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Date: 5/9/2023
CHICOPEE — U.S. Rep. Richard Neal (D-Springfield) announced a $1 million earmark to expand the education and social work programs at Elms College.
The allocation was made possible through congressionally direct spending from the U.S. Department of Education.
Staff, students and board members filled the Elms College Alumnae Library for the announcement on May 2.
Elms College President Harry Dumay began by saying, “[Neal] has shown again and again that he is an unrelenting supporter of higher education in general and Elms College in particular.”
Dumay explained that the funding allows Elms College to continue their service to the Greater Springfield community by expanding two important and “highly regarded” initiatives. This includes the Cynthia A. Lyons Center for Equity in Urban Education and the master’s degree program in social work.
The Center for Equity in Urban Education was founded four years ago to address a specific need. “When we look at the learning gap between children and youth in western and eastern Massachusetts, much of it is attributable to challenges with the educator workforce. Specifically, the lack of stability caused by the annual loss of approximately 800 educators and school leaders and a lack of diversity — lack of faculty of color in urban schools with predominantly Black or Hispanic student populations.”
Dumay said the center’s goal is to overcome these challenges through partnerships with local stakeholders, and addressing obstacles that deter people from obtaining their licenses.
In collaboration with schools in Springfield, Holyoke and Chicopee, the center works to “expand and diversify the pipeline of talented prospective teachers willing to work in those cities,” Dumay said.
He noted that the center is an “economic driver” but there is also a social justice component to it.
“Research has demonstrated the incredible impact that just one good teacher has over the outcomes of all children and youth,” said Dumay. He noted that this is particularly true for Black and brown children when they have someone who cares for them, believes in them and looks like them.
The second part of this funding allows Elms College to train qualified social workers, through an extension of the social work program and earn their master’s degree.
Dumay said the coronavirus pandemic highlighted the need for qualified social workers in Massachusetts. “COVID exacerbated the ongoing problems related to mental health and substance abuse.”
He continued, “Our social service agencies, emergency rooms, police, fire and EMS are struggling to keep up.”
The demand for trained social workers with advanced degrees has increased as much as 80% through 2019.
Through the Elms College social work programs, Dumay said they are “doing their part” to include a master’s degree. The courses are flexible with in-person and online offerings that fit the needs of traditional and non-traditional students.
“The long-term goal is to increase the number of frontline social workers that are desperately needed in our region,” he added.
Bachelor-level student Kimberly Quimonez expressed her gratitude for the funding the program received.
She said her experience of being a social work student at Elms has “enriched” her personal and professional life, as well as having a positive impact on the lives of others.
Quimonez will graduate in May and plans to obtain her masters and doctorate.
Executive Director of the Center for Equity in Urban Education Dr. Tyra Good thanked Neal for this funding. She said the center will increase efforts to diversify the teacher workforce and prepare students to work in urban school districts and environments.
Good said they initially enrolled seven students and are now up to 68 students, 58 of which are Black and Latino and 10 that are white. Of those, 26 are pursuing undergraduate degrees and 42 are enrolled in the graduate program. Most of those students are focused on secondary education and special education, to name a few.
At the May commencement ceremony, the first group of students from the center — 13 in total — will graduate.
Neal said, “Our region is fortunate to have some of the most capable educators and social workers who are willing and able to meet the needs of our children and their families, and institutions like Elms College are ensuring we continue to have the skilled workforce ready to answer the call for help.”
He went on to say, “Elms College has a rich history of educating a diverse student body, ensuring they are equipped with the tools needed to effect real change in their community. Congress has the fundamental responsibility to oversee the expenditure of the public purse, and I strongly believe that this investment will greatly benefit our region for years to come.”
This project is one of 15 congressionally direct spending projects submitted by Neal, totaling over $20 million in investments throughout the First Congressional District of Massachusetts.