In the past year, attacks against the immigrant community created a climate of fear and despair. The global pandemic stripped away threadbare economic safeguards, with many immigrants losing their jobs in the service and food sectors. As the demand for police reform and racial justice echoed around the world, the deep-rooted divides across race and ethnicity in this country were once again publicly displayed.
In this environment, Riverside focused on strengthening and empowering its immigrant community. Students in all five of our class levels received training in workforce readiness. We held workshops and presentations on resume writing and interview skills, know-your-rights, financial literacy, and health insurance access. To re-engage former students and support their ongoing needs, we launched the Riverside Alumni Network.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we shifted to online services and held all classes remotely. To provide a lifeline for students and alums devastated by the economic impact of the pandemic, we established a Relief Fund that raised $55,000 for emergency grants from our community of supporters, including a grant from The Robin Hood Foundation.
In celebration of Immigrant Heritage Month, we held a virtual International Food Festival with over 100 participants. The event showcased the skills and creativity of our students and alums and created a space for our community to come together. Riverside also welcomed new volunteers to our language labs and expanded the program into the summer to continue to build student confidence and strengthen learning. In total, our volunteers dedicated over 8,000 hours to Riverside, and we are so grateful to them!
To say that it has been quite the year is an understatement. I am incredibly proud of the collective work our community has done to build up and support newly arrived immigrants and each other.
I wish you all a wonderful summer and look forward to seeing you in the fall.
Warmly,
Berta Colón
Executive Director
Riverside Language Program, Inc.