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CIVIC ENGAGEMENT <br />242 Moving from Exclusion to Belonging <br />PARTICIPATION IN ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE THE BROADER <br />COMMUNITY <br />Participation in groups that serve the broader community is a more mixed experience. Some <br />immigrants reported extremely positive experiences, while others expressed a reluctance to <br />become involved. Leaders of these organizations also reported difficulties with attracting <br />participation from all immigrant groups. In some cases, immigrants felt that organizations were not <br />truly interested in changing their programming to reflect their input and they were being selected <br />more as tokens rather than as full participants. In other cases, some immigrant groups have <br />different cultural norms around punctuality or how to conduct meetings that inhibit participation. <br />Language and immigration status also remain major barriers to full participation. <br />VOLUNTEERING <br />Some immigrants reported positive involvement with organizations that serve the broader <br />community, especially through volunteering: “I do volunteer a lot because I was not able to work <br />for a couple of years. I tried to fill the time by volunteering and that helped me a lot. That was life <br />changing…. Probably *volunteering was+ the main reason I was able to be involved with the <br />community, learn more culture, be more accepted. People like when you get involved.”1172 Another <br />immigrant used her own experience volunteering to advise other new arrivals: “Everyone who <br />invited me to anything, I went, and I volunteered for everything. I tell people, you have to try, you <br />have to go out.”1173 <br />CONNECTION THROUGH ENGLISH LANGUAGE CLASSES <br />Immigrants reported that English language (EL) programs were another extremely positive source of <br />connection to the larger community. Because many immigrants arrive in the United States as <br />adults, they are not connected with the school system, even if they lack literacy, education, or <br />language skills. Language in particular is crucial for many to be able to gain employment and fully <br />participate in civic life. The availability of free and low-cost English-language learning programs is <br />one way Minnesota helps immigrants adjust to life here. <br />Overall, communities reported that free English language classes are available.1174 However, in <br />some areas, enrollment outstrips available class spaces.1175 Other factors such as location, time of <br />classes, transportation, and the availability of childcare determined whether or not students were <br /> <br />1172 Interview 3 <br />1173 Interview 93 <br />1174 Interview 55. <br />1175 Interview 72; Interview 74; Interview 78; Interview 82; Interview 137.