Represent seven countries
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (June 22, 2016) — The City of Bowling Green will host a graduation ceremony at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday for the 17 participants from its inaugural Academy for New Americans. The graduation reception will be held at the Sloan Convention Center.
The academy was developed by the City of Bowling Green as a leadership training program to empower new Americans to understand and participate in city government. Its purpose is to provide the tools necessary to successfully navigate city services, community information and resources in order for participants to become key stakeholders in assisting their respective ethnic communities and neighborhoods.
Participants were selected through an application process which began in the Fall of 2015. Participants originate from seven countries: Burma, Chile, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Peru, and Rwanda and as a combined group speak twelve different languages and ethnic dialects. Participants had to commit to attending at least four of the five sessions hosted, which began in February and met on the third Thursday of each month through June.
The Academy for New Americans was developed and led by the International Communities Liaison Program in the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services. The City of Bowling Green has recently partnered with Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government to assist in launching a similar effort through its Office for Globalization.
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