Immigrant Pathways Colorado partners with other programs in the Metro area that support immigrants and refugees, such as the Spring International Language Center, Spring Institute for Intercultural Learning, and Emily Griffith Technical College.
One Immigrant at a Time:
The second program area is Immigrant Pathway Colorado’s major program at its One-Immigrant-at-a-Time (OIAT) Program. The program provides small self-development grants to documented, low-income immigrants and refugees from across the Metro area. Since its founding in 2009, Immigrant Pathways Colorado has provided more than $56,000 in grants to immigrants from 25 countries: Afghanistan, Bolivia, Bulgaria, China, Democratic Republic of Congo, El Salvador, Ethiopia, France, Ghana, India, Iran, Iraq, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Peru, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, Vietnam, and 10 additional countries. The grants have been for citizenship, “green card” application, learning English, professional certification, GED preparation, tools for work, travel to medical internship interviews, and more.
The OIAT has an application form that must be filled out and submitted by a qualified referral professional. Click on the link below to view the Application for Funds.
Immigrant Pathways Colorado – application for grant funding
Colorado Scholarships:
In 2017, IPC began making available scholarships for immigrants and refugees at Arapahoe Community College. Since then, IPC has facilitated almost $20,000 in scholarships for newcomers studying nursing, computer science, information technology, engineering, child development and many other specialties. Meet a few of our scholars:
Vietnam: One scholarship winner was a single mother from Vietnam who came to the U.S. without speaking English. Following the birth of her daughter in 2015, she began to focus on her dream of becoming a pharmacist. Today she works in a retail pharmacy store while also taking classes at ACC.
Philippines: Another scholarship went to a young man from the Philippines who is pursuing a nursing degree. He also works while attending ACC. His work is as a nursing assistant in a long-term care facility. He loves the people he cares for, saying, “I am here for them in every moment. They might just need a heart that listens to the times they are confused and disoriented. Maybe a heart that encourages when they are dismayed. A heart that celebrates in their triumphs. And always a heart that will demonstrate the love that they deserve.”
France: Another scholarship winner, who comes from France, plans to become a pediatric nurse. A single mom with an eight-year-old daughter, she is proud that she has earned her citizenship. She says, “My daughter has already seen me accomplish so much, such as my citizenship and raising her on my own, and I do believe that she is proud of her mom. I love that feeling. But, I mostly want her to understand the importance of a college education, and what better way to show it to her myself by earning a college degree, right now?”
Mexico: Another scholarship was awarded to a young man from Mexico who is the first in his family to go to college. Brought to the U.S. as a child, he went on to earn a 3.1 grade point average in high school and wants to be a mechanical engineer.
We wish each of these scholarship winners good luck as they pursue their dreams!
International Conversation Circle:
Immigrant Pathways Colorado also supports a Conversation Circle, held regularly at Bemis Public Library in Littleton. Conversation Circle encourages immigrants and refugees to learn about American culture, exchange experiences, learn about resources, socialize and practice their English with community members and each other in an informal setting. Circles are held on the main floor of the Bemis Public Library, 6014 S. Datura St., Littleton, CO 80120, every Wednesday of each month, from 12:30 to 2 p.m.
For more information, email Mika Farer (mikafarer@aol.com) or call 303-522-7721.
Contact us for more information.
“I want to thank you so much for the help you gave me. Thank you for helping me realise a dream that is so important to me and my life. This was a grand step in my being able to become a US citizen. I am going to feel much more sure and safe once I am a citizen. My next step after this is to continue studying the English language so that I may help my kids with their homework, so that I may better feel like a part of society, and so that I may feel surer of myself. Thank you again for the opportunity, God will repay you.” ~ Diana from Mexico