The Need
ICNY is committed to making English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) education available to as many newcomers as possible, a mission that is increasingly relevant as the immigrant population in the United States increases annually. In 2007, three million immigrants lived in New York City, accounting for 37% of the city’s total population. As the foreign-born population in the New York metropolitan area continues to rise, it is critical that there be increased access to affordable ESOL classes.
The demand for ESOL classes in New York City far outweighs the availability. In 2005, only forty-four thousand of the one million adults in New York City who needed ESOL training could enroll due to the insufficient number of classes. Of the classes available, most do not offer English instruction beyond the beginner level, therefore providing few opportunities for individuals to become intermediate or advanced English speakers.
Without strong English language skills, newcomers to the United States can face difficulty, and sometimes injustice, in securing employment, housing, healthcare and education for themselves and their families. In addition, newcomers cannot leverage the academic and professional experience they have acquired in their own countries, and their capacity for greater achievement in this country is limited.
Due to low-level English proficiency, many immigrants must keep low-wage jobs that offer little promise of advancement. In its recent report “Working for a Better Life: Immigrants in New York’s Economy,” the Fiscal Policy Institute’s finding reaffirmed the fact that English-language acquisition is an important aspect of immigrants’ financial success. In immigrant groups who have completed high school or higher, those who report speaking English well have a median income of $42,000. In contrast, those in the same educational group who report poor English skills have a median income of $28,000.
Our Model
ICNY’s model offers an innovative solution to some of these challenges. By engaging native English speaking volunteers in the instruction of conversational English, ICNY increases the supply of cost-effective English-language training at the beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels and facilitates integration and dialogue between newcomers and native born Americans.
ICNY's activities provide immigrants, refugees, students and other newcomers to the United States with:
- Strong English skills that help them secure better jobs, support their children in school, and achieve a better quality of life
- Practical and professional training that increases newcomers’ earning potential and their capacity to meet individual career goals in the United States
- Opportunities to engage in American culture and civic life
- Stronger ties to the cultural wealth of the greater New York community
With a small full-time staff of 10, an annual budget of $2 million, and an additional $1 million in donated services, ICNY serves over 2,500 newcomers to the United States each year. Our work is made possible through a corps of 1,000 committed volunteers, whom ICNY recruits from the New York metropolitan area.
Annual Report
Read our Annual Report and learn move about our programs, our volunteers, and our English-language learners. Click here to view the report. 
Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors consists of 26 dedicated individuals who donate their time, wisdom, and expertise to making the mission of ICNY a reality. Click to view a list of current officers and directors.
Financial Statements
Click to view our unaudited 2007 financial statements.
Supporters
Donations support about half of the International Center's $2 million budget. Funding comes from foundations, corporations, government, individuals, our own volunteers and members. Contributions support our general operations, specific programs, our Collaborative Programs with community-based organizations, and our Scholarship Program.
Click for a list of our 2007 Supporters.
Awards Dinner
Since 1981, the International
Center has hosted a black-tie
fundraising event at which we
honor foreign-born individuals
who have made a significant
contribution to American life.
Past honorees have included:
Ahmet M. Ertegun,
Vartan Gregorian, Carolina Herrera,
Madeline Kunin,
Evelyn Lauder,
Yo-Yo Ma,
Vincent A. Mai,
Frank Mccourt,
Ismail Merchant,
Martin Segal, Martin J. Sullivan,
Diane von Furstenberg,
James D. Wolfensohn, and
Fareed Zakaria. Our 26th Awards Dinner will be held this fall. To see pictures from last year's event at which Jeannie Hyun Diefenderfer, Kevork and Ara Hovnanian, Dr. Florabel Garcia Mullick, and Artemis A. W. Joukowsky were honored, click here.
Support Us
To make a contribution
please donate online or print out our donation
form and send it to us completed with a check, money order or credit
card order to:
The International
Center in New York
50 West 23rd
Street, 7th Floor
New York, NY
10010
If you would
like more information about making a donation, please contact the Louisa Brady, Development and Public Relations Manager at 212-255-0145, or e-mail her at lbrady@intlcenter.org.
Volunteer
You can help New York City's newcomers by becoming a volunteer at ICNY. We offer a wide range of volunteer opportunities, training, and ongoing professional support. Our volunteers
who come from over 100 companies and non-profit organizations are supported
by grants from American Express, Credit Suisse, JPMorgan Chase, IBM, and Verizon. Learn more about our volunteer programs.
Collaborate
In order to share our expertise and serve more immigrants, we work with a number of community-based organizations in different New York City neighborhoods. Since 1999, these collaborations have helped spread the spirit of volunteerism and facilitate deeper connections between immigrants and Americans, resulting in stronger and more integrated communities. Read more about our collaborative programs.
If you are interested in implementing a Conversation Partner program at your organization, please contact our Collaborative Programs Department.
Additional Information
2006 Yearbook of Immigration Statistics
http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/statistics/yearbook/2006/OIS_2006_Yearbook.pdf
"English Instruction Touted for Immigrants."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/31/AR2007073101570.html
"Failure to Assist Limited English Speakers Likely to Hurt U.S. Productivity." http://www.clasp.org/publications/LEP_pr_082803.pdf
Grantmakers Concerned With Immigrants and Refugees. "Language Access."
http://www.gcir.org/integration/languageaccess
"Hardship in Many Languages: Immigrant Families and Children in NYC." http://www.newschool.edu/milano/nycaffairs/immigrant/Hardship.pdf
"Newcomers Left Behind: Immigrant Parents Lack Equal Access to New York City's Schools." http://www.newschool.edu/milano/nycaffairs/immigrant/Imm%20Parent%20Access%5B1%5D.final.pdf
"Working for a Better Life: A Profile of Immigrants in the New York State Economy"
http://www.fiscalpolicy.org/immigration.html |
