Mediaboss Marketing

QUINCY Sen. Elizabeth Warren visited Asian supermarket Kam Man Food on Friday morning to tour a workforce development program spearheaded by local social service provide Quincy Asian Resources Inc.

After meeting two recent graduates now employed at the supermarket, Warren spoke with local elected officials and local leaders about immigration reform during a roundtable discussion.

"Im here in QARI to celebrate getting $627,000 for QARI, an organization that helps new arrivals, new immigrants to our country, get some basic training and take on essential jobs in our economy," Warren said. "This is a life-saving opportunity for so many people. ... Its good for all of us."

The bustling Asian supermarket was founded by an immigrant and employs mostly immigrants. Owner Wan Wu, who came to the United States from Hong Kong as a student in 1966, said the partnership with Quincy Asian Resources Inc. has been a natural fit.

"It's a great opportunity for us to help immigrants," he said. "We are immigrants ourselves."

Through the program, Quincy Asian Resources Inc. provides skills training and language classes, while corporate partners like Kam Man provide opportunities to learn on the job and potential employment after graduation. In addition to Kam Man, Quincy Asian Resources Inc. works with Boston College, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Hilton Hotels to train recent immigrants in the food services and hospitality industries.

Led by Quincy Asian Resources Inc. CEO Philip Chong, Warren visited Kam Man's meat and seafood departments, where recent graduates of the program paused from their work to meet the senator. They included Samwel Sadi, who emigrated from the Congo.

Sadi entered the program in the dining halls of Boston College, but he was furloughed for the summer after classes ended. Quincy Asian Resources Inc. then helped him move to Kam Man, where he said he is expanding his skills while continuing to earn a paycheck.

Warren also met Reginal Toussaint, who was a school teacher in Haiti before coming to the United States to live with his wife in Dorchester. Toussaint was hired by Kam Man on the day he graduated from the 10-week program and has worked at the supermarket ever since.

"I'm so happy," Toussaint told Warren. "About my job and my life."

After the tour, Warren told a panel including State Rep. Tackey Chan, State Sen. John Keenan and others that she's hopeful Congress will reach a deal on comprehensive immigration reform including a pathway to citizenship.

Chan said that current immigration policy favors immigrants who already possess economically desirable skills. Workforce development programs such as Quincy Asian Resources Inc.'s Chan said, make preexisting skills less important if immigrants have a pathway into the work force "regardless of how they came."

Warren said she disagreed with President Joe Biden's recent decision to deny migrants the right to claim asylum if border crossings reach a certain threshold, a move some immigration advocates say violates international law.

"I think that's not the right approach," she said. "I understand that the president has been backed into a corner because the Republicans had negotiated an immigration package, and when Donald Trump said he wanted chaos at the border, they backed out on it and tanked the whole deal.

"So the president is working with the tools he has available, but what we really need is for Congress to step up and do a full immigration package. That means security at the border. It also means money for places that are housing migrants, and it means creating a pathway for citizenship for our essential workers and our dreamers."

Peter Blandino covers Quincy for The Patriot Ledger. Contact him at pblandino@patriotledger.com.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Patriot Ledger subscription. Here is our latest offer.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Elizabeth Warren visits Kam Man in Quincy to talk immigration, labor

Visit link:
Elizabeth Warren talks immigration reform at Kam Man Food in Quincy - AOL