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 To
build a strong multicultural community in the Mystic
Public Housing Development by:
diminishing racism
empowering the refugee and immigrant communities
creating opportunities for residents of diverse backgrounds
to work together to improve the living conditions at
Mystic.
What Do We Do?
The Welcome Project is comprised of five components:
community organizing
education
youth development
economic literacy
economic justice advocacy
To facilitate learning bilingual staff and volunteers
conduct many of the programs in participants native
language.
The Community Organizing components
strives to develop mutual support and leadership among
residents
in order
to improve living conditions. The Development Improvement
Task Force, Vietnamese, Haitian, and Latina women's
group, and the community garden are all part of
community organizing.
The Education component is key
to the Welcome Project success. For tenants who face
barriers due to language
and wish to improve their English, the Welcome
Project offers English
as a Second Language class.
Students
increase their proficiency in English by discussing
community
concerns and issues in class. Tenants who would
like to become U.S. citizens are encouraged to
take civics
classes at the Welcome Project to help them meet
the requirements for citizenship while giving
them an understanding
of their local political system and their role
in it.
The Youth Development component works with Mystic
youth (6-16) providing support for teens and homework
help
for children. Teens are provided with the support
and skills they need to lead healthy, productive
and satisfying
lives. Through peer leadership training the Welcome
Project encourages self awareness, cultural pride,
self esteem,
community involvement and academic success. In
addition, the organization provides opportunities for
youth
to develop skills in conflict resolution, decision
making
and leadership.
The Economic Literacy components
lends assistance to Mystic residents striving to
raise their standards
of living through education and employment. Program
activities
include job search group, career presentations,
and community workshops on topics such as gaining credit,
home buying,
or starting a small business.
The Economic
Justice Advocacy components assists
residents in accessing services and benefits.
Each year the Welcome
Project advocates for more than 200 families. Through
this effort, the Welcome Project is able to identify
systematic barriers to access and engage the appropriate
policy makers in efforts to eliminate barriers.
For more information, visit the Welcome Project website
at:
www.welcomeproject.org
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