AFT and KCFT Donate Hundreds of Books to KCPS International Welcome Center

KANSAS CITY, MO.—On March 11, AFT President Randi Weingarten and Kansas City Federation of Teachers and School-Related Personnel President Jason Roberts visited the KCPS International Welcome Center to learn more about the comprehensive support the center offers to the immigrant, migrant, refugee and non-native English speaking families in the community. The center aims to provide a seamless transition to life and school in Kansas City; during the visit, center staff indicated they lacked books for students and families to enjoy and learn from. At the visit, the AFT pledged to donate 500 bilingual and multicultural books to the center through its Reading Opens the World campaign.

“What this center in Kansas City is doing is making sure every family—whether they’re from Mexico, Somalia, Sudan or Iran—is welcomed when they arrive,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten. “While our borders must be protected, unfortunately many are peddling xenophobia and fear these days when it comes to immigration. The Kansas City public schools are trying, in the face of this, to welcome the stranger—to operate as educators do with love, compassion and the skills families need to be successful in America. Books are a piece of this vital acculturation strategy. Books create joy, expose people to new languages and ideas, and give students ownership of something—and what these kids need when they come to a new country is just that. They need to see themselves in books, and read in languages they know, as well as ones they’re hoping to learn. Our hope is that the joy and sense of belonging new families will get from these books and this center will radiate out into the community and travel with them for a lifetime in this country.”

“This year, the International Welcome Center saw around 500 migrant and refugee students walk through its doors,” said KCFT President Jason Roberts. “Next year, this number is expected to double. In addition to translation services and school placement, the center has a food and clothes bank and helps families get connected with support centers across the community. This is what our union means when we say we support the whole student. I am proud of the work we’re doing in Kansas City, and I’m glad we can give back today with these 500 books I know the kids will love and cherish.”