The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc. (The ILC), based in Malden, Massachusetts, stands as a pivotal non-profit organization dedicated to empowering immigrants. It uniquely amplifies immigrant voices through three core initiatives. Firstly, its English Language Program delivers year-round, free English classes, enabling adult immigrants and refugees in the Greater Boston area to thrive as employees, parents, and active community participants. Secondly, the Public Education Institute is committed to educating the broader American public about the significance of immigrants and immigration to the United States. Thirdly, in partnership with George Mason University, The Institute for Immigration Research conducts vital research highlighting the substantial economic contributions of immigrants.
The founder and CEO of The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc. (ILC), Ms. Portnoy, established this impactful organization driven by her personal history. The ILC offers crucial free, year-round English classes to adult immigrants and refugees residing in the Greater Boston region. Furthermore, The Institute for Immigration Research, a collaborative effort between the ILC and George Mason University, plays a key role in researching and disseminating findings on the economic benefits immigrants bring to the country. Ms. Portnoy’s vision for a free school where immigrants can master English stems from her own experience as the daughter of Polish Holocaust survivors. As a young child, she and her parents immigrated to the U.S. via Ellis Island shortly after World War II and made their home in Malden. Witnessing the challenges her parents and other immigrants faced in learning English and adapting to a new culture and language deeply influenced her path. Ms. Portnoy is a recognized expert in adult education, holding Massachusetts certifications as a teacher in adult basic education and in grades K-8. She earned her BS in Elementary Education from Boston University and her MA in Curriculum and Instruction from Cornell University.
To delve deeper into the programs and impact of The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc., please visit their website at www.ilctr.org.
