Our Name

According to the Longman dictionary, thrive means “to become very successful or very strong and healthy”.  It is our hope that students and participants in our programs will not just “get by” but will thrive in their current situations and future plans as they adapt to life in America and/or interact cross-culturally.

Mission Statement

Thrive promotes diversity, equity, and belonging for people from international cultures in our region through increased language proficiency and cultural competence, immigration legal assistance, and mutually beneficial community connections.

Why did we start?

The program started in 2011 as the International Program at a local church.  It began to help with an unmet need for community-based ESL classes.  It also began from a love of being with people from other cultures.   We are passionate about coming alongside those in our community from other cultures and providing opportunities to help them and their families thrive.  We also actively believe their full participation in the community helps the community to thrive.

Thrive is now its own non-profit organization with 501(c)(3) status and has expanded to include immigration legal services and foreign language learning opportunities.

Program Goals

Immigration Legal Service Goals

  1. to provide visible, accessible, competent immigration legal services including help evaluating options and risks, completing USCIS applications, and representation at USCIS interviews and immigration court for low-income and vulnerable immigrants
  2. to provide education about immigration in general and specific immigration issues in the community
  3. to advocate for humane immigration policies

English Learning Goals

 

 

  1. to help students improve their English skills for community activities, social activities, parenting, work, future academic studies, and the citizenship exam.
  2. to help students gain strategies and experience to continue learning English outside of class
  3. to help students increase their confidence using English
  4. to help students understand American culture and reflect on the process of adjusting to a new culture
  5. to help students obtain basic computer literacy skills for language learning and daily life
  6. to help connect students with each other and with the local community

Language Cafe Goals

  1. to provide a welcoming opportunity for those learning English to have casual conversation practice
  2. to provide a welcoming opportunity for those learning other languages to have casual conversation practice
  3. to provide opportunities to for members of different cultures to make positive connections to build community and cross-cultural understanding

Non-Discrimination Statement

Students of all religions, colors, national/ethnic origins, sexual orientations, and immigration statuses are welcome at Thrive International Programs. We are excited to have new students and participants from any background.  Thrive International Programs admits students/participants of any race, color, national/ethnic origin, sexual orientation, and immigration status to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students within the programs. It shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship, and loan programs, and athletic and other program-administered activities.