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How Immigrants Give Back to the U.S. as Soldiers and Veterans

April 13, 2023

Immigrants and refugees from all over the world have brought their unique, diverse traditions to popular holidays in the United States. Some, like the Swahili names of Kwanzaa candles and the Scottish New Year’s Eve song Auld Lang Syne, have obvious international roots. Others, like mistletoe at Christmas, jack-o-lanterns at Halloween and chocolate bunnies at Easter, may surprise you with their origins. Read on 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. 

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Uncategorized

Seven Famous Undocumented/DACA Immigrants

January 30, 2023

The latest estimates indicate there are currently more than 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States. Their presence is one of the most controversial issues in American politics, yet all Americans depend on them. They pay billions in taxes, start businesses that create jobs and make up half of all farmworkers who keep Americans …

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Thirty Stories from 30 Years of Giving Immigrants a Voice

December 2, 2022

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. These students represent countless lives that have been positively impacted by the …

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Nine Famous Latinx/Latino/Latina Immigrants

October 4, 2022

People from Latin America have contributed deeply to the United States since its founding. From activists to performers to entrepreneurs to astronauts, exceptional foreign-born Latinx Americans have played vital and often overlooked roles in the history of the U.S. The Immigrant Learning Center has created this list of famous Latinx immigrants to share a small piece of that history. After learning more about these nine people, we encourage you to continue to explore this important legacy.

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How Immigration Has Enriched American Holidays and Traditions

August 26, 2022

Immigrants and refugees from all over the world have brought their unique, diverse traditions to popular holidays in the United States. Some, like the Swahili names of Kwanzaa candles and the Scottish New Year’s Eve song Auld Lang Syne, have obvious international roots. Others, like mistletoe at Christmas, jack-o-lanterns at Halloween and chocolate bunnies at Easter, may surprise you with their origins. Read on 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. 

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LGBTQ+ Immigrants: Challenges and Contributions

June 7, 2022

In the face of discrimination and misguided policies, LGBTQ+ immigrants and refugees have fought for recognition and liberation. The battles they won have had positive ripple effects and not just for people in queer or in immigrant communities. The earliest fights for marriage equality were led by bi-national, same-sex couples who needed their relationships recognized …

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Thirteen Famous Asian and Pacific Islander Immigrants

May 13, 2022

Immigrants from Asia and Pacific Islands are a diverse collection of more than 130 ethnic groups from a geographic area that spans 16 million square miles. Their dreams and talents are as diverse as they are and, despite the challenges and discrimination they have faced, they have made extraordinary contributions to the United States. The Immigrant Learning Center has compiled just nine of their stories, including an Olympic athlete, an HIV/AIDS activist, a U.S. senator and an astronaut.

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The Impact of Immigrants on Health Care in the United States

May 6, 2022

Immigrants are immense assets to the United States health care system. On the whole, foreign-born residents create a net benefit to the United States by paying more into the system than they receive in government-funded medical benefits. As workers, they fill crucial roles at every level of the health care system, from badly needed home health aides to surgeons and researchers. Their work has been particularly vital throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. With more inclusive policies around health care access, visas and licensing, immigrants could offer even more to the U.S. health care system.

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Key Takeaways of the “Immigrant Essential Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic” Research Report

January 18, 2022

Rates of unaccompanied minors crossing the border have been rising significantly, and so are the chances an unaccompanied minor will join your classroom. These young people have strengths, challenges and needs that are distinct from immigrant children as a whole. They are also being placed in households across the country, so it’s worthwhile to prepare to welcome an unaccompanied minor wherever you are located. 

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Supporting Unaccompanied Minors in the Classroom

November 10, 2021

Rates of unaccompanied minors crossing the border have been rising significantly, and so are the chances an unaccompanied minor will join your classroom. These young people have strengths, challenges and needs that are distinct from immigrant children as a whole. They are also being placed in households across the country, so it’s worthwhile to prepare to welcome an unaccompanied minor wherever you are located. 

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Immigration Explainer: What can Massachusetts expect from Afghan evacuees?

October 27, 2021

August 31, 2021, marked the last day of the U.S. occupation of Afghanistan. The world witnessed footage from Kabul’s airport of Afghans desperate to leave the war-ravaged country now under control of the Taliban. As the occupation ended, more than 122,000 people were evacuated from Afghanistan, including more than 5,400 U.S. citizens and permanent residents.

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Best 60 Books About Immigrants and Immigration for All Ages

April 22, 2021

Books can transform, transport and inspire. Whether you’re a teacher trying to expand your classroom library, a parent looking to introduce their child to diverse perspectives or an adult who just wants a rich, interesting novel to read, you are bound to find something on this list that’s for you.

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Eleven Famous Women Immigrants in the United States

March 26, 2021

This Women’s History Month, we’re highlighting the stories of eight extraordinary women immigrants. Despite the limits that are often placed on women and immigrants, these eight pioneers have made impressive contributions in fields as varied as medicine, acting, activism and physics.

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Black History Month: 10 Famous Black Immigrants

February 19, 2021

We at The Immigrant Learning Center strive to inform Americans about the economic and social contributions of immigrants in our society. In honor of Black History Month, we are highlighting some Black immigrants who influenced, and are still influencing, the national conversation.

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Understanding Immigrant Trauma

January 22, 2021

Blog post covering acculturation, immigrant trauma, immigrant mental health and strategies for educators to address these issues

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What to Watch: 43 Films, TV Series and Documentaries Featuring Immigrants

November 27, 2020

With thousands of options to choose from, do you still find yourself thinking, “there’s nothing to watch”? Maybe it’s because there are so many options that it’s hard to find the ones worth watching. Choose wisely. Just like the old adage, “you are what you eat,” the media we consume can influence who we become and how we see the world.

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Boston COVID Tutoring

August 4, 2020

Families everywhere are struggling with how to educate their children during this pandemic. The problem is even more complicated for immigrant families. Parents who are not native English speakers often find it particularly difficult to navigate U.S. school systems or help children with their homework.

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What Does it Mean to Be a Black Immigrant in the United States?

June 19, 2020

June is Immigrant Heritage Month. It’s a time for Americans who are immigrants or the descendants of immigrants to reflect on and celebrate their cultural heritages. Coincidentally, June 19th, or Juneteenth, is the day that many African-Americans mark the end of slavery in the United States.

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It Takes Courage to Write From the Heart

June 5, 2020

Learning a new language as an adult is hard. It not only takes hard work, it takes courage. You have to be willing to make mistakes, a lot of them. You are going to say and write things wrong, and you have to be willing to look foolish in order to improve.

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Immigrants Make Our Economy More Resilient

April 22, 2020

Immigrants are a key part of the U.S. economy in the best and worst of times. Right now, we are facing severe unemployment, stock market plunges and businesses closures due to the COVID-19 epidemic.

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Cultivate Kindness: Activities for Children and Teens

April 16, 2020

With schools closed and playdates canceled, many children and families are looking for ways to connect with neighbors, their community and the world at large. Moreover, the concerning rise in COVID-19-related xenophobia and anti-Asian incidents can leave children feeling worried for their family’s safety or the safety of others around them.

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Drawing Support: In-Home Activities for Children

April 7, 2020

The Coronavirus outbreak can be a difficult topic to address with children. This can be especially tough in families that may be vulnerable to anti-Asian or anti-immigrant discrimination that has been falsely equated with the outbreak, or for those where parents are out working essential jobs even while school and other activities have been shut down, a reality …

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Three ways immigrants are fighting COVID-19

April 1, 2020

Immigrants have been a key part of maintaining the health and well being of Americans in good times and bad. Irish immigrants were key supporters of the Union Army during the American Civil War.

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The Oscars Highlight the Contributions of Immigrants

February 6, 2020

Hollywood is one of the most iconic symbols of America and, like so much of America, it wouldn’t be what it is today without immigrants. Even in the midst of debates about diversity and representation, it is apparent that immigrants “get the job done” in filmmaking and other performing arts.

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Generation Z, Diversity and Fake News

January 28, 2020

Every generation brings a fresh perspective on social and political issues, and educators have to find ways to adjust to these changes. The post-millennial generation of young Americans currently coming of age, known as Generation Z, has already cemented its reputation as politically engaged, highly educated and very diverse.

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Creating Welcoming Classrooms: How Understanding the Concept of Implicit Bias Can Strengthen Your Teaching

November 26, 2019

Some researchers contend that in order to create safe and welcoming classrooms, we must dive into what they call implicit bias. But what is implicit bias, and what lessons can we learn from this concept?

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Immigrant Entrepreneurs Embrace Social Responsibility

November 25, 2019

There are more ways that immigrants enrich our country than we can count. We know that immigrants are highly entrepreneurial. We can quantify how many jobs are created by immigrant entrepreneurs and how much immigrants pay in taxes.

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Entrepreneur

How Immigrant Entrepreneurs Are Strengthening Massachusetts’ Life Science Ecosystem

October 17, 2019

Picture a world where you could get a vaccine without being jabbed with a needle, where you could get an expert medical opinion in a few clicks instead of a few weeks and where organ transplants are no longer a race against time.

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Meet the Latina Immigrant Entrepreneurs of Massachusetts

October 7, 2019

Yessy Feliz comes from a family of well-educated women with can-do attitudes, like her mother who worked two jobs while resettling her family from the Dominican Republic to Massachusetts.

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Use Immigration Narratives to Build a Sense of Belonging in Classrooms

September 13, 2019

Strategies to promote integration, mutual respect and a shared sense of belonging for students of every age

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Engage Families to Support Immigrant Students

June 26, 2019

One of the most important institutions for immigrant integration is K-12 education. Immigrants are assets to our country, and if the children of immigrants have full access to high-quality education, they can become more successful adult community members.

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U.S. risks no longer attracting Nobel-worthy talent

June 11, 2019

The world’s top scientists tend to be highly mobile. They frequently cross borders to study, work, collaborate and present their research. The U.S. attracts science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) scholars and students from around the world.

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Teach Empathy Through Storytelling

April 30, 2019

Meghan RosenbergPublic Education Institute We often hear that divisions can be bridged by listening to each other. Educators are in a unique position to empower young adults to listen and learn from each other by sharing stories. Read on for some of the best strategies and tools for fostering empathy through storytelling, particularly around the …

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Shots heard round the world

March 19, 2019

Diane Portnoy The ILC Founder and CEO The Battle of Lexington in 1775 sparked the American Revolution and became famous for the “shot heard round the world.” At that time, it could take months for news to travel, and yet that revolution, our revolution, had a profound impact on the rest of the world that …

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“We All Want to Belong”

November 19, 2018

Fears about immigration are based in our psychological fear of “the other.” Yet when we examine the core values that we live by every day, we may find that we all have more that brings us together than sets us apart. Sara McElmurry, author of Proactive and Patient: Managing Immigration and Demographic Changes in 2 …

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How the Holiday Spirit Can Open Up Conversations About Immigrants

November 19, 2018

The holidays are a time when many people reconnect with their core values through giving, sharing and uniting with friends and family. When the topic of immigration comes up, however, we are often tempted to debate the subject using facts and policy details. What values can we activate in ourselves and others to help us …

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Sharing a Meal, Sharing Our Values

November 7, 2018

This holiday season, friends and family will have a lot to catch up on. When topics related to immigration come up, how will you respond? To start, resist the temptation of simply sharing facts and figures in the hope of persuading others. According to Dr. Marisa Gerstein Pineau from the FrameWorks Institute, a not-for-profit organization …

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Making a Connection with One Conversation

November 7, 2018

The election is over, and Congress is split, with immigration as a key battleground. Many people are entrenched in their party of choice, but when it comes to the issues, there are proven ways to successfully open conversations. One of the ballot questions voted on in Massachusetts was a proposed measure to repeal anti-discrimination protections …

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As American as Baseball and Immigration

October 31, 2018

Fenway Park. Photo by Robert F. on Unsplash In Boston today, fans are out in the streets celebrating the victory of the Red Sox in the 2018 World Series. Here at The Immigrant Learning Center, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the huge impact immigration has on America’s favorite pastime. Red Sox culture is …

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Eastern European Women Impacting Communities

April 25, 2018

The Immigrant Learning Center would not exist if it were not for the vision of one important Eastern European immigrant: Diane Portnoy. Diane and her parents immigrated to the U.S. from Poland shortly after the end of WWII, and her experiences watching her parents struggle to learn English led Diane to open The Immigrant Learning …

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Entrepreneur

Beyond the buzz: immigrant entrepreneurs and artificial intelligence

April 20, 2018

One of the hottest buzzwords in technology these days is artificial intelligence (AI), sometimes also referred to as machine learning. Forbes named 2017 “The Year of Artificial Intelligence,” BAI declared artificial intelligence it’s “2018 Trend of the Year” and the subject famously dominated this year’s Consumer Electronics Show. Beyond the buzz, how is AI being …

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Entrepreneur

The 2018 ILC Entrepreneur Awards nominees add spice

April 13, 2018

Restaurants are the lifeblood of many communities. Not only do they feed and entertain local residents, they can bring in business from surrounding communities. When they are owned by immigrants, they can introduce Americans to new and exciting flavors. Americans are eating it up. As noted in Immigrant Entrepreneurs: Creating Jobs and Strengthening the U.S. …

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Life Science Nominees Show Tenacity

April 12, 2018

The nominees in The 2018 ILC Immigrant Entrepreneur Life Science Category hail from four different countries in three separate continents, but are united by their perseverance. From developing lab-grown platelets that reduce the need for stem-cell donors, to designing transformative gene therapies, each nominee has founded companies that seek to drastically improve human health. This …

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Entrepreneur

Immigrant Women in Tech

April 9, 2018

It is well documented that immigrants are overrepresented in high-tech and women are underrepresented. What about immigrant women in tech? If this year’s nominees for The ILC Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards are any indication, female immigrant entrepreneurs are making major contributions. These two women, both recipients of Boston Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Award, have had …

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Remembering the “Apostle of the Deaf” this Deaf History Month

April 2, 2018

Compared to names like Helen Keller or actress Marlee Matlin, Laurent Clerc may not be the first person that springs to mind when you think of prominent Deaf figures in American culture. This National Deaf History Month we want to shine a light on the immense contributions of this immigrant often cited as the most …

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From Statistics to Storytelling

February 6, 2018

The data on immigration and our economy is impressive. Although immigrants only make up 13 percent of the population, they constitute 17 percent of our labor force, and their share of contributions to America’s GDP is 16 percent. Are these facts enough to change minds? The research says no. In our latest webinar on February …

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Entrepreneur

Most Valuable Players

January 15, 2018

Dries Buytaert, founder of Acquia and winner of The 2015 ILC Immigrant Entrepreneur Award.   Eighty-five percent of the highest-valued, venture-backed companies in Massachusetts have an immigrant founder. Coincidence? We think not. A 2016 study by the National Foundation for American Policy found immigrant founders at more than half of the America’s startup companies valued …

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On the field and in the board room, let’s keep saying yes to the best.

November 29, 2017

Boston Celtics’ Center Al Horford from Dominican Republic and Washington Wizards’ Center Marcin Gortat from Poland. Photo by Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA via Wikimedia Commons.   When the Boston Celtics want to find the best basketball players, they don’t just look in Boston, or Massachusetts or even the United States. That’s why, according …

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Building bridges instead of walls

October 26, 2017

On Oct. 16, 2017, the Central Square Theater in Cambridge, MA, hosted a reading of the play Building the Wall, by Pulitzer- and Tony-winning playwright Robert Schenkkan. The play presents a dystopian future in which fear of the other is allowed to overrule human rights and even basic human decency. The audience was left with a …

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Framing Against Fear

October 16, 2017

Suggestions from the FrameWorks Institute’s Marisa Gerstein Pineau, PhD, during the webinar Immigration, Safety and Security.   According to the Pew Research Center, for voters who supported the President in the 2016 election, the biggest issues facing the country were not jobs or the economy but illegal immigration and terrorism. These two issues are often …

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Twenty-five years, 25 countries

August 3, 2017

Students and staff at The Immigrant Learning Center really are a global community right here in Malden, MA. Since the founding 25 years ago, the school has served students from 118 countries. In honor of the 25th anniversary, here is a list of the top 25 countries of origin for The ILC students.   1. …

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Tips for teachers to change the immigration conversation

May 31, 2017

Denzil Mohammed of The ILC Public Education Institute presents “Immigrants: Stats & Strategies to Change the Conversation” at the Massachusetts Coalition for Adult Education’s NETWORK 2017 Conference.   Adult educators looking to retake the immigration narrative got proven strategies from The ILC Public Education Institute’s Denzil Mohammed. At the Massachusetts Coalition for Adult Education’s NETWORK …

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Immigrant entrepreneurs creating jobs

April 25, 2017

Immigrant entrepreneurs are job creators and innovators. The five nominees for The 2017 ILC Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards in the Business Growth category increased their number of full-time-equivalent employees by 40 to 388 percent over the past three years. Vijay Nalamada Avco Consulting, Worcester from India Vijay Nalamada is the CEO and founder of Avco Consulting, …

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Immigrant Entrepreneurs on the Cape

April 19, 2017

Immigrant entrepreneurs are making their mark across Massachusetts, and Cape Cod is no exception. As this year’s nominees for show, the Cape is benefiting from the entrepreneurial spark of its immigrant residents. Jitka Borowick Cleangreen, Inc., Barnstable from Czech Republic Category: Neighborhood Business Jitka Borowick came to the U.S. in 2003 from the Czech Republic …

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Immigrant Entrepreneurs in Cambridge

April 4, 2017

Cambridge is a hub of innovation not just for Massachusetts but for the country as a whole. From world-renowned Universities to industry powerhouses to cutting-edge start-ups, Cambridge wouldn't be Cambridge without immigrants. The 2017 ILC Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards nominees from Cambridge are outstanding examples.   Ahmed Albaiti Medullan Inc., Cambridge from Tanzania Category: High-Tech Business …

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High-Tech Business nominees for The 2017 ILC Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards

February 27, 2017

Immigrants are a critical part of the innovation economy. The first three nominations for this year’s ILC Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards in High-Tech Business are living proof. Lingping Gao NetBrain, Burlington from China As a network engineer, Lingping Gao spent years managing enterprise networks and was frustrated by the tedious, manual nature of the work and …

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Twenty-Five Entrepreneurs

February 24, 2017

The Immigrant Entrepreneur Hall of Fame was launched in on January 25, 2012, to bring to light the importance of immigrant entrepreneurs in the United States. This year, The Immigrant Learning Center celebrates our 25th anniversary. In honor of our 25 years and the contributions of these entrepreneurs, we present the top 25 immigrant entrepreneurs …

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Neighborhood nominees for The 2017 ILC Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards

February 21, 2017

The first three nominations for this year's ILC Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards are in, and they are fine examples of how immigrants are enhancing our neighborhoods. Yessy Feliz Tails, Inc., Jamaica Plain from Dominican Republic Yessy Feliz opened a very small storefront business for boarding dogs in October 2012. Less than five years later, her business …

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Twenty-Five Years, 25 Memories

February 13, 2017

From ILC Founder and CEO, Diane Portnoy: The Immigrant Learning Center was born 25 years ago. They say it takes a village to raise a child. It certainly has taken a whole community of supporters to make The ILC a success. Here are some of my most poignant memories from the last 25 years of …

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Twenty-five years, 25 cities

February 2, 2017

The Immigrant Learning Center is located in Malden but draws students from 88 Greater Boston communities and one in Rhode Island. In fact, since the founding 25 years ago, less than half of the immigrants and refugees who learned English with us have come from Malden. In honor of the 25th anniversary, here is a …

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New citizens sworn-in at ILC-sponsored event.

October 19, 2016

We now have 148 new citizens in Massachusetts. They were sworn-in at Malden High School on Tuesday, a day none of them will forget. Diane Portnoy shared her own journey from refugee to U.S. citizen to founder of The Immigrant Learning Center (ILC) with the hopeful crowd. She also thanked them, as she does every …

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Police and community advocates come together to share integration strategies

October 13, 2016

We’re here to provide a safe and secure community for immigrants. We’re here, and we need them to collaborate with us. Chief Brian Kyes, Chelsea, MA, Police Department   Denzil Mohammed moderates a panel featuring, clockwise from top center: Chief Brian Kyes, Chelsea, MA, Police Department; Caitlin Gokey, Vera Institute of Justice; Zahra Billoo, Council …

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One brave immigrant demonstrates the innovation that immigration makes possible.

October 5, 2016

The American Heart Association, Verily Life Sciences and AstraZeneca announced the winner of the $75 million One Brave Idea Research Award on Wednesday. The winner, Dr. Calum MacRae, is a Scottish immigrant and chief of Cardiovascular Medicine at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital. His vision for uncovering the causes of heart disease and the potential …

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Mass. teachers connect to immigration past and present at The ILC

September 6, 2016

Brazilian immigrants Brunna and Mike Peroni of Peroni’s Jewelry in Malden share their stories with teachers as part of an immigrant business story tour during the workshop. Immigrants have been vital contributors to Boston’s history and continue to enhance the community economically and socially. The diversity they add to Boston and the U.S. is reflected …

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Mass. teachers to learn best practices for diverse classrooms at The ILC

August 3, 2016

More than a quarter million children in Massachusetts are immigrants or have immigrant parents. What will their classroom experiences be this coming academic year? Boston Public School’s History and Social Studies Department is conducting a free, two-day workshop on current immigration to the Boston area for K-12 teachers in Massachusetts titled New Bostonians: The Latest …

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Leaders in education share strategies and lesson plans to empower immigrant students

July 20, 2016

A student from the film "Living Undocumented" shares her story as part of the module Empowering Immigrant Students and Dreamers. Immigrant students are assets to classrooms, immigrant parents are very much interested in their children’s education, and schools need to actively engage with immigrants instead of only providing them with information. These are some of …

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New report details immigrants’ vital contributions to U.S. health care

June 20, 2016

I think the health care system in Boston would collapse without immigrants. Jerry Rubin, Director, Jewish Vocational Services of Greater Boston Immigrants are vital contributors to U.S. health care, particularly in the fields of medicine and medical science, long-term care and nursing. Immigrants in Health Care: Keeping Americans Healthy Through Care and Innovation is a …

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Taking integration to the heartland

June 15, 2016

Attendees at the Replicable Integration Strategies from Faith Organizations session   Denzil Mohammed, director of The Immigrant Learning Center (ILC) Public Education Institute, traveled to the heartland of America to bring the latest immigration data and best immigrant integration practices to the 15th annual Cambio de Colores conference on June 10 in Columbia, MO. Leya …

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Five awarded ILC Entrepreneurs of the Year

May 5, 2016

I accept this award with gratitude and respect for many who fought and sacrificed their lives for me so I can rise. Thank you. Herby Duverné, 2016 Business Growth winner Front row from left: Diane Portnoy, ILC Founder and CEO; Hilda Torres; Gerardo Loza; and Denzil Mohammed, ILC Public Education Institute Director. Back row from left: …

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Health care and integration experts give insight on new report

February 9, 2016

Clockwise from top left: Denzil Mohammed, Amanda Bergson-Shilcock, José Ramón Fernández-Peña, MD, Kira Khazatsky (not pictured) and Joyce Sackey, MD.     Compiling available research and profiles of 11 immigrants representing the full scope of the U.S. health care industry, the upcoming report Immigrants in Health Care: Keeping Americans Healthy through Care and Innovation interweaves …

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Institute for Immigration Research presents at National Immigrant Integration Conference

January 14, 2016

Attendees interact before the first plenary session on December 13, 2015. More than 1,300 policymakers, community organizers, academics and others in the immigrant-serving field attended the 2015 National Immigrant Integration Conference (NIIC) from December 13 to 15, 2015, in New York City. This NIIC was the largest to date, and it engaged attendees from across the country in thought-provoking …

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New report reveals what enables immigrant professionals’ success

January 14, 2016

Clockwise from top left Sunny Schwartz, Alejandra St. Guillen, Eva Millona, Dr. James Witte, Paul Feltman, Sylvia Rusin, Stacey K. Simon, Denzil Mohammed, Celina Barrios-Millner and Jeff Gross.   Supportive social networks as well as English language skills are crucial factors in the economic prosperity of college-educated immigrants. These were some of the takeaways from the Boston launch of …

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Malden’s immigrant entrepreneurs tell their stories

October 26, 2015

"I love being a business owner in Malden. It's a great community and a great place to do business." Shane Smyth, owner of Hugh O’Neill’s Restaurant & Pub   Local immigrant entrepreneur Raghbir Singh Grover in his business, Edson Fashions. Photography credit to Marilyn Humphries. Sixty attendees from across the commonwealth came to Malden for a …

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National experts share lessons in community cohesion and immigrant integration

October 22, 2015

"There was a lot of helpful information and perspectives there that will inform our work going forward. There need to be more and more conversations like this one."     Clockwise from top left, Rhonda Ortiz moderates a panel discussion with Vanessa Carter, Amaha Kassa, Denzil Mohammed and Christine Sauvé.   Tensions between immigrant and …

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Hero to the Voiceless

October 19, 2015

Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum, and Diane Portnoy.   Diane Portnoy was recognized for her decades of dedication to giving immigrants a voice at the 2015 Keepers of the Dream Awards in Washington, DC, on October 14, 2015. Keepers of the American Dream are identified by the National Immigration Forum as …

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Five awarded 2015 ILC Immigrant Entrepreneurs of the Year

May 11, 2015

Diane Portnoy, ILC Founder and CEO, stands with 2015 ILC Immigrant Entrepreneur of the Year speakers and winners. From left are Dr. J. Keith Motley, Chancellor, University of Massachusetts Boston; Denzil Mohammed, Director, The ILC Public Education Institute; Life Science winner Laxman Desai; Diane Portnoy; High-Tech winner Dries Buytaert; Business Growth winners Thomas and Helene …

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New online workshop offers faith perspectives

March 3, 2015

The ILC Public Education Institute Program Specialist Denzil Mohammed (bottom right) joins panel discussion with, clockwise from top left, moderator Westy Egmont, Vanessa Carter, Matthew Soerens, Leah Bergen and Patricia Maloof. Faith organizations have long been at the forefront of integrating immigrants and refugees as well as working with the receiving communities to welcome new …

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Immigrant Struggles, Immigrant Gifts at the Cambridge Forum

October 17, 2014

Diane Portnoy (right) moderates panel including (left to right) Alex Nowrasteh, William Ross and Deborah D. Moore. On October, 8, 2014, The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc. produced a panel discussion with the Cambridge Forum entitled Immigrant Struggles, Immigrant Gifts after its book by the same name. The discussion used America's immigration history to bring perspective to today's …

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First Immigrant Heritage Month celebrated in Massachusetts

June 26, 2014

Felix G. Arroyo, Chief of Health and Human Services for the City of Boston, address the audience at the Immigrant Heritage Month celebration at the Boston Public Library on Saturday, June 21, 2014.   America owes its economic strength and cultural richness to the diversity of its origins. On Saturday, June 21, 2014, at the …

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Seven winners honored at The 2014 ILC Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards

June 4, 2014

Diane Portnoy, ILC founder and CEO, left, and Marcia Drew Hohn, director of The ILC Public Education Institute, stand with The 2014 ILC Immigrant Entrepreneurs of the Year Rosa Tejeda, Nisaury Tejeda, Fitzroy Alexander, Josef von Rickenbach, Victoria Amador and Dr. Fauzia Khan. At right is master of ceremonies Richard A. Davey, Jr., secretary and …

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Immigrant entrepreneurs discuss their impact on local economy

April 11, 2014

Business owners Julia Silverio, left, Rosemary Agbede and Maria Rosa speak during a panel discussion on "The Vital Role of Immigrant Entrepreneurs."   Julia Silverio from the Dominican Republic, owner of Silverio Insurance Agency in Lawrence, MA, believes that small-group discussion is one of the mediums where "the struggles and accomplishments of immigrants can really …

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The Immigrant Influence on the 2014 U.S. Olympic Skating Team

February 6, 2014

  Immigrants strengthen all aspects of our society. This is most evident when they reach the pinnacle of their vocation. They are Nobel laureates, Fortune 500 founders and Olympiads. Even new Americans who were previously unauthorized have represented the United States and won, such as Leo Manzano who won the silver medal and set a …

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ILC gets teachers thinking positively about immigrants

December 17, 2013

Participants share stories about immigrants in their communities during the workshop "The Changing Face of America: What Educators Need to Know About Immigration, its Impact on Schools and its Benefits to Communities" at the conference Where Integration Meets Innovation on November 9, 2013. Chiara Magini, left, and Denzil Mohammed. Denzil Mohammed and Chiara Magini of …

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Immigrant Theater Class 10th Anniversary

December 9, 2013

The Immigrant Theater Class is a unique learning environment that combines traditional English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) instruction with personal storytelling and public speaking. Each term, students write and perform original plays about their experiences as newcomers in America. The events are open to the public. For the students, the experience of performing …

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Third annual Mass. Immigrant Entrepreneurship Month proclaimed

October 16, 2013

The Massachusetts Immigrant Entrepreneurship Month proclamation is held up by Josiane Martinez, executive director of the Office for Refugees and Immigrants, right. From left are Rep. Linda Dorcena Forry, Rep. Daniel Cullinane, Gov. Deval Patrick, Rep. Tackey Chan and State Senator Eileen Donoghue.   Reaffirming the vitality that foreign-born business owners bring to the economy, …

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Educator workshop expands to 23 states in 2013

July 24, 2013

    Workshop presenters from left (top row) Paul Watanabe, University of Massachusetts Boston; Usha Tummala-Narra, Boston College; Jared Sanchez, University of Southern California; Judy Shreves, Warren County Schools, Missouri; (bottom row) Phitsamay Uy, University of Massachusetts Lowell; Westy Egmont, Boston College; Amaha Kassa, African Communities Together; Lorna Rivera, University of Massachusetts Boston; and Marcia …

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The ILC awards three for outstanding immigrant entrepreneurship

May 15, 2013

Richard A. Davey, Jr., secretary and CEO, Massachusetts Department of Transportation, left; Dr. Marcia Drew Hohn, director, The ILC Public Education Institute; Dr. Chiang Li, founder, Boston Biomedical, Inc.; Rafael Guzman, president, RM Technologies, Inc.; Mahmud Jafri, founder, Dover Rug & Home; Diane Portnoy, founder, president and CEO, The ILC; and Steven Grossman, Massachusetts Treasurer …

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Developing a model for reaching and engaging immigrant storefront businesses

December 10, 2012

Director of The ILC Public Education Institute Dr. Marcia Drew Hohn, center-front, with participants and facilitators at a workshop on small-business advertising on October 24, 2012, at the Evangelistic Church in Lynn, MA. Photo courtesy Juan-Carlos Ferrufino   This year, The Immigrant Learning Center (ILC), Inc.’s Public Education Institute joined with MassINC and the Massachusetts …

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‘No surprise’ immigrants power economy, says Hohn at State House

November 20, 2012

Marcia Drew Hohn, EdD, right, speaks on "Massachusetts Immigrant Entrepreneurs: Creating Jobs and Strengthening the Economy" at the State House in Boston on November 15, 2012.   "Immigrants have the disposition and courage to take risks," said Marcia Drew Hohn, EdD, director of The ILC Public Education Institute, at the State House on Thursday, November 15, …

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ILC award nominee honored during Immigrant Entrepreneurship Month

October 31, 2012

Immigrant entrepreneurs are honored at a press conference marking Immigrant Entrepreneurship Month 2012 at the Massachusetts State House on October 19. From bottom left to right are Rev. Cheng Imm Tan of the Mayor's Office of New Bostonians, Sen. Sal DiDomenico, Eva Millona of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition, Malee Thai, Josiane …

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First online teacher workshop a success

September 17, 2012

“I can see how much effort it took so many people to make all the pieces work seamlessly. I have attended other online trainings that were maddeningly dysfunctional... I will recommend this workshop to my colleagues.” Carrie Mitchell, Curriculum and Staff Co-ordinator, Framingham Adult ESL Plus, Framingham, MA, and participant in The ILC online teacher workshop 2012. …

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Bloomberg and Murdoch come to Boston to discuss immigration

August 16, 2012

Two world-famous industry and government leaders, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch, spoke about the importance of immigration reform at The New England Council event last night in Boston in front of an audience of 250 people that included ILC staff. Boston Mayor Thomas Menino introduced the topic by …

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ILC honors three with Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards

June 4, 2012

From left are Amar Sawhney, Marcia Hohn, Diane Portnoy, Julia Silverio and Larry Dossantos at The ILC 2012 Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards Dinner on May 9, 2012, at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge, MA.   ILC honors three with Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards From Cape Verde, the Dominican Republic and India, the three winners of The …

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ILC Founder speaks about “Living in a Culturally Diverse Community”

May 3, 2012

Malden, the home of The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc. (ILC), is one of the most diverse cities in Massachusetts. On April 4, 2012, Diane Portnoy, ILC president and CEO, spoke at a panel discussion at Malden High School about “Living in a Culturally Diverse Community.” She spoke about the immigrant experience from her perspective coming …

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New study on immigrant entrepreneurship documents contribution to the U.S. economy

January 25, 2012

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Immigration Policy Center of the American Immigration Council (IPC) in Washington, D.C. published a paper written by The ILC Public Education Institute Director Marcia Hohn. Titled "Immigrant Entrepreneurs: Creating Jobs and Strengthening the Economy," the paper details the contributions of immigrant entrepreneurs and provides policy recommendations to increase …

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Boston College Students Visit The ILC

January 14, 2012

  Immigrant integration practices examined in London, Paris and Brussels Malden, Paris, London  and Brussels all share one important feature. They are all home to innovative programs for immigrants and refugees. This is what students at the Boston College (BC) Graduate School of Social Work discovered on a cross-continental, fact-finding mission to develop immigrant integration …

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Conference on Immigrant Entrepreneurship in Massachusetts

January 13, 2012

Conference Confirms Immigrant Entrepreneurs Spur Economic Growth and Create Jobs in Massachusetts November 17, 2010 Babson College, Wellesley, MA. hosted by The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc.   WELLESLEY, MA—The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc. (ILC) in collaboration with Babson College held a statewide conference at the College that confirms Massachusetts immigrant entrepreneurs are engines of economic …

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