About us
12/21/2011 Please read this message from Fr. Bill Terry
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Oportunidades Nola is an adult education and outreach center which brings educational opportunities and other resources to the Latino community, promotes the successful integration of immigrants into the greater New Orleans society, and reduces barriers resulting from language, culture and race. We are committed to education as the best means for promoting social justice, empowering the disadvantaged and realizing the fullness of human potential.
Our work focuses on education as the best means for promoting social justice, empowering the disadvantaged and realizing the fullness of human potential. We seek to ensure that all individuals have the opportunities they need to become fully-engaged and empowered members of the greater New Orleans community and agents of their own lives and futures, regardless of background, language or national origin. Our programs include:
- English as a Second Language (ESL) classes
Our ESL classes serve more than 100 students weekly at 4 levels of English competency. Our ESL program is designed to be accessible for students from a range of backgrounds and educational levels. We strive to meet a range of different needs without sacrificing the high quality of our education program. We work hard to create an informal, friendly environment in which all of our students feel comfortable expressing themselves orally and in writing.
Our teaching model is unique in that it combines practical “survival English” for everyday interactions with a strong core curriculum teaching vocabulary, pronunciation, basic grammar, reading and composition. We use a “graduated immersion” method which begins with bi-lingual instruction and gradually eliminates the students’ first language from the classroom. Each ESL class is led or supervised by an experienced, certified bi-lingual instructor. We also offer tutoring and language exchanges—conversation practice for ESL students and people learning Spanish or Portuguese. The ESL program incorporates more than 25 volunteers and service learners from Loyola University, the University of New Orleans (UNO) and Tulane University.
- Computer literacy
We offer computer orientations for beginners and access to our computer lab. The Spanish-language curriculum was developed in conjunction with an undergraduate service-learning class at Loyola University and takes students step-by-step through the process of word processing and using the internet. One-on-one lessons are offered weekly. Our computer lab is available throughout the week.
- Adult Basic Education
This program is offered through Mexico’s National Institute for Adult Education (INEA) in partnership with the Mexican Consulate of New Orleans, and allows adults 16 years and older to work towards their primary or secondary education certificates through supported independent study and on-line study. With the support of qualified, bi-lingual instructors, students study subjects such as mathematics, natural and social sciences, and Spanish literature and composition. Literacy instruction is offered to students who have not learned to read or write in their native language. This program offers students a school completion certificate identical to those earned by traditional students in Mexico’s public schools, and is available to Spanish-speaking adults of all nationalities.
- Spanish as a Second Language (SSL) classes
Spanish classes were begun in response to the strong interest the English-speaking community has shown in finding ways to reach out to the Latino community. Through teaching Spanish, we cultivate inclusiveness, tolerance and cultural sharing, and acknowledge that integration is a two-way street that involves more than assimilating a minority group into the dominant culture.
- Medical and social service referrals and interpretation.
Many of our community members do not know where to obtain needed services such as medical and mental health appointments, childcare, legal assistance, etc. We maintain a database of available resources and arrange referrals as needed.
Although learning the English language is our students’ long-term goal, interpretation and translation are necessary interim measures. Interpreters trained by our partner organization ReachNOLA accompany individuals to their appointments as needed. Referrals and interpretation are provided to all Oportunidades Nola community members free of charge.
- Health and Wellness Workshops
These workshops address topics such as Depression and Stress, Police and Public Safety, Immigrant Legal Rights, Hurricane Preparedness, Workplace Safety, HIV prevention and sexual health, Blood Pressure and Diabetes, and Preventing Domestic Violence. Workshops occur intermittently throughout the semester.
- “Familia, Salud y Vida” Annual Health Fair
Beginning in June 2010, Oportunidades Nola offers an annual bilingual event, open to the entire community, where participants can receive basic health screenings—blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol among others—in addition to information about low-cost health services, plus acupuncture and massage. At the same time, attendees will enjoy live music and authentic Latino cuisine.
- Community-building events and activities
Oportunidades regularly organizes or hosts a variety of community-building activities such as meals and bar-b-cues, movie nights, soccer games and holiday celebrations (Christmas, Thanksgiving, Mardi Gras, etc) as well as different kinds of excursions. In recent months we have visited the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the Audubon Zoo, the beach at Buccaneer State Park in Waveland, MS, a local theatre production (by Latino artist Jose Torres Tama) and salsa dancing workshops.
Many immigrants live far from their families and social networks and may not have developed positive ties to the greater New Orleans community. At the same time, having a safe, supportive place for socializing and relaxing plays an important role in combating stress and depression and facilitates healthy integration. Oportunidades Nola works to create an open and united community, supportive of its members while always looking for ways to engage with other residents of our great city.