The Challenge
Newcomer immigrant youth are at increased risk for educational disengagement, and they struggle when local educational and community systems fail to address their complex needs. Obstacles to engagement include a history of disrupted education before arrival in the U.S., language barriers, a lack of reliable adult support in the home, and other compounding psychosocial stressors. Yet programs for newcomer youth often focus exclusively on academics, without broader socio-emotional supports.
The Project
Through this Emerging Leader Fellowship, Julie Whalen McIntyre will work with La Puerta Abierta to expand community services supporting newcomer immigrant students in Philadelphia to strengthen their engagement in school and community life.
Specifically, this Fellowship will enable Julie to:
- Conduct information gathering on the current educational approaches to supporting newcomer immigrant students, including mobilizing a cohort of youth and other key stakeholders who will help guide the process of outreach and engagement.
- Improve supports for newcomer immigrant youth by conducting trainings and introducing new models of school- and community-based services in partnership with local stakeholders.
