ESL construction graduates meet Wisconsin governor on Cinco de Mayo

A graduation ceremony for an English language program for Latino construction workers in Milwaukee was visited by a powerful Wisconsin figure.

Gov. Tony Evers on Tuesday spoke in front of graduates of an English as a Second Language class for Latino construction workers at the Arco Villa venue at 8^th Street and Greenfield Avenue in Milwaukee.

The governor touted his recent signature of the Dreamer legislation, allowing Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients living in Wisconsin to pursue occupational credits such as plumbing. The law passed the last legislative session with bipartisan support.

Evers said there was still work to be done to improve life for immigrants in the workforce, including foundational communications skills for people to advocate for themselves in the workplace.

“That’s where one-of-a-kind programs like this help individuals build those skills to use together with their technical expertise to be excellent in the workforce,” the governor said.

The English language program was kickstarted several years ago by the Labor Council or Latin American Advancement-Milwaukee Area Chapter, led by members of several AFL-CIO-affiliated construction unions. An influx of construction projects and immigration created the need for classes, organizers said.

During spring, two Milwaukee Public Schools teachers taught English to around a dozen workers with an industry-specific focus. Many workers showed up after a full workday in different trades.

On Tuesday, they celebrated both graduation and Cinco De Mayo, the celebration of the defeat of the French army by Mexican forces in the Battle of Puebla in 1862.

After dinner and certifications were handed out the governor pulled the first ticket in a prize raffle.

The first raffle winner got a charcoal starter. Raffle winners over the night received gifts like game tickets, impact drivers and bottles of liquor, provided by both unions and employers.