As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, we honor the contributions that immigrants have made and continue to make to our country and local communities.
Teens from Malden, Medford and Everett public high schools are invited to submit art and essays to The Immigrant Learning Center’s Teen Perspectives on Immigration Contest. Here’s your chance to impact your community’s views on immigration, have your voice be heard and win cash prizes.
Submissions are now open. Follow the instructions below to submit work to the contest. The deadline is February 9, 2026. Email the Public Education Institute Education Program Manager Ariana Moir at amoir@ilctr.org with any questions.
Out of the 59,675 people living in Malden as of the 2020 nationwide census, 42.7% are immigrants (“Malden”). This is over twice the number of foreign-born residents in 1990. Malden has quietly become the leading destination for new members of this nation, meaning that almost half of the people we see on a daily basis were not born in the United States, and this plays a vital role in our city. Immigrants from Haiti, Morocco, China, Pakistan, India, and a collection of other nations, come to Malden because of its exceptional schools and safe neighborhoods (Sachetti). This has helped build a strong community in the workplace, in education, and in a variety of other places. The embracing of others has been a prominent characteristic of this city for decades.
