Refugee Leadership Training Program Graduates Honored

Salt Lake Community College’s Miller Business Resource Center (MBRC) held its annual graduation ceremony for the Refugee Leadership Training program, a 40-hour training curriculum designed to teach and instill confidence in refugees from around the world to become leaders and spokespersons for their communities.

The program is a part of an ongoing community outreach from SLCC in partnership with American Express and the Refugee Services Office. The 27 graduates for 2016 represented Kenya, Iraq, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Congo, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Eritrea and Somali Bajuni.

The 2016 graduating class of the Refugee Leadership Training program.

"We are proud of the Refugee Leadership Training program and the training and guidance we provide refugees, and their communities,” said Beth Colosimo, MBRC executive director. “The valuable concepts and techniques we teach help refugees navigate the complexities of living in the United States. We get great feedback from our students that they can immediately apply the lessons they learn. There are currently 60,000 refugees in our state and more are arriving every year. We want to help them be better prepared as they hit the job market and start to become integrated into our community. We couldn’t operate this program without the generous support of American Express.”

The Refugee Leadership Training course at SLCC started in 2009. Since then, more than 200 refugees from 20 different countries and communities have graduated. The leadership program has had a great impact on students’ lives and those they support from their communities.

"Refugees are most successful when they have the tools needed to achieve self-sufficiency for their families and communities," said Asha Parekh, director of the Utah Refugee Services Office. "These graduates are now empowered to help our entire community become more fully integrated and appreciate the common values we share."

The Miller Business Resource Center offers a wide range of services and support to businesses and organizations within the Utah community. Additionally, the MBRC has community and industry partnerships that also provide assistance to the Center. The MBRC also facilitates the Goldman-Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program.

Comments

Rev Up Your Future at SLCC Annuals Hop into College

SLCC West Valley Center will be opening its doors on Friday, August 2, from 6-9 pm for their annual lowrider event that celebrates the automotive culture and welcomes current, past, and future Bruins into the SLCC community. This unique event allows lowriders to showcase their vehicles and for spectators to witness the creativity, craftsmanship, and passion that goes into a lowrider car. From the sleek custom paint jobs to the impressive hydraulics showcased at the hop-off, attendees get immersed in the vibrant culture created by SLCC West Valley’s community. Beyond the car show, Hop into College provides prospective students and their families the opportunity to explore SLCC, engage with their future peers, staff and faculty and obtain valuable insight into the degrees and programs offered. Furthermore, the community is provided with countless beneficial resources not only as an SLCC student but as a community member. Whether interested in learning more about the lowrider community o...

Recognizing SLCC's 2025 Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Andrew Vogt, PhD Associate Professor, Engineering

The Distinguished Faculty Lecturer is a recognition of quality work by one of Salt Lake Community College’s full-time faculty and a charge to develop that work over an academic year into a public presentation. A committee chosen by the Associate Provost for Learning Advancement selects the faculty lecturer each year. The lecture takes place in the spring. Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Andrew Vogt, PhD Associate Professor, Engineering Dr. Andrew Vogt’s teaching philosophy is guided by two principles, curiosity and efficiency. “Curiosity leads us to study a topic and allows us to really understand the ins and outs of research, while efficiency is all about sustainability,” he says. Andrew describes curiosity as a pure, open-minded impulse to explore, such as the ease with which children learn new concepts with virtually no instruction. Efficiency adds maturity to that childlike impulse, creating structures and pathways for accomplishment. Andrew’s work has alwa...

SLCC Alumnus and U.S. Diplomat to Speak at 2025 Commencement

Salt Lake Community College’s 2025 Commencement speaker Branigan Knowlton will share his perspectives drawn from a 12-year career as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State. In serving his country, Knowlton has honed his foreign relations and diplomacy skills in Hong Kong, Mexico, Colombia and Italy. Knowlton is also a proud Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) alumnus (2002). Knowlton currently serves at the U.S. Embassy in Rome. Before reporting to the embassy, he was detailed to the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport as part of the Transatlantic Diplomatic Fellowship program. In Bogotá, Knowlton worked for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, and in Hermosillo, Mexico, he worked for the Bureau of Consular Affairs. His first assignment abroad was in Hong Kong, where he worked for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. "I've actively sought opportunities that push me into the unfamiliar, even when ...

Official SLCC Blog

Search This Blog