Youth Leadership
Our Youth Programs
Our Youth Leadership programs focus on helping young people from immigrant families reach their full potential. We provide academic enrichment, support for youth preparing to enter college or the work force, and hands-on civic engagement projects on community issues of concern to immigrant youth.
Liaison Interpreter Program of Somerville (LIPS)
Trains bilingual Somerville teens to assist with language interpretation at community events and meetings.
Summer Camp
Our camp program that provides the opportunity for youth to cultivate long-lasting relationships with their peers and explore other cultures.
College and Career Readiness Program
Offers workshops and programs for immigrant parents and families focusing on supporting children in the US educational system, especially on making decisions on post-High School life.
Liaison Interpreter Program of Somerville (LIPS)
By focusing LIPS services on community issues, we provide a natural bridge between skill-building for career advancement and knowledge-building and leadership development for effective community engagement.
Immigrant youth traditionally wrestle with the culture of their home country and new country. Adapting can be challenging to immigrant youth when English is not their first language. As a result, learning English becomes a serious barrier for accessing basic needs such as health, housing and educational services. Still, despite the obvious barriers immigrant youth play pivotal role in their families and communities as interpreters/translators, mediators and leaders across all industries.
LIPS is our cornerstone program that provides a unique paid opportunity for bilingual high school students. Students will learn sought-after interpreter/translator skills and apply them at various events throughout the city. These have included:
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Environmental Impact Workshops
College information sessions
Know Your Rights
We believe in building pipelines to careers! After our youth turn 18, they have a pathway to certifications across all industries as professional interpreters/translators. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics professional interpreters/translators on average can earn 46K, and even upwards 83K salaries.
For more information: contact Smirline Jacques at smirline@welcomeproject.org
Striving for Inclusivity, One Interpretation at a Time (Scout Somerville)
May 2018
Youth Interpreter First in Her Family to Go to College (Somerville Patch)
May 2011
LIPS Youth Use Their Bilingual Skills to Empower Community
October 2010
Finding the Power of Words, (Boston Globe)
August 2010
Five Somerville youth certified as co-investigators for community-based research project
August 2010
News and Notes
Summer Camp
Our summer programs bring together youth from immigrant families to explore their cultural backgrounds through art projects, field trips, storytelling, and photography.
In July 2012 we ran our first two-week day camp for children ages 9-12. Nine campers from Haiti, Guatemala, Brazil, Puerto Rico and Guyana came together to create photography, cooking, and art projects. Campers learned about their families' backgrounds and to share their cultures and stories with each other.
College and Career Readiness Program
The College and Career Readiness Program is designed to help students with post-high school planning. We have workshops, one-on-one sessions, and college visits.
To sign up for our newsletter and/or hear more about our program, email Sara Lodgen at college@welcomeproject.org.
You can also call 617-623-6633.
