Welcome to YMCA New Americans Initiative
As of the 2000 census, more than 35% of City’s residents are foreign-born and 43% of the City’s workforce are immigrants. Nearly 70% of the total immigrant population in New York speaks a language other than English. Within this group 23% do not speak English very well and about 10% do not speak English at all.
Most of these immigrants live in population clusters that are underserved for informational, education, recreational, vocational, advocacy and human services that the YMCA of Greater New York is in a position to provide, in collaboration with other human service and immigrant–service agencies. Our four core initiatives are:
New American Welcome Centers - Our five Centers offer English language, employment and citizenship services to address the needs of new immigrants in helping them integrate into the New York City community through civic participation, employment and involvement in their children’s education.
ELESAIR- Our flagship English Language and Employment Services for Adult Immigrants and Refugees program provides free educational and social services to refugees and other disenfranchised communities at YMCA branches citywide, including health referrals, job readiness workshops, language classes and civic/democratic participation awareness—all with the aim of preparing them to be full participants in a democratic society.
YMCA Language Center
- English Immersion Program- Two-to-four-week residential English immersion for business executives, young professionals and international students.
- Foreign Language Program - Eight-week Intensive Foreign Language Courses (Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, Japanese, Chinese) are a fast and effective way to learn a foreign language for up to 8 hours a week – a total of 24 hours of formal instruction and cultural orientation. (See the Schedule of Classes)