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BALTIMORE, MD (May 19, 2011) - The Maryland Welcome Back Initiative, supported through a grant from the
Maryland Department of Labor (DLLR) and administered by the Governor's Commission on Hispanic Affairs, was
touted last night by the Migrant Policy Institute's National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy. The
Initiative earned the Commission on Hispanic Affairs the E Pluribus Unum Prize for its successful work to
encourage the adoption of effective integration practices.
"I'm proud that one of the Department of Labor's premiere investments is receiving national recognition,
and I applaud the Governor's Commission on Hispanic Affairs for their effective and forward-looking
leadership of the Maryland Welcome Back Initiative," Maryland Labor Secretary Alexander M. Sanchez said.
"Maryland is blessed with the best-educated and most diverse workforce in America. However, too many of our
highly-skilled and well-educated immigrant neighbors are underemployed. The Maryland Department of Labor,
in partnership with the Commission on Hispanic Affairs and other partners across state government, is
working tirelessly to connect all Marylanders - including New Americans - with more rewarding
opportunities."
The Welcome Back Initiative provides orientation, educational resources, access to language training
and support that helps foreign-trained health professionals more easily navigate the licensing process to
allow them to restart careers in the U.S. health industry. The Initiative supports various 'Welcome Back
Centers' which leverage the training, experience and language skills of underemployed migrant
professionals, helping them transition from low-skill jobs to high-demand professions in the health care
industry.
"We are very honored to be one of the recipients of this prestigious award, which recognizes the
critical value and tremendous contributions of new immigrants to the overall community," said Sonia Mora,
director of the Maryland Welcome Back Center and Chair of the Health Committee of the Governor's Commission
on Hispanic Affairs. "With the support of the Governor's Administration, other public and private-sector
funders and partners, we are able to provide to participants guidance towards licensure, ESOL instruction,
on-the-job paid internships and training and leadership development. This allows high-caliber professionals
from all over the world, including Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe, to incorporate themselves into
the health system and provide quality services not only to underserved communities, but to the community
at large."
"Each one of the members of this Commission works hard every day in each of our areas of expertise to
ensure that our community is served and empowered in our great State, to see recognition and support of
this work by our Governor and his Administration is evidenced of our shared principles that our diversity
is our greatest strength, but to see one of our programs be recognized at a national level with awards
such as this one, is truly honoring and humbling," said Maria Welch, chair of the Governor's Commission on
Hispanic Affairs. "We realize here in Maryland we are contributing solutions of benefit to our nation, for
the prosperous, healthy future all Americans deserve."
Maryland's New American workers are among the best educated and most skilled in the country. More than
40 percent of foreign-born Marylanders have a college degree. More than a quarter of the state's
scientists, a fifth of the state's health care workers and a fifth of the state's computer specialists are
foreign born. Despite these promising trends, one out of four skilled immigrants
is working in unskilled
jobs and 40 percent of immigrant adults are limited English proficient, resulting in lower wages and
unutilized skills.
Earlier this month, Governor Martin O'Malley signed into law SB 167, Public Institutions of Higher
Education - Tuition Rates - Exemptions, providing in-state tuition to Maryland high school graduates
regardless of the immigration status of their parents. Maryland joins 11 other states, including
California, Texas, New York and Utah, in extending affordable college to Maryland high school graduates,
regardless of the immigration status of the students' parents, provided they have paid taxes in Maryland
and are on a path to citizenship.
Also this month, the Maryland Department of Labor Division for Workforce Development and Adult Learning
hosted training conferences for One Stop Employment Center personnel to educate staff about the challenges
and needs facing New American workers. Over 50 DLLR employees completed the training.
The Migration Policy Institute is an independent, non-partisan think tank in Washington, D.C. dedicated
to the study of the movement of people worldwide. MPI provides analysis, development and evaluation of
migration and refugee policies at the local, national and international levels. The E Pluribus Unum Prize
was established in 2008 by MPI with generous support from the J.M. Kaplan Fund. The Hispanic Economic
Development Corporation of Kansas City, the International Rescue Committee in San Diego and Temple
University's Project SHINE were also honored.
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