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UMMS panel reaches out to city’s immigrant community panel_cat

Outreach experts participate in Mayor’s Immigrant and Refugee Roundtable

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Robert Layne, director of outreach programs, speaks at Mayor Joseph C. O’Brien’s Immigrant and Refugee Roundtable on June 28.
A panel of UMass Medical School community outreach experts met with members of Worcester’s immigrant and refugee community to discuss the many ways the city’s students can benefit from UMMS outreach programs. The event on June 28 was part of the Mayor Joseph C. O’Brien’s Immigrant and Refugee Roundtable, which brings together leaders from different immigrant and refugee communities to share information and resources, as well as provide networking opportunities.

“Worcester is one of the most diverse cities in the nation and the mayor believes that this diversity is a great strength,” said Kola Akindele, UMMS community relations associate, who moderated the event.

The Office of Community and Government Relations co-hosted the education-focused roundtable that included 50 participants representing members of the immigrant and refugee community and organizations that provide services to this community.

On the panel from UMMS were: Robert Layne, director of outreach programs and the Worcester Pipeline Collaborative; Sandra Mayrand, director of the Regional Science Resource Center; and John Trobaugh, intercampus liaison for educational initiatives. They discussed their respective programs and services that benefit students from the community, the majority of whom are from low income families and would be the first generation in their families to go to college.