ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) – On April 13th, from 4:00-5:00 p.m., people from all over Tompkins County will gather at the First Presbyterian Church (315 N. Cayuga St.) in downtown Ithaca to celebrate local immigrants with Open Doors English.

The event is free, open to the public, and will include coffee and snacks. At 4:15 there will be a screening of a brand-new short documentary, followed by a Q&A with a panel of students and staff, and finally a student-led open house of the school and classrooms.

ODE has received over 260 new students in the last year alone, now serving students from over 48 countries, speaking 29 languages, regardless of their personal circumstances or ability to pay. Many students come from traumatic crisis situations and ODE serves a key role of providing a safe, welcoming, affirming space for people to build relationships, engage with American culture, and integrate into the wider Tompkins County community.

Speaking at a recent ODE event, NYS Assembly Member Anna Kelles discussed the ongoing need to fight for immigrants’ rights and emphasized the school’s ongoing existence as a community effort. “The fact that [ODE] exists is a reflection of the community that it exists in… It’s all of our responsibility to make sure that it continues to thrive.”

Community members can get involved in the school as students, donors, volunteers, or conversation partners by visiting their website here.