By Jonathan Gramling

Since it was founded in the early 20^th century, Madison College has been important to immigrant communities arriving in Madison, whether it is people from other urban and rural communities who want more for their families in terms of safety, education and employment or new arrivals to the United States seeking the same opportunities. From the Italian and Jewish families of its early days to the Latin American, African and Asian immigrants of today, Madison College has helped them settle in and become fully-participating members of the community and citizens beyond the legal definition of the term.

“We believe that education is about democratization in that we have a responsibility because we are all from somewhere,” said Valentina Ahedo, associate vice-president, Goodman South Campus and School of Academic Advancement. “We’re all immigrants and we all have a responsibility to welcome people who are new and help them prepare to become citizens. And I don’t mean citizens in an immigration status kind of way, but to really be functioning and contributing members of society and our communities. I think that is one of our strengths, particularly in the Madison area. We see that tradition up and down the ages. You just have to go through and look at the architecture, for example and the language and the traditions to see that we’ve been able to do that successfully. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on what day you look at it, that need continues to be there, to continue to welcome people.”

Since before the founding of the United States, immigrants along with their culture and traditions, have revitalized America wave after wave. From pizzerias to delis to Mexican restaurants and Chinese take-out, it has been immigration that has enriched the lives of all Americans.

“Immigration replenishes our society,” Ahedo said. “I don’t know where this research came out, but it was really immigrants in the last century who started all of these hugely successful businesses because they were willing to take risks. They were already coming with that mentality that allowed them to take those kinds of risks that many of us would not. Salsa is the new ketchup. Didn’t it outsell it in recent years? There is a lot to be said for that. And I wish everyone had that perspective about the positive contributions that immigrants make. Not everyone does. But I think they have a right to information and they have the right to make their lives better.

And it is events like this immigration resource fair that help to try to allow them to create the best life that they can given their circumstances.”

In many ways, Madison College is the transitional point for many immigrants as they find their place within American society.

“Being here is the biggest impact we have on the lives of immigrants,” Ahedo emphasized. “I think that is the biggest thing in terms of our mission being one of access. Our doors are open to everyone who wants to come and take advantage of the opportunities that we provide. That’s a lot of it. I think a lot of it too is in the way that we staff the college. The people whom we hire, particularly those who have lived experiences with immigration, find them to be a welcoming aspect. They are able to come into the college and feel like they belong here, like they have a home with us. They belong to this cadre of students and the resources are available to them. I think seeing themselves reflected in that staffing pattern really reinforces. Where we are located is important. You know the history of how this campus came to be, from the time we were downtown to the old South access point up the street to this campus being here. The art and the features that you see on the campus are a reflection of that history and understanding that there is a place in that history for you no matter if it was 100 years ago, 50 years ago or today.”

On November 20-21, Madison College and its partners are holding an Immigrant Information Resource Fair at its Goodman South Campus. It’s two fairs rolled into one. At the core is the visit of the Mexican Consulate from Milwaukee.

“The services are for their nationals,” Ahedo said. “This allow them the opportunity to come and get documentation that they can use for whatever parts of their lives that they may need them for identification, most often for voting in Mexican elections and as proof of who they are. They also do passports and birth certificates, any of those legal types of documents that are often called for and sometimes when you leave your country, especially if you are fleeing that country for whatever reason, you don’t always take those with you and they often don’t survive the trip. This service is really critical. And what I understand from working with them — we were going to do this in 2020 and then the pandemic shut us down — they come to Madison about three times per year. The Consulate has their own process for accessing those appointments and they are booked. They are already booked. We will see what that looks like. We will see 120 people on Saturday and 120 people on Sunday just for those services.”

And then surrounding the Mexican Consular program will be a resource fair open to anyone who wants to learn more about and access resources available in the community.

“This was the brainchild of Norma Kropp who is our point person for the Madison Legal Clinic,” Ahedo said. “It’s her and all of the associated attorneys will be participating in this. Fabiola Hamden, Centro Hispano and other agencies were really excited to be able to come together to provide these services because the pandemic has laid bare so many needs and this is just another one of those. We’re also going to have vaccinations. The WI Department of Health Services has designated us as a vaccination site on Saturday and Sunday. They will be providing not only the initial and booster COVID-19 vaccines, but also the pediatric. Those appointments are getting full. That’s on a first-come, first-served basis as well. They ask that people register in advance although people can register on the day of the event. The Immigration Information Resource Fair and the vaccination clinic are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on both days.”

And participants will also be able to avail themselves to a light lunch.

“Due to the generosity of our sponsors, we’re going to have available on a first-come, first-served basis little brown bag lunches from our catering department,” Ahedo said. “They will have a cookie, fruit, water and

sandwich. We have ham, roast beef, vegetarian and peanut butter and jelly for the kids. I’m hoping that will provide some of the hospitality that we are famous for at some of these events. And since the event is indoors, masks will be required per Madison College policy”

The Immigration Information Resource Fair can be the first step in people becoming vibrant citizens of the Madison area.

For more information, call the Dane County Office of Immigration Affairs and Fabiola Hamden at 608-242-6260.