750,000 annually to fund adult basic education, a large part of which is dedicated to English language classes for employees. Management and union staff members are involved in review of course curriculum and work towards promotion of employees to higher positions within the hotel. Some human resource staff volunteer their time to tutor members in English conversation and business writing. In the past two years over 200 employees have participated in the workplace ESOL program, with several being promoted within the hotels, due, in part to improved English language proficiency.

#6 John Nagle Co.
John Nagle Co., one of the City’s premier seafood wholesalers, under the leadership of Charles Nagle, President, has demonstrated its commitment to hiring employees from largely immigrant and low income neighborhoods in the City of Boston, and also recently provided English classes to its employees. Vice President Vincent Nagle has established a connection with the Notre Dame Education Center (NDEC), and has hired program graduates. Adult learners who have been hired by Nagle have remained with the company for many years, and some of their children have also been given part-time jobs while in college. John Nagle Co. has also donated to NDEC in recognition of the educational programs that NDEC offers to current and potential employees, and other Boston residents. The company also hosted English for New Bostonians classes from 2007 to 2008, for employees of Nagle and other businesses in the Boston’s Marine Industrial Park.

#7 Massachusetts Convention Center Authority/UGL-UNICCO/
      Service Employees International Union Local 615
The Massuchusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA, James E. Rooney, Executive Director), UGL-UNICCO (George Keches, President), and SEIU 615 (Rocio Saenz, President) have offered English classes to the workforce at the Convention Center over the past three years. Classes are offered to staff, who are employees of UNICCO and members of SEIU 615, at both the Hynes and the BCEC. There are least two classes at each site to accommodate different skill levels, and workers receive release time for classes twice a week. The cost of teachers, books and related materials is supported by grants sought by SEIU. Employee skill levels are assessed at the beginning and end of each program – at least once a year, and sometimes twice. Over the course of the program MCCA, UNICCO and SEIU 615 have seen employees’ increased skill level enable them to take on additional responsibilities, increase their self-esteem and in many cases identify opportunities for future career growth. UGL-UNICCO is also a supporter of English for New Bostonians; MCCA and SEIU 615 are actively engaged in the English Works Campaign.

#8 Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), under the leadership of Peter L. Slavin, President, partners with JVS to provide free on-site English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes to approximately 100 employees each year. MGH’s ESOL program was established in 1995 and currently offers six levels of instruction. Sessions run from September through May, each with a total of 104 instructional hours. MGH provides space for classes and access to computer labs. MGH also arranges guest speakers on issues affecting the lives of employee learners. In addition to many students achieving English language proficiency gains, several students have pursued community college courses and obtained United States citizenship.

#9 Picco Restaurant
Picco Restaurant, under the direction of Rick Katz, Chef and Owner, has partnered with Centro Latino de Chelsea to provide English classes for six non-English speaking kitchen staff. Mr. Katz provided space for classes, paid a teacher, and offered paid release time twice a week for fourteen weeks. While employee learners are at class, Mr. Katz has covered for his staff by doing the food preparation work himself. Mr. Katz does not forbid native language use in the workplace and states that his goal is to help his employees to make better lives for themselves.

#10 Tufts Medical Center
Tufts Medical Center (TMC), under the leadership of Ellen Zane, CEO, has partnered with the Asian American Civic Association (AACA) since 2007, to offer English and GED classes for employees in the Environmental Services Department. Supported by a grant for workplace education from the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the program consists of three classes during morning and afternoon shifts. TMC makes additional cash and in-kind contributions, and provides employees with paid release time. The employee learners’ supervisors have been supportive despite thinner staff coverage while students are in class. TMC’s stated goal is to help Environmental Services employees gain skills in order to attain promotions out of entry-level cleaning jobs and into more meaningful employment. TMC also provides training and internship experience for students in AACA’s ASCENT program. TMC and AACA are also active participants in the English Works Campaign.

#11 Wainwright Bank & Trust Company
Wainwright Bank & Trust Company, under the leadership of Jan Miller, President and CEO, partners with YMCA Training, Inc. to support immigrants who are Bank employees and members of the community. Wainwright Bank offers evening ESOL classes to its employees through the YMCA’s Communicate @ Work program. Through the Bank’s generous financial support, the course and materials are provided free of cost to employees. Wainwright staff collaborates with the instructor to develop curriculum that strengthens English skills and builds a foundation for career development and advancement. Wainwright also regularly provides internships and hires immigrants from YMCA Training, Inc. as well as other community-based workforce development programs. Wainwright Bank also sponsors YMCA Training, Inc.’s graduation and annual Partners Recognition Breakfast. The partnership between Wainwright Bank and the YMCA’s Education & Training programs has existed for ten years.