Over the weekend, MCN continued their project “Filling the Gap in Worker Training: Capacity Building for Occupational Safety and Health” by holding a Training of Trainers workshop for Rebirth, Inc in Salisbury, Maryland, which is home to MCN’s Eastern Region Office.

Rebirth Inc, led by Director Habacuc Petion, focuses on the needs of the Haitian community who are both migrant and permanent workers in the Delmarva area, a largely agricultural peninsula that includes part of Delaware and the Eastern Shores of Maryland and Virginia. Petion was eager for his small nonprofit to join forces with MCN for the effort, which is supported by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Susan Harwood program.

[ Attendees participate in group exercises at training ]

“[The training] brought us around the table to discuss and assess our community needs,” Petion noted. “We thank MCN as a national organization for opening its door to partner with us, reaching out to a lesser-known organization like us.”

Ten passionate Rebirth leaders participated in the trainings on chemical safety, ergonomics, and workers rights and responsibilities, as well as grant requirements and documentation of activities and reporting.

Over the next eight months, these ten leaders will branch off to provide trainings to over 300 workers in Haitian Creole, using the tools and educational materials given during the training by MCN Director of Environmental and Occupational Health, Amy K. Liebman, and Senior Program Manager, Alma R. Galvan. Also in attendance was Katherine Kruse, MCN’s new project coordinator for the Eastern Region Office.

“The session was fun and we had a good time learning,” Petion noted after the training. “Most  important of all, we learned a lot and we are equipped with the knowledge, ready to train our immigrant brothers and sisters and our community on how to be safe and healthy in the workplace and to know their rights. We are ready.”

Learn more about the launch of the project here: “MCN's New Worker Safety Project Serves the Haitian Community.”

Read more about MCN’s Environmental and Occupational Health initiatives.