What We Do

Educational Resources

The Community Education Center provides youth, education and community leaders with the tools and resources they need to prepare informative and effective immigration programming. Created by educators, for educators, our annual Educators’ Immigration Resource Guide offers new and informative lesson plans, book/film reviews and other valuable resources that support the value of immigration to the United States. The Center also offers additional educational ideas, lesson plans, immigration history, book/film reviews, and links to other educational resources on our website.

Educational Workshops

In partnership with educational organizations, the Center offers day-long workshops to youth, educators and community leaders who are interested in integrating the subject of immigration into their communities, professional and educational spheres. The Center provides attendees with historical and modern perspectives on immigration, innovative educational tactics and a presentation on immigration law and policy through a variety of interactive media. Each workshop features an immigration attorney who discusses the historical and contemporary aspects of immigration in the United States, an immigration activist/ author, educational experts and other expert lecturers. Workshops have been held in Washington, D.C., New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Chicago, Miami and San Francisco.

Creative Writing Contest

The American Immigration Council is proud to sponsor the annual “Celebrate America” Creative Writing Contest in an ongoing effort to educate the public about the benefits of immigration to our society. Open to fifth grade students across the nation, this contest encourages youth, families and surrounding communities to evaluate and appreciate the effects of immigration on their own lives. The contest gives America’s youth the chance to express the finest of America’s values and is judged by a panel of celebrity judges. Past judges have included Senator Ted Kennedy, Senator Charles Schumer, authors Dave Eggers, Junot Diaz (Pulitzer Prize Winner), Gish Jen, Firoozeh Dumas, Ken Mochizuki as well as many other activists like Mary Williams, founder of the Lost Boys Foundation. The national winner and three guests receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the Council’s Annual Benefit Dinner where he/she is honored. The winner also receives a travel stipend, engraved plaque, their winning entry printed in the Congressional Record and a flag flown over the Capitol in his/her honor.

Teacher’s Grant Program

The Community Education Center awards educational bi-annual grants of $100 to $500 to fund educational projects about immigrants and immigration. The Center seeks to fund activities that are innovative and supportive of the American Immigration Council’s mission of promoting the benefits of immigrants to our nation. Applications are aimed at educators and community leaders who can create replicable projects that successfully integrate immigration into classrooms and communities. Proposals that are classroom-based will receive strong consideration, and the Council encourages projects that can be replicated in other classrooms across the nation. The Council is always looking for innovative and creative ideas.

This year’s focus will be on the following categories:

• Innovative use of technology


• Underrepresented minorities


• Community outreach and partnerships with community based organizations


• Math and science