Immigrants make up a big part of Malden and the United States. In fact, Malden High School is considered the most diverse school in Massachusetts.
Right here in our city is the Immigration Learning Center (ILC), founded in 1992 by Diane Portnoy. Portnoy is an immigrant who immigrated to the United States with her parents after surviving the Holocaust.
Portnoy and her family experienced difficulties and “ethnic harassment” when they came to the US. Shortly later, she founded the Immigration Learning Center so others who faced the same dilemma had a place to get the help and resources they needed.
Some programs the ILC offers are the English Learning Program, Public Education Institute, and Institute for Immigration Research.
The Learning Center first held its first annual essay writing competition in 2022. Only students from the MHS may participate and could only submit one essay. Their entry must be sponsored by an adult, who could be a staff member from MHS, a parent, or a guardian. Prices were awarded to first, second, and third-place winners.
The topic for the contest was “How Malden Benefits from Immigration.” Participants were able to write a personal narrative, a historical essay, their family’s immigration story, or other ideas they may have.
Winners in 2022 were first place Dina Genene, second place Julie Huynh, third place Michelle Dang and honorable mentions to Linh Le, Saad Mecbah, and Hadjar Yousfi.
This year, the same rules are in effect, but some differences were the contest is now open to students from Everett High and Medford High. Additionally, it was expanded to five winners. The topic is “How My Community Benefits from Immigration.” Their essays will also be published on the website. Previous winners are not eligible to enter.
Currently, submissions are open on their website. The deadline for submission is April 24th, 2023, at 6:00 PM EST. After the essays are judged, winners will be notified around May 8th and invited to the ceremony on May 22nd, 2023, a Monday, at 12:00 PM EST, at the Immigrant Learning Center.
Source: https://7gables.org/2020/01/29/diane-portnoy-tells-a-compelling-story-of-how-and-why-she-founded-the-immigrant-learning-center/
