BIDDEFORD — With more than 9 percent of students this year coming from immigrants new to Maine, the Biddeford School Department continues to seek new ways to reach out and welcome parents and families adjusting to life in a new country.

By exploring common ground and extending friendship to newcomers hailing from faraway countries, Biddeford school administrators created the Biddeford Rising initiative last fall, and it’s become a regular event that builds bridges between longtime residents and immigrants and in the process, celebrates community diversity and strives to make the city a better place to live and work.

The third Biddeford Rising event will be conducted from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1. at John F. Kennedy School, 64 West St. in Biddeford. The event is open to the public and will include a free community meal.

“The first gathering focused on listening to ‘New Mainers’ concerns and working on future events that address those needs,” said Biddeford Schools Superintendent Jeremy Ray. “The second event brought in a dozen organizations so new immigrants and refugees could easily access resources in an informal setting. This third event will have an emphasis on civic engagement, housing and available employment.”

The Biddeford School Department serves nearly 2,500 students and currently has more than 200 students attending schools in the city from nearly 20 different countries.

Ray said that through support for parents of immigrant students, their needs can be better addressed by Biddeford schools.

According to Ray, the goals of Biddeford Rising include improving school-to-home communications and achieving a greater cultural understanding for school administrators and staff.

The program also aims to link refugee, migrant, and immigrant populations in Biddeford with community services and resources to boost access to medical and dental care, legal support, financial help, housing and nutrition services, and to foster a sense of trust between skeptical refugees, migrants, and immigrants and especially the large number of asylum-seekers residing in Maine.

Since this third Biddeford Rising will emphasize civic engagement, housing and employment, a number of organizations will be on hand to focus on providing information about those areas.

Some of organizations that will participate include York County Career Center; Maine Education Opportunity Center; Biddeford Adult Education; the League of Women Voters; FEDCAP; Pine Tree Legal; the city of Biddeford; People Ready Recruitment; Southern Maine Health Care; Anchorage by the Sea; Manpower; York County Community Action; Casco Bay Molding; and United Way of York County.

“Biddeford School Department believes that strengthened relationships with the migrant, immigrant, refugee, and asylum-seeking/asylee community will reap positive benefits for all,” he said.

Biddeford Rising mirrors Portland Empowered, a successful school-to-home program for non-native speakers, Ray said.

The Biddeford Rising program is ongoing and will continue to be held on a bi-annual basis with translators available and free transportation to the event provided to families.

The program is made available in Biddeford through a grant from Catholic Charities of Maine and the Every Student Succeeds Act.

The first Biddeford Rising held last November drew 100 people and that number doubled for the second Biddeford Rising in March, so Ray is hoping even more people will attend the third session in a few weeks.

Khulood Alhasan, who emigrated here from Iraq, attended the second Biddeford Rising at Biddeford Middle School in March.

Speaking through an interpreter, she said Americans have been friendly to her and her family and she was grateful to attend such an event with other immigrants and make new friends.

“Here in America families are safe and they are able to have such wonderful education,” she said. “The kindness shown to us in the United States is amazing.”

Alhasan has two children currently attending Biddeford High School and she said she’s grateful that the schools offer events like Biddeford Rising.

“It is good to learn about people who came here without speaking the language and that there are people out there that want to help you,” she said.

Ray said immigrant students are some of the strongest, most graceful, resilient, and awe-inspiring young people he has met.

“These students enrich our schools, enliven our curriculum, and enhance the quality and diversity of our schools. Their families have a parallel impact on our community,” Ray said. “Our committed staff can offer English language instruction and oblige state and federal laws, but they are moved to do so much more — they love and care for their students, sacrifice for them and their families, and are committed to do more than teach them English, they welcome these ‘New Mainers’ and do everything in their power to ensure a bright and promising future.”

For more information about the Biddeford Rising Program, or for transportation access, visit biddefordschools.me or call Kerrie Edgerton at 282-8280.

 — Executive Editor Ed Pierce can be reached at 282-1535 ext. 326 or by email at editor@journaltribune.com.