Integration Institute: Immigrant-Native Alliances

MIRA will explore opportunities to create alliances within high schools in Chelsea, Lynn, Boston that bring together immigrant students and allies, paralleling the concept of interfaith initiatives and Gay-Straight Alliances. This strategy will not only aim to impact public opinion long-term, but will expose immigrant students and families to mainstream resources, and offer an inroad to developing campaigns in support of increased access to higher education for immigrants.

Conducting outreach and engaging the education community is key to integration, as so many immigrant students, especially those in low-income communities, face common and complex obstacles, such as the inability of parents with limited English to interact with the education system and play a role their children's success, and general misinformation about immigrant access to higher education. The Institute will provide trainings for parents, students, guidance counselors and community groups in Chelsea, Boston and Lynn to help equip youth and their allies to overcome barriers to higher education, and will conduct outreach and education to college guidance and admissions counselors to engage them as allies and try to diffuse any prejudices.

The Institute will also compile a manual of information on policies at private and public colleges regarding immigrant students of all statuses, as well as information on federal and state policies that affect immigrants' access to higher education, and scholarship and lending information to assist students, parents, guidance counselors.