GIVING IMMIGRANTS A
VOICE SINCE 1992
THE IMMIGRANT LEARNING CENTER® (The 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 ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes to help immigrant and refugee adults in Greater Boston become successful workers, parents and community members.
THE PUBLIC EDUCATION INSTITUTE
informs Americans about immigrants and immigration in the United States.
THE INSTITUTE FOR IMMIGRATION RESEARCH
a joint venture with George Mason University, conducts research on the economic contributions of immigrants.
News & Events
Senator Edward Markey pays tribute to The ILC Founder and CEO Diane Portnoy
In honor of The ILC’s 30th anniversary, Massachusetts Senator Edward Markey read a tribute to The ILC Founder and CEO Diane Portnoy into the Congressional Record.
Celebrating 30 Years of Giving Immigrants a Voice
To mark our 30th anniversary, The ILC has created a video that celebrates the accomplishments of the past three decades and looks forward to giving immigrants a voice in the years to come.
2022 Annual Report
Learn how The Immigrant Learning Center gave immigrants a voice in fiscal year 2022 in our inaugural Annual Report. The report features information about our updated digital literacy program, new suite of resources for educators, student stories and more.
Educator Resource Hub
The ILC has created and curated more than 100 resources for teachers of immigrants and immigration. Search our collections on topics like immigrant trauma, ESOL and immigration lesson plans for all ages. All provided resources are free.
Thirty Stories from 30 Years of Giving Immigrants a Voice
The Immigrant Learning Center has helped more than 11,500 immigrant and refugee adults learn English, helping them achieve their goals as students, workers, parents and members of their communities. For our 30th Anniversary, we want to introduce you to just 30 of them.
How Immigration Has Enriched American Holidays and Traditions
Immigrants and refugees from all over the world have brought their unique, diverse traditions to popular holidays in the United States. Read to learn just some of the ways immigration has shaped our celebration of Labor Day, Halloween, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, New Year’s Eve and Easter.
Research Initiative: Immigrant Essential Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The ILC Public Education Institute has published a research report on immigrant workers in essential industries during the COVID-19 crisis. The report covers both the enormous obstacles these workers have faced and the exceptional contributions that they have made.
JobMakers Podcast: Immigrant Entrepreneurs and Leaders
The ILC Public Education Institute has partnered with the Pioneer Institute to create JobMakers, a podcast highlighting the stories of immigrant entrepreneurs and leaders. Tune in to hear the stories of a former Afghan translator turned refugee, a woman who started a hedge fund from her dorm room, a venture capitalist who invests in immigrants and more!
Key Takeaways of the Immigrant Essential Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic Research Report
Get the highlights of The ILC’s latest research report, Immigrant Essential Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic, and learn how foreign-born workers have supported all Americans throughout the COVID-19 crisis.
January 23, 2023
Newsletter: Liliana says that giving people a voice is a blessing
Like many immigrants, our student Liliana had to start her career over when she immigrated to the United States from Argentina. When our “Next Steps” teacher connected her to a medical interpreter training program, she knew she had found her new passion.
Resources for Immigrants, Parents and Educators during COVID-19 Crisis
To help guide us through the COVID-19 crisis, The ILC Public Education Institute has compiled resources for immigrants, refugees, parents and educators. Please bookmark and share this page to help people stay safe, informed and healthy.
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.
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…