Neighbors Link Corporation

Neighbors Link community law practice , the law department of Neighbors Link, is a leader in the provision of immigration legal services in westchester county and throughout the hudson valley. Our dynamic team consists of six experienced immigration attorneys, six department of justice accredited representatives and a dedicated team of volunteer attorneys. We are a community based pro bono legal services practice providing comprehensive and holistic services in legal matters ranging from rapid response, removal defense, and other affirmative filings as well as community education and legal advocacy. In 2022, 1,082 immigration legal cases were handled by Neighbors Link community law practice. In addition, 2,191 people attended 25 in person and virtual "know your rights" presentations and workshops.

Neighbors Link provided crisis and support services on medical issues (including covid vaccines, testing, other care), housing, employment, food insecurity and other issues through an extensive network of partnerships. In 2022, Neighbors Link facilitated 4 vaccine clinics and made 331 appointments to 265 unique clients. Neighbors Link distributed 464,000 to 146 clients in 2022, allowing families to keep their homes and feed their families during a significant crisis. Neighbors Link provided 8,105 hot meals and food packages to 702 families/individuals.

Family center is an initiative that focuses on parent-child together programs designed to reinforce and enhance a parent's ability to improve their children's cognitive and social skills . Parents learn critical techniques to motivate and inspire their children. The family center philosophy that guides the work includes the concept that parents are their child's first teachers and bicultural children benefit from parenting that is relevant to both cultures. The primary goals for the family center are to address the urgent need to improve school readiness among the families we serve ; to close the widening achievement gap between immigrant children and their peers and to raise college-bound children-thus breaking the family cycle of poverty. In response to the covid crisis, Neighbors Link created a systematic approach to reach out to families each week via phone or text to provide wrap-around case management services. In 2022, 928 parents and children were served by the family center and our programming expanded to include our ossining and yonkers locations in addition to mount kisco.

A)english for speakers of other languages(esol) programs support full integration for immigrants in our community. In partnership with westchester community college, we have structured classroom instruction and through the work of hundreds of volunteers we have tutoring and conversation classes. In 2022, our esol classes were a combination of online and in person classes. In 2022 713 clients were served. B)neighbors Link workforce education programs include leadership skills training, such as leadership council and ona workforce workshops which are new in 2022. They provide tools to help our clients strengthen their leadership, decision making and problem solving skills. Workforce education programs also include job skills training in tech-education(new in 2022) that brings technology literacy to our community. Also we have osha and eco-cleaning programs. C)neighbors Link worker center facilitates connections to employment through our hiring site and job bank. Employers visit the hiring site and may chose their own workers or use a lottery system that was developed by the workers. Employers and workers negotiate pay and terms of employment. The job bank is typically conducted by telephone and connect the employer and worker based on specific skills. D)neighbors Link provides two academic enrichment programs for elementary school children that need added support in reading and math skills. The learning links afterschool program runs all school year and the summer links program operates for five weeks in the summer. In 2022, over 120 clients were served and both programs were hybrid,on-line and in person. E)reset- in 2022, Neighbors Link became a fiscal sponsor for reset westchester, inc. an organization consisting of volunteers. In 2022, 4 refugee families were welcomed, supported and integrated into the community.