Page 4 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, DECEmbER 9, 2022 The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc. celebrates 30 years of giving immigrants a voice Founder is recognized in U.S. Congressional record by Sen. Edward markey. M ALDEN, Mass, December 7, 2022 / On Tuesday, November 15, 2022, The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc. (The ILC) celebrated its 30th anniversary at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. Founder Diane Portnoy started The ILC in Malden in 1992 with three staff members offering free English language classes to 60 immigrants and refugees. Since then, The ILC has helped more than 11,500 immigrant and refugee adults from 122 countries living in 89 Greater Boston communities find jobs, become citizens, start businesses, volunteer, become involved in their children’s schools and more. Roughly three-quarters of these live in Malden, Everett, Revere and Medford. In recognition of the impact achieved by The Immigrant Learning Center and its founder, Senator Edward Markey introduced a Tribute to Diane Portnoy in the U.S. Congressional Record on November 14, 2022. The tribute reads in part, “I am honored to take this opportunity to recognize Ms. Portnoy for her tremendous achievements. She has touched many lives, and her work at The Immigrant Learning Center will continue to have a lasting impact on individuals across Massachusetts and beyond. So, on this 30th anniversary of the Immigrant Learning Center, we thank her for her service to her community, the commonwealth, and the country.” Portnoy addressed the more than 200 attendees with an eye toward the future of the organization, our communities and our nation by saying, “There will always be newcomers who risk everything to start a new life in this country either escaping tragedy in their home country or chasing the American Dream or both. And, yes, immigrants need our help, but they also have so much to contribute. We know that firsthand based on the thousands of students we’ve met over the last 30 years.” $3.79 GALLON We accept: MasterCard * Visa * & Discover Price Subject to Change without notice 100 Gal. Min. 24 Hr. Service 781-286-2602 The Immigrant Learning Center Founder and CEO Diane Portnoy speaks to more than 200 supporters at The ILC’s 30th Anniversary. About The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc. The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc. (ILC) of Malden, MA, is a not-for-profit organization that gives immigrants a voice in three ways. The English Language Program provides free, year-round ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes to help immigrant and refugee adults in Greater Boston become successful workers, parents and community members. The Public Education Institute informs Americans about immigrants and immigration in the United States, and the Institute for Immigration Research, a joint venture with George Mason University, conducts research on the economic contributions of immigrants. For more information, visit the website http://www.ilctr. org. The ILC can also be found on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn. It’s ‘Priority Yule’ as Post Office delivers before break of dawn mail carriers keep up the pace ahead of the holiday season Advocate Staff Report T he United States Postal Service is keeping up the pace as the hustle and bustle of the holiday season gains momentum. To ensure customers get their holiday packages on time, letter carriers will be delivering as early as 6:00 a.m. in many major metro locations across the country. So, if you hear the sounds of an early morning package delivery, please know it’s their way of helping Santa get an early start. This month carriers will be out delivering in the early mornings in many communities. To help keep your letter carrier safe, we ask you to keep your porch light on, especially if you notice mail has not yet been delivered. We have prepared all year to deliver certainty and continuity this holiday, and that means starting early in the morning. Tips for a successful holiday mailing and shipping season • Use free Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes. They are available at Post Office locations or online at usps.com/freeboxes. • Make it easy with the ClickN-Ship feature. You can create shipping labels and pay for postage online at usps.com/ ship. • Schedule a free Package Pickup when the carrier delivers your mail. It’s free, regardless of the number of packages. Pickups can be scheduled at usps.com/pickup. • Mail and packages that weigh more than 10 ounces or are more than a half-inch thick and use stamps as postage cannot be dropped into a collection box or left for a carrier to pick up. Instead, take them to a local Post Office. • Sign up for Informed Delivery. Keep an eye on your deliveries by registering at informeddelivery.usps.com to see what packages are en route and to receive daily emails showing what mail will be delivered. • Monitor your front door. If you have a home security camera system, ensure it captures and saves activity at your front door and mailbox. If you catch any mail thieves in the act, save POST OFFICE | SEE PAGE 5
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