Students from our English classes at a rally for immigrant rights.



The Welcome Project builds the collective power of Somerville immigrants to participate in and shape community decisions. We do this through programs that strengthen the capacity of immigrant youth, adults and families to advocate for themselves and influence schools, government, and other institutions.

We are based at the Mystic Public Housing Development, and we work with immigrants throughout the city. Our efforts combine services and civic engagement -- from our interpreter training program for bilingual youth (Liaison Interpreter Program of Somerville or LIPS) to English Classes that teach vocabulary and ways to connect to the community to our Youth Digital Storytelling program. Explore these pages to learn more.
 

 

News & Notes

  • East Somerville Community School PTA Receives first Intercultural City Award
    Apr 26, 2013

    The East Somerville Community School PTA received The Welcome Project's first-ever Intercultural City Award on April 25 at the annual YUM: A Taste of Immigrant City event. The award highlighted an event where more than 250 people celebrated the city's growing intercultural identity. Eleven immigrant-run Somerville restaurants served tastings of  Ethiopian, Turkish, Mexican, Indian, Nepali, Mediterranean, Brazilian, Portuguese, and Italian cuisine.

    Read the full update
  • Toussaint Louverture
    Haitian Revolution Larger Than Life in Somerville
    Apr 2, 2013
    On Tuesday, April 9, Haitian revolutionary hero Toussaint Louverture will be larger than life in the form of a giant puppet, appearing in Somerville as part of a special community workshop presented by The Underground Railway Theater at The Mystic Activity Center.  US history books do not always include the role that the Haitian Revolution of 1804 played in the US antislavery movement and the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation. 
    Read the full update
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    Parenting in America: Strong Parents, Stronger Families
    Apr 2, 2013
    When Gretty Leal tells her daughter to keep her opinions to herself, she gets a cold response.  "This is a free country," argues her daughter, who is told by her teachers that all opinions are valued.  In Venezuela, where Leal grew up, children are not allowed to give their opinions, both at home and at school.  It is difficult for Leal's daughter to respect that. In America, "it can be hard for children because they are receiving one message at school and another message at home," says Leal.  

    This is just one of the many challenges facing immigrant parents when they combine the traditions of their home country with the parenting styles of a new environment.
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