Celebrating Immigrant Heritage Month at the Y

June is Immigrant Heritage Month. The Greater Scranton YMCA is celebrating the YMCA’s long history of helping immigrants integrate into new communities and preparing receiving communities to welcome all.

English as a Second Language (ESL)

The Y was the first organization in the U.S. to offer English as a Second Language (ESL) classes to immigrants. We believe that communities are strongest when everyone has an opportunity to contribute and work together on a shared vision for the future.

Ellis Island and Angel Island

Did you know that in the late 1800s, Y immigration secretaries greeted hundreds of thousands of new arrivals at Ellis Island (New York) and Angel Island (San Francisco), helping them locate family members, housing and employment? During Immigrant Heritage Month, we celebrate the Y’s history of helping immigrants and their receiving communities join together to create environments where all can thrive.

Adult Night Classes

In the early 1900s, the YMCA of Greater New York introduced adult night classes to new immigrants. Today, Ys across the country continue to offer adult education programs and connect immigrants to their communities through New American Welcome Centers and more.