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 English 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.
Join us for our 30th Anniversary
Join The ILC at the Museum of Fine Arts on November 15 to celebrate 30 years of giving immigrants a voice. The evening will include cocktails, dinner, a chance to explore the MFA after hours and a special presentation from our Founder and CEO Diane Portnoy on the past and future of The ILC.
News & Events
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.
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!
Job Opportunities at The ILC
Join The ILC as a Communications Specialist or Research Associate. These are full-time positions with benefits.
LGBTQ+ Immigrants: Challenges and Contributions
In the face of discrimination and misguided policies, LGBTQ+ immigrants and refugees have fought for recognition and liberation. While the intersection of LGBTQ+ and immigrant identities can produce multiple challenges, it can also create opportunities to fight for changes that benefit everyone.
Immigrant Entrepreneur Hall of Fame: Tope Awotona
Meet Calendly founder Tope Awotona, the newest member of our Immigrant Entrepreneur Hall of Fame. Calendly is one of the hottest startups outside of Silicon Valley, reporting more than $100 million in annual revenue and making Awotona one of just three Black founders of a U.S. startup valued at more than $1 billion.
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.
The Impact of Immigrants on Health Care in the United States
Immigrants are immense assets to the United States health care system. On the whole, foreign-born residents pay more into the system than they receive in government-funded medical benefits and they fill crucial roles as workers at every level of the health care system. Read The ILC’s blog post to learn how all Americans benefit from the contributions of immigrants.
August 23, 2022
Newsletter: Mariagrazia wants to thank you
For Italian American student Mariagrazia, her motivation for enrolling at The ILC was simple. “I need to improve my English because one day I want to talk to the people. They’re on the other side of the window. I want to open the window and talk to them,” she said.
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.
Spring 2022
Impact Update newsletter
Read about exceptional immigrant entrepreneurs, research on immigrant essential workers, volunteers’ amazing contributions, The ILC student entrepreneurs and more.
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.
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…