In NYC Public Schools, it is important to have welcoming and inclusive spaces to help multilingual and immigrant students and their families succeed. We are committed to making sure every student feels valued, supported, and like they belong.
Schools can build community, celebrate the strengths and diversity of multilingual and immigrant families, and help educators become strong advocates in different ways.
Visuals
Use visuals that celebrate the diversity of multilingual, immigrant, and undocumented communities. Create fliers, newsletters, and other materials that represent multilingual and immigrant students and families. Show that these students are not all the same and have unique experiences shaped by their cultures, races, and identities.
Use multilingual signs and artwork that highlight students in their home languages to challenge stereotypes and share their stories. Inclusive visuals send a strong message: everyone belongs.
Start a Program Focused on Students' Interests and Growth
Plan programs or activities that celebrate students’ different backgrounds and interests. Ideas include multicultural clubs, language-based afterschool programs, or near-peer programs. These activities help students explore who they are, show their talents, and support each other. They build pride and stronger connections in the school community.
Here are ideas to get started:
- Dream Teams: These student-led clubs, created by the NYS Youth Leadership Council, focus on supporting the rights and voices of immigrant and undocumented youth. A Dream team is also made up of supporters who fight for immigrant rights and create better schools for immigrant students and participate in building campaigns, organizing conferences and raising funds for scholarships. To learn more about Dream Teams, review this FAQ. If you are interested, please fill out this form, and a representative from the NYS Youth Leadership Council will contact you to help in bringing this club to your school.
- Global Leaders Academy: This work-based learning program, created by the NYCPS Office of Multilingual Learners, helps multilingual and immigrant students develop leadership, language, and 21st-century skills. Students explore the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, meet UN representatives, tour its headquarters, and work on projects to solve local community issues. Watch this video to learn more and complete this interest form to bring this program for your school.
Establish a Dream Squad of Educators
Dream Squads are teams of three or more educators who work together to support multilingual and immigrant students and families. Their goal is to create welcoming, inclusive schools that value students’ well-being and future goals. Dream Squads make sure school practices, policies, and programs meet the needs of multilingual, immigrant, and undocumented students and their families.
Schools in the Dream Squads program must:
- Have 3–6 educators on the team.
- Attend six training sessions in the fall to learn about immigration policies and ways to connect with multilingual and immigrant communities.
- Create a welcoming school plan for feedback and support.
- Put 1–2 strategies into action in the spring, with clear goals and measures of success.
The Office of Multilingual Learners supports Dream Squads with funding, coaching, site visits, workshops, and materials to increase visibility.
To learn more about Dream Squads, review this program overview and discuss with your school leadership before completing this interest form.
Create Programs That Support the Whole Family
Family engagement plays a big role in student success and well-being. Plan family events that are culturally responsive and meet the needs of multilingual and immigrant families. Make sure all families feel included and see their cultures and communities represented in school programs. Support leadership opportunities for multilingual and immigrant families.
Consider participating in GenConnect: This eight-session program helps multilingual learners and their families stay connected to their language, culture, and community. The workshops are interactive and use both English and families’ home languages to build community and support.
To learn more about GenConnect and bring it to your school, fill out this interest form.
As a reminder, NYC Public Schools does not ask about or track students’ or families’ immigration status.