The Public Schools of Brookline
Office of English Language Education welcomes you to your
Community U. Spring Speaker Series
7:00-8:00 PM
April 3rd, 2025
Introductions and Contact Information
Mindy Paulo, ELE Director�mindy_paulo@psbma.org
Betsy Davis, ELE Family and Community Engagement Coordinator�betsy_davis@psbma.org
Interpretation Services
Interpreters for this evening:
Japanese: Uiko T. Russian: Suzanna S. Mandarin: Yuhuan S.
Japanese: Uiko T. Russian: Suzanna S. Mandarin: Yuhuan S.
2025 CommunityU Presentations
April 3rd - “Understanding Interpretation/Translation Services and Other Resources Available to Brookline’s International Families”
Speakers: Lloyd Gellineau and Ahmad Hamssa, Brookline’s Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Community Relations
April 29th - “Leveraging Home Languages and Supporting Literacy Development at Home with Multilingual Learners”
Speaker: Kelly Cooney, Founder and Lead Consultant of EdQuity
The Zoom link for this presentation is here
May 21st - “English Learners go to college: What, How, Why”
Speaker: Dr. Yasuko Kanno, Professor of Language Education and Chair of the Language and Literacy Education Department, Boston University Wheelock College of Education and Human Development
The Zoom link for this presentation is here
June 11th - “Understanding your child’s ACCESS score report - What does this mean for your child?”
Speakers: Mindy Paulo, Director and Marisa Palumbo, ELE Enrollment and Assessment Specialist, Public Schools of Brookline Office of English Language Education
The Zoom link for this presentation is here
🌼🌸Questions? Please reach out to Betsy Davis at Betsy_davis@psbma.org 🌸🌼
Please welcome tonight’s Guest Speakers:
Lloyd Gellineau and Ahmad Hamssa
Brookline’s Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Community Relations
Lloyd: lgellineau@brooklinema.gov
Ahmad: ahamssa@brooklinema.gov
Please feel free to ask questions / ask for clarification during
the presentation by raising your hand or writing in the chat
Please leave your camera on, if possible
TOWN of BROOKLINE�Office for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Community Relations- (ODEICR)
https://www.brooklinema.gov/545/Diversity-Equity-Inclusion-Community-Rel
ODEICR STAFF
Caitlin Starr, MS, MPH, CDE
Assistant Director
Sarah Kaplan, MA
Community Relations Specialist/ADA Coordinator
Ahmad Hamssa, MA
Language Access Coordinator
Lloyd Gellineau, Ph.D, MS, CDE
Director, Chief Diversity Officer
Brief History of the ODEICR
Office Mission
Support the making of cultural-specific events and activities in the community
Provide learning experiences regarding the racial and ethnic groups that live in Brookline
To find and change things that cause unfair treatment to people who live, work, and play in Brookline
What we do
Employment- Work with Town Departments to have unbiased hiring and promotion practices.
Also, to create a workplace culture that is friendly for everyone.
Civic Engagement- Find ways to help community members interact with elected officials.
Help increase voter registration and voting.
End limitations that stop community members from participating in government.
Support Community Events- Provide help to make programs and events for the community.
Work to remove barriers that unfairly prevent people from opportunities in Brookline
Reporting Agency for Discriminatory Behavior Protective Classes
Gender
Race/Ethnicity
Sexual Orientation
Religion
Creed
Disability
Genetics
Military Status
Age
Color
Language Access for the Town of Brookline
Ahmad Hamssa - Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Community Relations
Needs Assessment
30% of town residents are foreign-born and speak a language other than English (LOTE)
10% of the population are self-reportedly limited in English proficiency (LEP).
Civil Rights Act (1964) protections include LEPs.
Majority of LOTE/Immigrant clients (91%) do not know how to request public services, or are under-informed (per community organization survey).
70% of community organization clients cite language as a barrier to accessing Town services.
Language Access Policy
The Language Access Policy is designed to ensure that our LOTE/LEP residents have effective access to all public information, resources, and programs that are provided by the Town. This is “Language Access”.
Externally: allow access for LEPs.
Internally: guidance and compliance for Town departments on providing language access services.
Town departments will receive a copy of the policy and further guidance within 30 days of approval.
Implementation of the Language Access Policy is done through the Language Access Plan.
Language Access Plan - Implementation
We work with language service vendors to provide the following services:
Public Access to Language Access Services
Upcoming Steps and Resources
Questions? Comments?
Thank you to our presenters!
2025 CommunityU Presentations
April 3rd - “Understanding Interpretation/Translation Services and Other Resources Available to Brookline’s International Families”
Speakers: Lloyd Gellineau and Ahmad Hamssa, Brookline’s Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Community Relations
April 29th - “Leveraging Home Languages and Supporting Literacy Development at Home with Multilingual Learners”
Speaker: Kelly Cooney, Founder and Lead Consultant of EdQuity
The Zoom link for this presentation is here
May 21st - “English Learners go to college: What, How, Why”
Speaker: Dr. Yasuko Kanno, Professor of Language Education and Chair of the Language and Literacy Education Department, Boston University Wheelock College of Education and Human Development
The Zoom link for this presentation is here
June 11th - “Understanding your child’s ACCESS score report - What does this mean for your child?”
Speakers: Mindy Paulo, Director and Marisa Palumbo, ELE Enrollment and Assessment Specialist, Public Schools of Brookline Office of English Language Education
The Zoom link for this presentation is here
🌼🌸Questions? Please reach out to Betsy Davis at Betsy_davis@psbma.org 🌸🌼