Bringing Opportunity to Every New American
ACE Center for New Americans helps refugees and immigrants navigate their path to self-sufficiency, inclusion, and active citizenship.
“Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute, speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
— Proverbs 31:8-9
Our 3 Founding Principles
ADVOCACY
We advocate on behalf of immigrants and refugees from around the world. We help them become informed about their constitutional rights by hosting vigils, organizing speaking engagements to generate awareness of persecution and displacement, being a community presence, and providing access to free and fluent advocates.
CELEBRATION
We gather to celebrate and share distinct traditions from around the world. We host year-round events including World Refugee Day, a Christmas Party, a Multicultural Festival and other events that feature music, dance, art, and cuisine. We also work with interfaith groups to reinforce inclusion of differing faith practices.
EMPOWERMENT
We provide programs and services that help the communities’ participants feel empowered. Some of the programs include: adult literacy, tutor training initiatives, sporting events, after school programs, driver’s education, and citizenship classes. We strive to empower “New Americans;” to give them a priceless gift.
Overcoming Adversity
Arriving in the United States of America as an immigrant or refugee is unlike coming any other way. Whether here by choice or other circumstances, these “New Americans,” often face a number of cultural, linguistic, practical, and socio-economic challenges.
ACE Center for New American’s mission is simple — to advocate for, celebrate, and empower “New Americans.” We do this by developing programs to meet their critical, educational, health, and immigration needs, while creating opportunities to celebrate diversity, and the inclusion of their respective cultures and traditions.
How does ACE Center for
New Americans make a difference?
Impactful Programs & Services
ACE Center for New Americans works at the grassroots level to help our immigrant community navigate their path to citizenship by providing services that make their transition less difficult. Services such as translation, English as a Second Language (ESOL) courses, after school drop-in programs, document assistance, and placement services are only a few of the services provided.
Overview of Services and Assistance Programs
Navigate American institutions (State, Federal, Legal, Medical)
Facilitate housing and services received from resettlement agencies
Form ethnic community groups
Provide basic living supplies such as household goods, and clothing
Teach practical skills, provide training on violence prevention, cultural adjustment, etc.
Upcoming Events
After School Drop-In
Mondays & Wednesdays, 4:00pm-6:00pm
The after-school drop-in program is for students 9–18 and will be held during the regular school year on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:00–6:00 p.m.
Volunteers will be available to assist students with their homework. Refreshments and nutritious snacks will be available. Students may sign in or sign out anytime during the ACE Center’s open hours.
Visit the ACE Shoppe
By Appointment
The ACE Center provides clothing, household, hygiene, and personal care items to assist New American families. Community members may select several items or a modest pre-packaged donation for FREE! For social distancing purposes, registration is required to participate.
Donate for Education
We are busy at the ACE Center supplying resources to immigrants and refugees and a need that we hope you can help us with. Our ESOL classes are very popular. They start with an in-person meeting and then continue online. Many adults are interested in taking our classes to learn and improve upon their English, but most of them have no laptops to follow along with the lessons.
A donation of $200 will purchase a Google Chromebook that will be lent to adult immigrants so that they can learn English in the best and most flexible way possible. Your gift will make a real difference. Use the Donate for Education button below to sponsor a new American’s journey to learn English.
Help Incoming Afghan Refugees
The ACE Center is partnering with the International Institute of New England in recruiting volunteers to help newly arrived refugees from Afghanistan, Haiti and other countries to get settled in the Lowell area. Volunteers will undertake projects like cleaning and setting up apartments. Interested in making a difference? Visit the IINE website to learn more or sign up to volunteer.