Programs

  • Riverside Language Program

    THE RIVERSIDE LANGUAGE PROGRAM IS AN IMMIGRANT INTEGRATION CENTER THAT SUPPORTS THE ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND SOCIAL INCLUSION OF NEWLY ARRIVED IMMIGRANTS, REFUGEES, AND ASYLUM SEEKERS IN NEW YORK CITY. OUR PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: FREE FULL TIME IMMERSIVE ENGLISH CLASSES: FREE, INTENSIVE ENGLISH LANGUAGE CLASSES FOR NEWLY ARRIVED IMMIGRANTS, REFUGEES, AND ASYLUM SEEKERS IN NEW YORK CITY. PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE 150 HOURS OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION IN ONE SIX-WEEK CYCLE. WRAP-AROUND COUNSELING AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES: DIRECT SERVICES AND REFERRALS FOR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WITH EARLY RESETTLEMENT NEEDS SUCH AS HOUSING, HEALTH INSURANCE, AND CHILD CARE. ASSISTANCE WITH FINANCIAL AID, COLLEGE APPLICATIONS, AND JOB TRAINING APPLICATIONS AND PLACEMENT. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SKILLS BUILDING: INSTRUCTION INCLUDES AN OVERVIEW OF THE AMERICAN WORKFORCE, INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC TERMS, RESUME AND COVER LETTER WRITING, AND SOFT SKILLS BUILDING SUCH AS ETIQUETTE, COMMUNICATION AND LISTENING, AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS. DIGITAL LITERACY CLINIC: WEEKLY TRAINING SESSIONS ON COMPUTER PROGRAMS AND ONLINE PLATFORMS AND THEIR USEFULNESS IN MANAGING INFORMATION IN CLASSROOM AND WORKPLACE SETTINGS. CIVICS: TRAINING AND RESOURCES TO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS TO ENGAGE IN CIVIC LIFE AS INDIVIDUALS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND AS AMERICANS.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Sep 1, 2022 – Aug 31, 2023
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $1M

  • Program 1 [2024]

    Our mission is to help newly arrived immigrants and refugees successfully integrate into life in the U.S. by rapidly improving their English language skills, offering wrap-around case management and counseling, and providing workforce development skills, digital literacy, and civics training. These supports and skills ensure that Riverside students are better positioned to access job training, employment, and higher education. Our unique integration model serves as a 'one-stop-shop' that helps new immigrants access these services directly or through coordinated referrals at no cost. The model focuses on four strategic pathways that leverage immigrants' human capital and unlock access to economic mobility, social inclusion, and civic engagement: English Language Instruction: Free, full-time intensive English language classes that provide participants with 150 hours of English language instruction in each six-week cycle. Classes are taught by experienced instructors with Master's degrees. Workforce Development and Digital Literacy Instruction: Training on job readiness, the American workforce and norms, industry-specific terms, resume and cover letter writing, and soft skills such as etiquette, communication and listening, and interpersonal skills. Riverside also offers training on computer programs and online platforms and their applicability in classroom and workplace settings. Personalized Integration Planning and Access to Social Services through Case Management/Counseling: Working with case management/counseling staff, participants will develop a personalized roadmap to achieve social, economic, and civic engagement goals. They will also receive direct services and referrals for early resettlement needs such as housing, legal aid, health insurance, and child care. Community and Civic Engagement: Training and resources that promote and build the capacity of program participants to actively engage in civic life as individuals and community members. Training can include a range of topics such as know-your-rights, financial literacy, and becoming a citizen, accessing resources such as the IDNYC and library cards. Our centralized model also serves to build community and establish a network among distinct immigrant communities in all five boroughs of New York City. Accomplishments in FY 24 included: Rebranded Riverside Language Program as Riverside Immigrant Services & Empowerment. Successfully bid on a three-year Department of Youth and Community Development grant. Secured a $300k grant from Carnegie Corporation. Riverside's largest private foundation grant to date. Increased non-government revenue from previous fiscal year by 48%. Maintained our top-level ranking at both the State and City levels. Served 438 new participants and filled 762 seats during the fiscal year. By way of comparison, in FY22, we served 250 new participants and filled 537 seats. Increases of 43% and 30%, respectively in two years. Continued to respond to emergency community needs by: .Holding two clothing drives for participants .Expanding lunch program to serve participants five days a week .Held two Community Resource Fairs - one focused on social services and one on employment and job training opportunities. Twenty-five community partners participated in the two events. Appointed to the City Council Speaker's Special Task Force on Language Access. Selected as a Columbia University Non-Profit Board Leadership Partner. Continued to expand our network of volunteers which now includes over 500 individuals.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Sep 1, 2023 – Aug 31, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $1.1M