NAPLES DAILY NEWS

November 20, 2006

Education to hit home for migrant workers

With approval from residents and Collier County officials, International College will open a new education center in the 4-year-old Immokalee community, Jubilation

By Jennifer Brannock

After a long day of picking fruit or vegetables in the field the last thing many Immokalee migrant workers want to do is hop in a car and drive to Naples.

While many Immokalee residents want to take advantage of adult education opportunities, especially English as a second language courses, the long commute and costly expenses don't avail them many opportunities.

But what if those classes were a lot closer, say, in their backyards? Would residents take the initiative to learn?

International College is betting they will, and they're staking their time and money to prove it.

With approval from residents and Collier County officials, the North Naples-based private college will open a new education center in the 4-year-old Immokalee community, Jubilation.

"To me, it's great, because it'll be here, close by to work," said Immokalee Harvest for Humanity worker and Jubilation resident Carmelita Lopez, 30.

"It's a great blessing for everybody. It's like a dream."

Richard Nogaj, president of Harvest for Humanity, along with his wife, Florence, donated the community's existing education center to the college last month, valued at about $2 million.

The college will assume the existing balance of the building's mortgage, about $500,000, Nogaj said.

After visiting the Dominican Republic with Habitat for Humanity in the late 1990s, the Nogajs came to Immokalee to help develop the Jubilation community, which provides low-income housing and blueberry fields in which residents can work for living wages.

"When we came to Immokalee after the Dominican, we found similar Third World conditions," Richard Nogaj said. "We decided we were going to build a new paradigm here."

The paradigm included "three legs of a table," including living wages, affordable housing and education, Nogaj said. After accomplishing the first two, Nogaj said plans for education fell flat.

"We just ran out of money, energy and time, and we couldn't implement the third leg," he said. "So we looked around for the perfect fit to take over, and International College was it."

Terry McMahan, president of the college, was eager to step up to the task.

"We were looking out in that area to see about doing (English as a second language) training," he said. "We met with the Nogajs, and they are remarkably generous.

"They have a legacy out there that we want to continue."

McMahan said he wants to offer English as a second language courses and some for-credit college courses at the education center.

Though no renovations will be needed, McMahan said International still needs county approval to take over the center and offer courses. They are involved in the pre-application process.

McMahan would not speculate on when the education center will open.

The new center will be within walking or biking distance for most Immokalee residents, but there are other challenges to be faced, primarily tuition.

Undergraduate classes at International College cost about $1,620 per course, said Rita Lampus, vice president of student enrollment and management at the college.

English as a second language courses cost $2,400 for 15 weeks of classes, she said.

McMahan said costs at the Immokalee campus won't differ from those at their Naples and Fort Myers campuses. But, he said, residents will be able to take advantage of several grant and financial aid opportunities available through the school and state.

A full-time staff of professors and financial aid counselors will work in Immokalee to help potential students make their dreams of learning possible, McMahan said.

Lopez, who hopes to do administrative work for and take classes at the Immokalee campus, said she will make it her mission to help her neighbors receive an education.

"If they're willing to pursue this and learn, there's grants they can apply for, and they will," she said. "I would be here to tell them what's out here, as far as grants.

"I definitely will pass on the word."

Residents in the Jubilation community will meet with International College representatives at 7 p.m. today to hear a presentation about the new campus.