LIBERTYS PROMISE INC

What is the mission of Liberty’s Promise (LP)?

We support young immigrants in need while encouraging them to be active and conscientious American citizens. Our programs aim to make the immigrant experience an affirmative one for young newcomers while instilling in them a sense of pride and support for American ideals of democracy and freedom. By doing so, Liberty’s Promise seeks to reaffirm our fundamental egalitarian and democratic traditions for future generations.

How many immigrant youth has LP served?

To date, we've served 1,570 immigrant youth representing 95 countries.

Where does LP work?

• City of Alexandria, VA
• Montgomery County, MD
• Prince George’s County, MD
• Fairfax County, VA

What does LP do?

• Civics and Citizenship – This is our largest program and serves at least 320 immigrant youth annually in the DC Metro Area. The program is held after-school in EIGHT locations across the region. Immigrant youth meet their elected officials, community members, and successful immigrants, and they take field trips to community and civic locations, such as fire and police stations, City Halls, local courthouses, the Supreme Court, and Capitol Hill. The goal of the program is for youth to become civically engaged in their community, realizing they have an important role to play in our community. The program increases youths’ school attendance, engagement, and self-esteem. This program is completely free for youth, and LP provides a meal for youth at each session and covers their transportation expenses. Since 2005, we have served 1,296 immigrant youth through this program.

• Opportunities Plus – This program places low-income, documented, immigrant youth, ages 15-21, in eight- or ten-week unpaid internships with local businesses, government agencies, and nonprofits. Prior to their internship placements, youth participate in a four-hour job skills workshop, where they develop a cover letter, resume, and interview skills. LP provides participants with a modest allowance to cover their food and transportation costs for the unpaid internship. Youth have interned at such organizations as the Doctor’s Community Hospital, Gilchrist Center, Empowered Women International, Fairfax County Library, the Northern Virginia Area Health Education Center, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. To date, 205 youth have gained professional skills, workplace knowledge, and confidence in their abilities through this program.

• Anything & Everything! We help our participants, and by extension their families, with literally anything and everything they need. We connect them to job opportunities, youth leadership programs, scholarship programs, financial aid programs, housing, legal, or tutoring services, volunteer opportunities and on and on. Whatever they need or request, we help find the answer for them, walking them through the system and giving them the reins to maneuver on their own. In this capacity, we’ve provided an additional 628 services in just three years alone.

What are LP's outcomes?

• 77.5% of youth who started the after-school program, completed it (2011)
• 62.3% of youth improved their civic knowledge (Spring 2011)
• 97% of all youth who started their internships, completed it (52.8% had never written a resume).
• In 2011, 22 past participants received scholarships through LP to pursue post-secondary education

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