CYD and MCNDHS Welcome Asylum Seekers

Busloads of immigrants have arrived in NYC over the past year, sent from border states after perilous journeys from Central and South America, and over 70 young people have come to CYD and MCNDHS. On arrival, they are welcomed by Windsor Tastaca, who has taught Spanish and ELL at the school since 2014. Tastaca is an MCNDHS graduate who was an immigrant student himself. He came from Bolivia and arrived with almost no English, so he has a very real sense of what these young people are confronting.

CYD and MCNDHS staff are working closely together to meet the challenges of these new Spanish-speaking students. CYD has a number of bilingual staff members and has hired three additional Spanish-speaking tutors. The new students have critical needs, including emotional health support. Some have arrived in the US alone; others with family members. Many are living in shelters. Many have suffered trauma in their home countries and during their trek to the border, where they risked starvation, violence, sex trafficking, and more. Bobbie Hernandez, CYD Director of Support Services, says, “All of us in the building are attuned to these students’ needs and safety. They are still extremely vulnerable to exploitation, especially for illegal employment.”

“Elena” spoke through a translator: “I came here from Venezuela with my family. We came to New York on the bus and we’re living in a shelter hotel. I feel safe at school, and CYD has helped me get food and clothing, and with learning English so I can continue my studies and graduate. It has been very emotional to start all over again. There are things I miss a lot but there are new things here that help me see how I can continue forward.”

Did You Know?

The 3,500 students in CYD’s three partner high schools speak 56 languages other than English.

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