GIVING IMMIGRANTS A
VOICE SINCE 1992
THE IMMIGRANT LEARNING CENTER® (ILC) OF MALDEN, MA,
IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT GIVES IMMIGRANTS A VOICE IN THREE WAYS.
THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROGRAM
provides free, year-round English classes to immigrant and refugee adults in Greater Boston to help them become successful workers, parents and community members.
THE PUBLIC EDUCATION INSTITUTE
informs Americans about the economic and social contributions of immigrants in our society.
THE INSTITUTE FOR IMMIGRATION RESEARCH
a joint venture with George Mason University, conducts research on the economic contributions of immigrants.
The Immigrant Learning Center has created a collection of Resources for Immigrants, Parents and Educators During COVID-19 Crisis. Please bookmark and share widely, as we will continue to add resources to support all members of our communities in this crisis.
News & Events
December 14, 2020
From Our Blog: What to Watch: 32 Films, TV Series and Documentaries Featuring Immigrants
Having trouble figuring out to watch? This curated list of films, TV series and documentaries highlighting immigrants and immigration stories could give you some ideas.
From the Immigrant Entrepreneur Hall of Fame: Robyn Rihanna Fenty
The ILC has added philanthropist and singer Rihanna to the Immigrant Entrepreneur Hall of Fame. Her cosmetics company Fenty has made her the wealthiest female musician in the world.
From Our Blog: How Immigration Has Enriched American Holidays
Immigrants to the United States have shaped our holiday traditions in countless ways. Learn how we have immigrants to thank for Christmas trees, traditional Kwanzaa food, latkes and even the New Year’s Eve ball drop!
November 30, 2020
Newsletter: In a crisis, this new American stepped up
When new Americans become citizens, they are asked if they will perform work of “national importance.” For Luz this was more than a theoretical promise. As a cleaner in a hospital, she has put herself at risk to help others stay safe, and she was proud to have the opportunity to fulfill her responsibility.
Welcome to the New World Curriculum and Learning Guide
The ILC has created a free curriculum and learning guide based on Welcome to the New World, by Jake Halpern, a nonfiction graphic novel following the Aldabaans, a family of Syrian refugees. The curriculum is suitable for English or social studies classes in grades seven to 11.
Fall 2020
Impact Update newsletter
Read about The ILC teachers supporting students from a distance, our new curriculum, our students’ stories and more.
What makes us unique?
There is no place on Earth quite like The Immigrant Learning Center. Our well-resourced, award-winning direct services to immigrants and refugees combined with research and education for the American public on immigration issues gives us a truly unique perspective. The ILC is:
Public and Private
We receive 75 percent of our funds from the private sector and only 25 percent from government agencies. This unusually high percentage of private funding gives us the flexibility to innovate and respond rapidly to changing needs.
Intense
We offer English classes five days a week. That’s up to 15 hours a week of instruction, very rare for a free program. This intensive schedule accelerates learning and shortens the time it takes our students to reach their goals.
Local
To date, we have helped more than 10,500 immigrant and refugee adults living in 94 communities across Massachusetts. By helping them learn English, we help them pursue their dreams. The impact is felt throughout the region by their families, employers, customers, neighbors and more.
National
Americans from coast to coast learn about the positive impact of immigrants through The ILC Public Education Institute’s webinars, conference presentations and our Immigration Research Library, and through the data and research generated by our partnership with the Institute for Immigration Research.
Customized
The ILC’s Literacy Program gives hope to students who struggle in traditional English classes. Students who have low or no literacy in their native language, or who have related learning challenges, receive individualized attention from teachers and trained volunteers. The Literacy Program serves as a model, and we are frequently asked to share our expertise with other programs throughout the region.
Collaborative
Collaboration is the key to doing more with less. The Public Education Institute’s webinars are presented by experts in a variety of fields from across the country. The English Language Program partners with job placement, training and educational institutions to help our students reach their goals. Both programs offer their expertise to help others give immigrants a voice.
Entrepreneurial
From the Immigrant Entrepreneur Hall of Fame to the annual Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards, The ILC Public Education Institute has amassed compelling evidence of immigrants’ contributions as entrepreneurs, and it’s curated for easy access on our Immigrant Entrepreneurship page.
Published
Our book, Immigrant Struggles, Immigrant Gifts, brings insight to today’s immigration issues by examining the history of 11 different ethnic groups. Now in its second printing, the book is available for sale on Amazon. Don’t forget to start at smile.amazon.com.
Impact Stories
SADDIQA
Saddiqa left Afghanistan after her husband was killed by the Taliban. After living for a while with her brother in Pakistan, she and her children came to the United States…
ABDONY
On January 12, 2010, Abdony returned to Port au Prince, Haiti, after visiting his wife and daughter in Boston. At 4:53 p.m. that day, a huge earthquake struck Haiti…
MARIA
When Maria’s children became adults living on their own, she decided to start a new life in the U.S…