4C’s Helps Immigrants on the Vineyard

by Olivia Appleton

Fifty Venezuelan immigrants arrived on Martha’s Vineyard in September unannounced. They did not have very many resources for their families, and residents of Martha’s Vineyard did not know where to house so many people.

Cape Cod Community College stepped up to help. John Cox, the president of the college, released a statement explaining how the college is helping the immigrants.

“(T)he college reached out to Dukes County Emergency Management and Martha’s Vineyard Public Schools the same day with offers of assistance driven in part through the commitment of our Adult Education Center and the English as a Second Language program,” Cox wrote.

Caryl Delaney, a Spanish professor at 4C’s, was one of those people helping the immigrants.

            “I translated for the various agencies and visitors and the Venezuelan immigrants,” Delaney says. “I sat down and talked to many of them about their experiences or just made small talk. It was very intense listening to their experiences. Some of these experiences were horrendous and grueling. It was hard not to get emotionally attached to the immigrants and feel for them.”

            So how can more people help?

            “I suppose the most important thing people could do to help is provide them with resources regarding housing and jobs,” says Delaney.

Donations would also help the cause. To donate, please go to https://www.mvcommunityservices.org/

            “As the Commonwealth and community address the on-going response in this ever-evolving situation, we continue to engage – and will continue to engage - with our offer for assistance.  Cape Cod Community College believes in the life-changing power of higher education for everyone,” says President Cox.

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