IIC, INSTITUTE FOR IMMIGRANT CONCERNS INC
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Mission Statement
The Institute for Immigrant Concerns is a 501(c)(3) organization in New York City that provides ESL programs and support services, attracting a diverse group of adult immigrants and refugees committed to learning English. All nationalities and backgrounds, across the boroughs and neighborhoods of New York City are welcome to participate in the Institute’s English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. Our students acquire English language skills while celebrating a diversity of countries, cultures, and religions. Our students are highly motivated and supportive of one another as they discover their place in the United States.
About This Cause
Established in May 1997, the Institute for Immigrant Concerns assists immigrants, refugees, and asylees in achieving their mutual goals of social and economic independence in America. Program participants come from over 40 diverse countries, most of which are traditionally underserved populations. In particular, Spanish-speaking participants comprise more than 55% of the Institute’s population. Carlos Maldonado, a student from Mexico, said: “I can read books that I never understood before, thanks to the classes. I can do a lot of things now. I can communicate better in English. The teachers are very good with a lot of patience. I appreciate everything the program has done for me and my classmates.” Staff and volunteers are fluent in many languages, including Spanish, French, Chinese, and Russian; the Institute serves immigrants from all over the five boroughs. “An Institute student may have lived here for two weeks or twenty years. It doesn’t matter; if they want to learn English, we welcome them,” Donna Kelsh, Executive Director, says. The high demand for the Institute’s English program is the result of extensive word-of-mouth and program publicity. Lili Wang, another student at the Institute, is very dedicated to improving her English and truly loved being taught by her teacher, Mark Brik. “He is very tough but that’s good,” she said. She increased her confidence in speaking English. Her speech and listening skills have tremendously improved since she began her classes at the Institute. Now she can communicate better with her classmates and with people she passes on the street. The Institute provides comprehensive morning, afternoon, and evening classes. The teachers first administer a placement test to determine the student’s level of English. There are four cycles and a summer session; each cycle is 7 weeks. Our students acquire English language skills while celebrating the great diversity of cultures and religions amongst themselves. They are highly motivated and supportive of one another as they discover their place in the United States. In fact, the students are so diverse that it is nearly impossible to speak any other language than English in the classroom. “The students struggle, but all of them have the same goal: To improve their English,” says Mark Brik, the Institute’s Education Director. In the words of another student, Jefferson Bellevue: “I thank all the staff of the Institute, especially Mark, Phyllis, and Donna. I thank my classmates for their wisdom; please never give up, keep trying.”