TEACH Provides Resources to Empower Immigrants during COVID 19

While every community has encountered struggles as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many fail to recognize how different communities are disproportionately impacted. But Chicago-based English literacy agency, TEACH Empowers, is working even during the pandemic to help one of these communities - the immigrants and non-English speakers/limited English-speaking immigrants/immigrants with language barriers

The community that TEACH serves, mostly Latinx, includes many immigrants who do not speak English well or at all. Because This community, often working at great risk to their health and lives as essential workers keeping Americans safe, healthy, fed is among the most vulnerable to being exposed to and contracting the COVID 19 virus. While TEACH’s doors may not be open, they are continuing their free one-on-one and group education program online through digital, electronic and virtual communication such as email, social media, video chat and Youtube—but their community aid is not stopping there.

With the language barrier often encountered by immigrants, TEACH wants members of the community to be aware of, and understand, the vital information and resources available to them. And in doing so, TEACH is continuing its mission of empowering students: through learning communication skills, cultural awareness, and how to get things done in the U.S., they gain confidence to be successful in the greater community and survive the pandemic.

Some of the COVID efforts to aid the community include—a survey to assess their communities needs; a one-stop source of resources on their website focused on the needs of documented and undocumented immigrants during the pandemic; providing on-going outreach to identify immigrants at risk of not being able to meet basic needs and access healthcare resources; performing wellness checks and individualized information, referral, and support services to immigrants and their families to connect them with needed resources; actively researching and publishing resources to a database targeted at the healthcare and basic needs of the immigrant community; and finally, when necessary, re-writing information at an appropriate level of English proficiency and in Spanish—all of which can be accessed through TEACH’s website.

However, the needs of the community are not just those of individuals, many members of the immigrant community also own small businesses, and immigrants who are business owners are facing their own unique challenges. First and foremost, immigrants are much less likely than European-owned small businesses to have access to COVID 19 assistance. Despite this fact, there is little to no media coverage on this equity gap, nor are there many agencies that are reaching out to immigrant-owned businesses to assist them in accessing these funds, and virtually none in the Chicago suburbs.

Although there have been two opportunities to obtain financial assistance through the Payroll Protection Program, or PPP, for small businesses, immigrant business owners are at a disadvantage to access these funds' They may: 1) not be aware of the availability of PPP funds; 2) be aware of the funds, but not understand the application process; 3) may not have a banking relationship to facilitate the process; and 4) might not be given the attention needed due to banks’ incentives to process larger business loans.
In addition, these small business owners may not be seen as valued clients, and a combination of language barriers and cultural differences may make it difficult for them to be assertive in seeking funding. Finally, the current prevailing anti-immigrant sentiment may heighten their hesitance in seeking funding.

Due to this, TEACH is currently in the process of seeking funding and resources to create a free virtual info session and/or other support for minority and immigrant-owned small businesses. As a reflection of their mission, this would include a curriculum to teach the application process associated vocabulary in English, as there may not be someone at the bank who speaks their native language to provide assistance when completing the forms.

As this virtual information session is still in the planning stages, TEACH is still working to find business and community agency collaborations to assist in developing this resource for immigrant-owned small businesses. If you, or someone you know, would like to support this work, please contact TEACH at cbitsas@teachempowers.org.