Our Mission: IHELP empowers immigrant families by providing individualized, in-home English language education and tools for effective navigation of our community.

Our Vision: A diverse and inclusive community where all immigrants are empowered through language.

IHELP connects volunteer teachers with immigrant and refugee learners in our community to develop English and Community Navigation. Along the way, our teachers and students create new friendships and learn about each other.

Individual Benefit

Because we work with such a diverse group of students, the impact can only be defined from each student’s starting point. Individualized lessons allow us to work with the particular challenges and needs that students face.

Main Goal

IHELP focuses on equipping students to function with increased confidence and independence, handle emergency and medical situations, gain financial literacy, and other practical living skills. Curriculum and study for the U.S. Citizenship Exam is also provided.

Core Values

Equity: We foster conditions for equity by increasing the agency of English language learners.

Community: Everyone benefits from uniting those who are well-established in the community with those who are longing to more fully participate.

Growth: We celebrate the strength and resilience of our community members and provide opportunities to question, learn, develop skills, and build confidence as they work towards their personal goals.

Connection: We dismantle societal barriers through personal relationships. We are dedicated to building mutually beneficial partnerships with like-minded organizations and individuals.

Lifelong Learning and Cultural Humility: There are many complex issues of racial, economic and cultural justice and they affect each of us differently. We have much to learn and are committed to ongoing growth and understanding. Like our students, who engage with a desire and willingness to learn, we will remain open-minded, humble, and reflective with our education. We commit to put gained knowledge into action for increased justice and equity in our work and within our shared world community.

The purpose of and motivation behind our work is to foster the conditions for learning, agency, and self-determination for those who desire to engage in program. We strive to provide this partnership with students while fully hearing their voices, respecting their cultures, and being flexible to their individual needs and goals. We commit to help students gain knowledge and empowerment without erasing their identities, forcing acculturation, or assuming any form of superiority/supremacy to their personhood.