Organization Name: Global Institute of Lansing
Organization Overview: EDUCATING AND GRADUATING THE CULTURES OF LANSING
The mission of GIL is to provide appropriate educational options for refugee and immigrant youth to complete high school and earn a diploma in an atmosphere of peace, respect encouragement and inspiration.
Many refugee youth who come to Lansing arrive in their late teenage years and they most often do not have enough time to earn all of the credits needed to graduate, often regardless of educational history or even English language fluency (although these are additional challenges to many refugee youth). To earn a high school diploma in Michigan students need to earn at least 48 academic credits, usually 12 credits per year or 6 credits per semester. Refugees who arrive at the age of 16 or above do not have enough time to earn these credits. English as a Second Language (ESL) classes do not count towards their academic requirements. Students are forced to leave public school at the age of 20, with or without a diploma.
The GIL founders saw first-hand the negative impact of the lack of graduation possibilities on the individual students and forecasted the overall negative impact on the struggling Lansing economy. The GIL is the only organization of its kind in this area and the only viable access these students have to obtain diplomas. Although some GED programs exist, the GED tests tend to be insurmountable for English Language Learners (ELL). The GIL classrooms offer a positive educational environment where English can be practiced and learned while the other academic subject areas are mastered.
The GIL takes refugee students after they have "aged-out" of high school and enrolls them in an accredited correspondence course, where they receive a diploma from James Madison High School (http://www.ashworthcollege.edu/programs/high-school/general-online/). Volunteer teachers and tutors help students with English and cultural comprehension to understand and accomplish the course work. The two primary supervisory teachers have life-time teaching certificates in the state of Michigan and the Director (also a volunteer) is a certified educational administrator with K-12 Michigan Teaching Certification.
The GIL’s overall purpose is to allow as many people as possible the opportunity to work for and achieve a high school diploma. With recent educational changes such as "No child left behind" and the new Michigan Merit Curriculum, and the new refugee populations arriving with less education and less English, high school graduations of refugees are becoming more infrequent. While students can attend high school in Michigan until age 20, newly arrived refugees are usually unable to earn enough credits for a high school diploma by the time they "age out." In the current economy, particularly in Michigan, it is nearly impossible to get any kind of job without a high school diploma.
GIL offers day classes for refugees. The classes are held at the First Presbyterian Church of Lansing and meet Monday through Wednesday from 10:00am to 2:00pm, Thursday from 11:00am to 2:00pm, and Friday from 9:00am to 12:00pm. The classes are taught by a group of volunteer teachers. Once students are enrolled in GIL, they are then enrolled in an accredited on-line high school completion program and placed in a classroom with volunteer teachers to assist them through the program. After passing through each of the required 24 courses, the students receive an accredited high school diploma. If a student has attended high school in the United States prior to enrolling in GIL, it is possible that some of the credits they earned previously will transfer and count towards the 24 credits required in our program.
Language: English
Cultures: All,Refugees or Asylees
Street: 510 W. Ottawa Street
City/Township: Lansing
State: MI
Zip Code: 48933
Country: USA
Phone: (517) 488-5342
Organization Name: Global Talent Bridge
Organization Overview: Global Talent Bridge is dedicated to helping skilled immigrants overcome the barriers that keep them from fully utilizing their talents and education in the United States. We join with institutional partners and community-based organizations to help skilled immigrants leverage their training, achieve their career and professional goals, and contribute their talents to their full potential.
A Strong Foundation
Global Talent Bridge grew out of World Education Services' 35-year history of validating and analyzing the academic credentials of immigrants trained abroad. Inspired by its clients' vast talents, this initiative was launched to empower skilled immigrants and maximize their contributions to their new communities and the nation's economy.
Areas of activity include:
• Professional development activities, including staff training and other forms of technical assistance, for community organizations, government agencies and employers
• Direct outreach to skilled immigrants, including seminars and comprehensive online resources
• Research studies, publications and resource development
• Policy advocacy at the local, state and national level.
Language: English
Cultures: All,International Students
Street: 1 Battery Park Plaza
City/Township: New York, NY
State: New York
Zip Code: 10004
Country: USA
Phone: (212)
Website: http://www.globaltalentbridge.org/
Organization Name: Global Talent Retention Initiative
Organization Overview: GTRI focuses on strengthening and diversifying the state's economy through the retention of top international talent. By retaining international students, GTRI is a catalyst to lessening the skills gap in the STEM fields especially, and cultivating a climate in which Michigan businesses can be competitive in the new economy. GTRI collaborates with the Governor's office, the Office for New Americans, Global Detroit, over 30 Michigan Universities, the University Research Corridor (URC), the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Michigan's economic development agencies, ethnic chambers, professional organizations, and employers throughout the state.
GTRI is funded by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the New Economy Initiative (NEI), and is housed in partnership with Prima Civitas.
GTRI was originally formed as a result of the Global Detroit Study about the impact of immigrant talent on the region’s economy. Studies have shown that immigrants disproportionately contribute to economic growth, employment, and wage gains. In addition, more than 50% of PhDs and sometimes as much as 40% of master’s degrees in the STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics) are awarded each year in the U.S. to international students. Since IT and engineering are the fastest growing industries, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find qualified candidates for high level tech positions if international students are not considered as part of an employer’s applicant pool.
Language: English
Cultures: International Students
Street: 4444 Second Ave.
City/Township: Detroit
State: MI
Zip Code: 48801
Country: USA
Phone: (313) 687-4674
Email: info@migtri.org
Website: http://www.migtri.org
Organization Name: Global Ties Detroit (GTD)
Organization Overview: Global Ties Detroit (formerly International Visitors Council of Metropolitan Detroit) is a nonprofit organization that administers international exchange programs on behalf of the U.S. Department of State & United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
Language: Arabic,English,French,Russian
Cultures: All,American,Multicultural
Street: 111 E. Kirby
City/Township: Detroit
State: MI
Zip Code: 48202
Country: USA
Phone: (313) 638-1626
Email: mail@globaltiesdetroit.org
Website: http://www.globaltiesdetroit.org/
Organization Name: Global Youth for Education & Change (GYEC)
Organization Overview: Creating Global Citizens at Home & Abroad
Mission Statement
To improve the well-being of disadvantaged people through design
Description
We do this by:
Transforming college-aged youth into global, grassroots designers and agents of change
Developing resilient people, impactful organizations, and united communities by design
Language: English
Cultures: Kenyan,South African
Street: 348 COWLEY AVE
City/Township: East Lansing
State: MI
Zip Code: 48823
Country: USA
Phone: 517) 614-7325
Email: pbrown@gyec.org
Website: http://www.gyec.org
Organization Name: Goodwill Industries of Southwestern Michigan
Organization Overview: Goodwill Industries of Southwestern Michigan provides employment, education, training, and support services to individuals and families so they can achieve self-sufficiency. Serving southwest Michigan including Allegan, Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Van Buren counties, and the cities of Kalamazoo, Portage, Allegan, Benton Harbor, Bridgman, Mattawan, New Buffalo, Niles, Otsego, Paw Paw, Plainwell, Richland, Saugatuck, South Haven, Stevensville, Sturgis, Three Rivers, and Wayland.
Language: English
Cultures: All
Street: 420 E. Alcott
City/Township: Kalamazoo
State: MI
Zip Code: 49001
Country: USA
Phone: (269) 382-0490
Website: http://www.goodwillswmi.org/
Organization Name: Grand Rapids African AMerican Health Institute
Organization Overview: The Grand Rapids African American Health Institute (GRAAHI) is an independent, not-for-profit 501(c)(3)
organization that is funded by numerous entities that are equally committed to its mission.
Our Mission
To promote health care parity in the Grand Rapids African American community through advocacy, education and research to achieve positive health outcomes.
Our Vision
To ensure that all West Michigan residents will have optimal health care and benefit from health systems without race being an impediment.
GRAAHI is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization
Our Values
Excellence: exceeding expectations…transforming lives.
“Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way.”
-Booker T. Washington
Through programing such as Real Women Real Change, we are redefining the way health education is delivered in urban communities. Women enter wanting to make health related changes and leave forever transformed.
“Real Women Real Change made a significant impact in my life. The program helped me realize that a lifestyle change was possible, and gave me the courage to face the challenge head on. During the 10 week course I was able to eliminate one blood pressure medication, and increased my exercise from 15 minutes to 45 minutes daily. Since my graduation in 2013 I have continued to make strides. I have lost a total of 6 dress sizes for a total weight to date of 38 lbs., and I’m happy to report that I am under 200 lbs. for the first time in 10 years. Thank you Real Women Real Change and GRAAHI!”
-Shelley Lyle, 2013 Participant
As we continue our quest for excellence the upcoming years will mark expansion for the program. In the summer of 2014 a pilot program for women 30-39 years of age will be available, drawing inspiration from the use of hip hop and other aspects of urban culture to highlight the importance of preventive health behaviors. In 2015, the traditional program will be expanded to target multicultural and Hispanic populations.
Our goal is simple- to exceed your expectations!
Integrity: Trust is earned. Respect is appreciated. We are intentional about transparency and work diligently to earn the trust and respect of community and systems.
“The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.”
-Bob Marley
We are honest about our intentions and keep the organizational mission, goals and values at the forefront of our work. Our integrity and commitments to change are evident in our community endeavors, namely our Strong Fathers program. As a partner in the Strong Beginnings collaborative, GRAAHI is committed to connecting fathers with their children. Strong Fathers is designed to assist men in raising healthy children and actively supporting their families. The program consists of home visits, the Dads All Day small group, Barbershop Talk, and various celebratory events throughout the year.
Innovation: Understanding that we cannot create new solutions using old tools, we bring creativity and vigor to the work we do. Our constant quest is for cutting edge solutions to the health and health care needs of African Americans and others residing in the urban core.
“We cannot solve a problem by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created it.”
-Albert Einstein
The Grand Rapids African American Health Institute leads the way in many of its efforts. This year marks the 6th Rhythm Run, one of the first predominately African American races in the country. Since its inception, the race has been expanding to include a community fun day with health related vendors, a farmers market, health screenings, kids games and healthy refreshments. GRAAHI is working to expand the rhythm run brand, and will partner with groups in Flint to launch a satellite run in 2014.
The formulary tool is yet another example of the innovation in action. First released in 2009, the tool provided consumer level information on drug availability by plan. The tool is currently under construction, with a new site slated for release in 2015. The newly revamped site will be user friendly, and offer information and education on diabetes and cardiovascular disease. With so many individuals and families selecting their own health plan as a result of the ACA, we feel that this information is needed and welcomed. The adoption of the Affordable Care Act has increased the number of individuals searching independently for health insurance. Therefore, this tool will definitely assist in helping families make informed decisions.
Leadership: Leadership is everyone’s business. The path ahead will not be easy, but together we will accomplish extraordinary things.
GRAAHI will walk along side its partners to promote equity in health and health care and those social factors that determine health.
Through efforts such as the newly designed GVSU urban health studies concentration and the TEAMM minority mentee program, GRAAHI is working collaboratively with GVSU to ensure that students are ready and equipped to meet the needs of a diverse population upon graduation.
The partnership with the Urban Core Collective, one of the first of its kind in the nation, is working to improve black/brown relationships, foster the training of indigenous leaders, and reintroduce the Urban Core as a desired place to live. As a core agency, GRAAHI has been instrumental in the startup and continued success of this impactful group.
Language: English
Cultures: African-American
Street: 515 Michigan St. N.E, Suite 102
City/Township: Grand Rapids
State: MI
Zip Code: 49503
Country: USA
Phone: (616) 331-5831
Fax No: (616) 331-5839
Email: info@graahi.org
Website: http://www.graahi.org/Default.aspx
Organization Name: Grad Valley State University International Student Office (GVSU)
Organization Overview: Welcome
Grand Valley State University is home to almost 400 F-1 and J-1 international students. Our office advocates for international students on campus and serves as a primary resource for legal, cultural, and social matters for international students. We work closely with many offices across campus, as well as organizations in our community to help international students feel at home and connected with community.
Language: English
Cultures: All,International Students,Multicultural
Street: Room 130, Lake Ontario Hall, 1 Campus Drive
City/Township: Allendale
State: MI
Zip Code: 49401
Country: USA
Phone: (616) 331-3898
Email: studyabroad@gvsu.edu
Website: http://www.gvsu.edu/istudents/
Organization Name: Greater Detroit Center for Working Families-SER Metro
Organization Overview: The Center for Working Families is an exciting approach that for low-income families so they can achieve greater economic success.
Language: English,Spanish
Cultures: All,American,Hispanic
Street: 9215 Michigan Ave.
City/Township: Detroit
State: Michigan
Zip Code: 48210
Country: USA
Phone: (313) 945-5200
Organization Name: Greater Detroit Centers for Working Families - Southwest
Organization Overview: Our Center for Working Families (CWF) is based on a promising national concept and is designed to help low-income families reach financial stability, access income supports, develop educational and employment opportunities, build wealth, and move up the economic ladder. To participate in the program, eligible families and individuals must commit for at least three months. Participants are assisted by a financial coach, workforce development coach and benefits coach.
Language: English,Spanish
Cultures: All,American,Hispanic
Street: 3627 Vernor Highway
City/Township: Detroit
State: Michigan
Zip Code: 48216
Country: USA
Phone: (313) 841-9641
Email: lpalackdharry@swsol.org
Website: http://www.swsol.org/cwf
Organization Name: Greater Detroit Centers for Working Families-Hamtramck
Organization Overview: Michigan is facing an unprecedented economic outlook. As a result, household incomes have dropped significantly and families are finding it more and more difficult to remain financially stable -- even for those who have a job. Many are facing foreclosure and struggling to pay their bills.
Language: Arabic,English
Cultures: All
City/Township: Hamtramck
Zip Code: 48212
Country: USA
Organization Name: Hamazkayin Armenian Educational & Cultural Society
Organization Overview: The goal of the Armenian Educational and Publishing Pan-national (Hamazkayin) Association is to increase the education of the Armenian people through the Armenian language and the Armenian spirit.” To achieve this objective, Hamazkayin would function in three directions:
Tutor the new generations with a solid Armenian education,
Enhance adult education,
Develop Armenian studies.
Language: Armenian,English
Cultures: Armenian
Street: c/o Armenian Community Center, 19300 Ford Rd.
City/Township: Dearborn
State: MI
Zip Code: 48128
Country: USA
Organization Name: Hamtramck Drug Free Community Coalition (HDFCC)
Organization Overview: Focusing on staying healthy and drug-free! Substance abuse prevention: information, education, prevention, particularly for youth.
Also: prescription drug disposal (drop-off) box in Hamtramck Police Department.
Language: Arabic,English,Polish
Cultures: African-American,All,American,Arabic,Bangaladeshi,Bosnian,Polish,Ukrainian,Yemeni
Street: 11633 Caniff
City/Township: Hamtramck
State: MI
Zip Code: 48212
Country: USA
Phone: (313) 733-4535
Fax No: (313) 733-4527
Email: info@hamtramckdrugfree.org
Website: http://www.hamtramckdrugfree.org/
Organization Name: Hamtramck Historical Museum
Organization Overview: If you’ve ever imagined a gathering place that celebrates the rich diverse history of Hamtramck — a meeting place that would also evolve to include the present day cultural fabric of the town — then wish no longer.
The new Hamtramck Historical Museum aims to do all that, and more.
Language: English
Cultures: All
Street: 3105 Holbrook
City/Township: Hamtramck
State: MI
Zip Code: 48212
Country: USA
Phone: (313) 893-5027
Email: gkowalski@ameritech.net
Website: http://www.hamtramckhistory.org/
Organization Name: Hamtramck United Social Services
Organization Overview: Hamtramck United Social Services is a consortium of all the agencies that
serve the 48212 zip code. This group has met monthly for the past 30 years, sharing information and coordinating services to
reduce duplication and redundancy. For more information on the services that these agencies provide and their contact information, see the HUSS directory.
Language: Bosnian,English,Polish,Ukrainian
Cultures: African-American,All,American,Arabic,Bangaladeshi,Bengali,Bosnian,East European,Polish,Ukrainian,Yemeni
City/Township: Hamtramck
State: MI
Zip Code: 48212
Country: USA
