At Martinez Immigration Law we know that immigrant families face challenges beyond legal status. Employment and financial struggles, language barriers, new schools, and cultural obstacles are just a few of the concerns our clients deal with every day. Fortunately, there are several organizations here in Louisville that are dedicated to helping immigrant families thrive here in the United States. Here are three we support and refer our clients to. They do incredible work in the community and are run by people who sincerely want to help immigrants succeed.
Americana World Community Center
1. Americana World Community Center
4801 Southside Drive
Louisville, KY 40214
(502) 366-7813
Americana World Community Center provides services to immigrants, refugees, and low-income individuals in Louisville. What we find so impressive about Americana is the span of its programs. They partner with Jefferson County Public Schools to offer GED classes, ESL and computer classes, as well as Compass college prep courses and an Adult Basic Education (ABE) course. They also hold an expansive afterschool and summer programs for kids, family coaching, tax assistance, prenatal classes, a fiberworks group, and career mentoring—just to name a few of their offerings. All of the staff we’ve encountered at Americana are genuinely devoted to the immigrant community, including Executive Director, Edgardo Mansilla, Director of Development, Antigona Mehani, and Programs Director, Emilie Dyer. It’s clear when you walk through the doors of the facility that they care about the success of each person they encounter.
223 East Magnolia Avenue
Louisville KY, 40208
(502) 332-4036
La Casita Center specifically supports the Latinx community, emphasizing
education, empowerment, advocacy and wellness. What we love about La Casita
Center is that they provide both temporary relief for those in crisis (lunch
and clothing) and ongoing help for immigrants (Spanish literacy classes and
kindergarten readiness classes). Staff is warm and welcoming, providing a safe
environment specifically for those in distress—physical, mental, emotional,
financial, or otherwise. Their hours are in the middle of the day and only four
days a week, so make sure you check their website before visiting.
Based out of:
Southeast YMCA
5930 Six Mile Ln
Louisville KY 40218
Located at:
Newcomer Academy
3741 Pulliam Drive
Louisville KY 40218
From their website:
The YMCA Newcomer Program is an after school academic and sports
program for middle and high school students attending the Newcomer Academy. The
primary focus of the program is to create a welcoming, educational environment
for immigrant and refugee children new to the United States. Through sports,
especially soccer, students in the program work together to develop emotional,
academic and social skills necessary for everyday life situations.
After school each day, students work together in small group classes
to complete homework and receive academic support in English, Reading and Math.
Coaches work with the students to develop short and long term goals to achieve
academic success while preparing students for life after high school.
Our participants play on organized youth sports teams and
participate in clubs. Boys participate in the Newcomer Academy middle and high
school soccer teams, and girls participate in the YMCA Girls International
Club. The middle school soccer team competes in the Jefferson County Public
Schools Soccer League, competing against other middle school varsity soccer
teams and the high school soccer team plays games with other local soccer teams
throughout the community. The YMCA Girls International Club started their
season with dance, and they will soon continue with volleyball, basketball and
the arts.
We believe in the Newcomer Academy’s mission, that as
immigrant teens succeed in school and build confidence through sports, they’ll
carry that success with them throughout their lives.