Malden Nonprofit Wins National Library Of Congress Award

MALDEN, MA — The Immigrant Learning Center in Malden was one of five organizations honored by the Library of Congress for working to expand literacy and promote reading. The awards, established in 2013, honor organizations doing "exemplary, innovative and replicable work."

The Immigrant Learning Center received the American Prize of $50,000. There was also an international winner and prizes for exemplary work in responding to the COVID-19 crisis.

"The Immigrant Learning Center addresses the needs of low-income immigrants and refugee adults in the greater Boston area," a statement on the Library of Congress website reads. "Begun in 1992, the center serves 425 students at any given time, over 800 annually, with a waitlist of 700. The center provides English for Speakers of Other Languages classes emphasizing a range of literacy skills (including civic and financial) along with language proficiency. They also help immigrants learn how to navigate American educational, business and general social systems."

Since its inception, the center has served more than 10,500 immigrants from 92 Massachusetts communities. The staff consists of 32 teachers and 60 volunteers. Programs are year-round and free of charge.

"Literacy powers the pursuit of learning, knowledge and opportunity around the world, and now we are challenged to find new ways to teach and learn due to the COVID-19 pandemic," Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden said in a statement. "The Library of Congress is proud to work with David Rubenstein in honoring the innovative achievements of these organizations in advancing reading in the United States and worldwide."