'Creating a second home': McGovern announces $3M for ACE immigration facility

WORCESTER — U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern announced Friday that African Community Education will receive $3 million in federal funding for its new Gage Street immigrant and refugee services facility.

The funding comes from the end-of-year omnibus spending package that passed the House and Senate in December, and will go toward renovating the building, as well as expanding education, career development and immigration services offered by ACE.

More:Home for achievement: African Community Education in Worcester fosters growth for immigrants

“Worcester has a wonderfully diverse immigrant and refugee community. Nearly 20,000 African-born immigrants call Worcester home,” said McGovern during a reception Friday morning at the center. “It’s part of what makes this city the beating heart of the commonwealth, and projects like these are exactly what we need to be shining a spotlight on.”

Building a community hub

“When you enter, you should feel that you are in a community setting,” said ACE Executive Director and Co-Founder Kaska Yawo. “We are hoping this whole place will be transformed.”

The 51 Gage St. facility, previously occupied by Learning First Charter Public School, was acquired by ACE early last year, and saw the organization officially move in last week. Prior to the Gage Street move, ACE was operating out of three locations in the city.

Renovations are planned to begin in the spring, such as new classrooms that will include a new early education program for kindergarten through fourth grade, a STEM lab in collaboration with Worcester Polytechnic Institute, art space, and dedicated music education rooms.

“Coming from a church basement to building like this and as well as renovating it specifically to our needs will be a huge help,” said Sly Dwyer, ACE after-school program coordinator, “and seeing the looks on the kids' faces this week was just priceless.”

ACE has helped over 280 students graduate from Worcester Public Schools.

The goal is to turn the building into a community hub where refugees and new immigrants can come find help not only for their children but also for themselves through vital services.

In a comprehensive career development program, staff work with refugees in writing a resume, finding jobs and providing referrals to ACE partnered companies throughout Central Massachusetts, Yawo said.

ESL and citizenship courses will also be enlarged, he said.

Services open to all

“I’ve always been a fan of ACE’s work, creating a second home for so many families,” said McGovern.

While the organization serves over 1,800 people a year, there are still over 4,000 other African immigrants and refugees in Worcester living near the poverty line, McGovern said.

“We begin the work of closing that gap today,” he said. “Today, all around us, is the future of ACE.”

Although ACE has an original mission of supporting immigrants and refugees from Africa, the group’s services are open to newcomers from all over the world, such as serving immigrants from Haiti and refugees from Afghanistan.

“This expansion will allow them to broaden their reach,” said McGovern. “They have never turned their back on any individual in need, that inclusiveness and welcoming spirit is an example to all of us.”

Added Yawo: “This center is not just for Africans but for all new immigrants and refugees coming to Central Massachusetts or the United States. There is no distinction.”

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: McGovern announces Worcester African Community Education center to receive millions in federal funds