Education and Training

RaisingHealth offers free community workshops, English as a Second Language (ESOL) Classes, and one-on-one education on topics ranging from disease management and prevention to healthcare access.

English as a Second Language (ESOL) Classes

Communicating in English is fundamental to understanding your immigrant rights, improving your relationship with your healthcare provider, and learning how to advocate for yourself. We offer English as a Second Language (ESOL) classes between September and June, over the course of three semesters in the fall, winter and spring.

  • In addition to English language skills, you will also learn about your rights, prepare for your citizenship exam, and build community with a diverse student group. This program is offered at no cost, including class supplies, with support from NYC Department of Youth & Community Development.

    We are still accepting students. Certificates of completion will be provided after 100 completed class hours.

  • To be eligible, you must be:

    • Age 18 or older by the start of the school year
    • An NYC resident, preferably within the 11220 and 11232 zip code
    • Committed to remaining in the program until June 2022

  • • Low Beginner Class A: [DATES]

    • Low Beginner Class B: [DATES]

    • High Beginner: [DATES]

    • Low Intermediate: [DATES]

    • High Intermediate: [DATES]

    • Advanced: [DATES]

  • RaisingHealth provides conversation classes throughout the year that enable students to practice their English with other students, while discussing topics ranging from every day life to current events.

To sign up for classes, register here.

Health Literacy Workshops

From health access to immigrant rights, our workshops cover a wide range of topics and are offered for free. Workshops are offered in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Chinese, and Arabic, and may be coordinated with an associated health screening or activity.

Please check our Program Calendar for upcoming workshops and educational programs.

    • Immigrant Health Access Options

    • Know Your Immigrant Rights

    • Federal, State and City Immigration Policies

    • NYC and NYS Immigrant Resources

    • Diabetes Management and Prevention

    • Preserving Your Vision: Indications for Eye Health

    • Exercising Your Brain: Brain Health and Dementia Prevention

    • Job Readiness

    • Basic Lifesaving Skills: Hands-Only CPR

    • Mental Health First Aid

    • COVID-19 and You,

    • And more

Digital Literacy Classes

During the summer, we offer computer and cell phone use classes for beginner to intermediate level users. View our calendar to see upcoming digital literacy classes. up.

Students learn how to use a computer and cellphone for essential functions like emails, writing documents, and paying bills. Students may opt to bring their own devices or use one provided by the program.

Storytelling Classes

In partnership with Gungho Projects, our ESL classes give students the opportunity to use theater to enhance their public speaking skills. Sound exciting? Watch the video to see an example.

Our Beliefs, June 2022 | Watch video on YouTube

Here We Are, June 2021 | Watch video on YouTube

In partnership with Target Margin Theater, the Here and Now podcast features discussions with community members and their personal stories— documenting the experience of living in the community and what it means to be a newcomer.

Professional Certifications

All of the RaisingHealth trainings lead to national certification and meet most, if not all, licensure, board certification, and other authorization guidelines. Certifications are valid for two years unless otherwise stated.

We provide a full portfolio of training programs for those interested in healthcare certifications and professions:

  • 5.5 hour Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) certification course

  • 4.5 hour certification course on a variety of medical, trauma, and environmental emergencies.

What Our Participants Say

  • “When I came to this country, I cried everything, I felt like I was in another dimension, alone. I delft foolish. Sometimes I run crying because I felt foolish and couldn’t communicate my ideas and not ask for basic things. Now I can communicate my ideas, I can voice my opinions, I can ask for basic things. Raising Health did this.”

    — Alejandra Aragon, COMMUNITY MEMBER

  • “I decided to recertify [for BLS and First Aid training] with RaisingHealth on the advice of a colleague, and I was extremely impressed. You could really tell the instructor cared for each student and wanted you to succeed. RaisingHealth also kept the class size quite small so you instantly became friends with your peers and the instructor. Most of all, I actually walked away from the class learning something new even though I had been taking this certification course for 10+ years!”

    — DORIAN K., PRACTICING PHYSICIAN

  • “I attended several RaisingHealth community seminars on healthy aging, nutrition, and emergency response. Even though I never learned CPR before, I walked away feeling confident I can actually save a life. The teachers never rushed us if we took longer than usual to learn a skill, their main concern was that we felt confident with the clinical knowledge.”

    — HERMINIA G., COMMUNITY MEMBER