LINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Located at 100 Edgewood Rd., the center is set to serve over 1,300 multilingual students—up from approximately 500 in 2019—offering vital resources to newcomers seeking both educational and social support.

𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

Shortly after 3 PM, the center was formally inaugurated with the snip of a ceremonial ribbon, greeted by cheers from district administrators, board members, city and county officials, educators, students, and community leaders.

𝙎𝙪𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝘼𝙩𝙞𝙮𝙖 𝙔. 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙨 underscored the event’s significance: “This center will be a hub for our students, their families, and the district to ensure that they are getting what they need from the moment they arrive.”

Speakers highlighted the center’s importance, framing it as a bold declaration of inclusivity amid national debates on immigration.

NJEA Secretary-Treasurer Petal Robertson captured this sentiment: “Just the fact that you call this a Welcome Center at a time when immigrants have not been made to feel welcome in this world already demonstrates how powerful Linden is.”

𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭

Danie Orelien, Director of the Multilingual Learners Department and the visionary behind the center, shared her personal journey as a Haitian immigrant student.

“I remember being that child… not understanding what my teachers were saying,” she said, connecting deeply with attendees. Orelien explained how the center’s comprehensive approach, including partnerships for school supplies and mobile vaccination clinics, supports new families. “We ensured that these services were free… so parents didn’t have to pay, expediting the process for school enrollment.”

𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬

The center's holistic approach integrates health and education, a point emphasized by Patricia Ryans-James, the district’s head nurse with over 33 years of experience. She recalled how a lack of immunizations initially prevented many students from enrolling.

“When I arrived at Linden Public Schools, I noticed we were getting an influx of students… [but] they weren’t being enrolled because they were lacking immunizations,” she said.

Through partnerships with local clinics and New Jersey Family Care, hundreds of students now receive the necessary vaccinations and health insurance. “Students have to be healthy to be educated, and as nurses, we have to educate them to be healthy,” Ryans-James stated.

Aimee Puluso, health officer for the Linden Health Department, further underscored the center’s role as a transdisciplinary hub.

“Public health is about population-level health, not individual health… it’s about groups and trends,” she noted, emphasizing the center’s collaboration with the Union County Immunization Clinic to ensure student access to essential health services.

“Now more than ever, we need to work across these disciplines to protect our community,” she said.

𝐀 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭

Superintendent Perkins further highlighted the center’s role in promoting communication and unity.

“We are here today because the vision has come alive,” she declared. “Our ultimate goal is to always be able to communicate because that's the vessel of interaction.” With over 33 languages spoken in the district, the Welcome Center symbolizes the strength of collective action and innovative thinking.

School Board President Dr. Marlene Berghammer and Mayor Derek Armstead praised the center as a reflection of the district’s commitment to inclusion and support. “This center symbolizes our shared commitment to ensuring that every student feels welcomed and equipped to succeed,” Dr. Berghammer said.

𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

NJEA President Sean Spiller, who is also a gubernatorial candidate, emphasized the value of partnerships in fostering educational success.

Reflecting on his own experience as a child of Jamaican immigrants, Spiller said, “Having a place where you could go, not just for what you’re going to learn in anatomy class or whatever else, but a space where you can say, ‘How does this even work? How do I support my child?’—those moments are huge.”

He lauded Linden’s leadership as an example of what a thriving, inclusive community should look like. “While others may be saying they’ll shut doors or control who is in their community, Linden is leading the way, saying, ‘This is what a healthy, robust, thriving community looks like,’” Spiller added.

𝐀 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡

Robertson’s speech resonated with attendees as she shared a touching story about her niece’s ability to bridge a language gap with a Portuguese-speaking playmate. “They played all day long, because kids understand languages of love. They don’t know separation until we teach it,” she said, commending Linden for creating a space that embodies openness and understanding. “What you have built here in Linden is that safe space where you can transcend language,” she concluded.

𝐀 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞

The grand opening of the Multilingual Learners Welcome Center was more than just a ribbon-cutting; it was a declaration of Linden’s commitment to creating a nurturing environment where all children feel valued and supported. By addressing academic, social, emotional, and cultural needs, the center stands as a beacon of hope. The stories shared during the event highlighted the powerful impact of community collaboration, emphasizing that this is just the beginning of Linden’s dedication to ensuring that every child, regardless of background, has the opportunity to thrive.