Salem Immigration And Education Center Opens At Shetland Park

SALEM, MA — Salem's Shetland Park is the new home to an Immigration and Education Center that will offer English and citizenship classes to immigrants and organize cultural events and programs that help educate the public on the diversity and contributions of the city's immigrant population.

The House of the Seven Gables Settlement Association will operate the space funded through a 10-year Cummings Foundation grant.

Executive Director Dakota Russell said that the new space and services honor the life and vision of Patricia Fae Ho, past president of The Gables, who died in September.

"Patricia often spoke to me about the need in Salem for a resource center for immigrant communities, where local people could get both education and assistance in navigating the complex process of immigration and naturalization," Russell said. "By opening this space, we are taking the first steps in that direction.

"I am sad she cannot be here for this occasion, but I am proud to dedicate this space in her memory."

The Gables is best known as a museum and historic site, but founder Caroline Emmerton was equally concerned with helping new immigrants to America in the early 20th century.

Services to be provided at the new center were previously offered at donated space at the Peabody Essex Museum and the North Shore Development Coalition.

Settlement Program Manager Ellen Berry said the new space provides stability for the program.

"Having dedicated space allows us to focus on our services," Berry said. "It also will allow us to answer other needs of the community, such as financial and computer literacy programming."

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at the new space at 27 Congress Street on Nov. 26 at 3:30 p.m.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)