Why This Work Matters Right Now

We are so grateful for our community who supports the work we do here at Open Doors English! In all honesty, this is a difficult time. Our students are more fearful than ever that they will be targeted based not only on how they worship, look, and dress, but on how they speak. This is why our mission to empower immigrants and refugees through access to language, increased confidence in communicating, and a supportive community is so critical right now. 

Why We Made This Decision

In light of current circumstances, we have made the difficult decision to cancel our annual spring fundraising dinner. With reduced capacity due to staff on extended leave and fear of ICE showing up, we are pulling back on fundraising events so we can continue to prioritize supporting our students’ comfort and safety in these challenging times. Thank you for your understanding and for standing with us. 

How You Can Help

In lieu of a dinner at ODE, we invite you to join us from home! The “donation menu” below offers ways to take part in the spirit of the event. Please be part of the solution and help us to get to our goal of $10,000. In these challenging times, we need you more than ever.

We hope to see the waning of anti-immigration sentiment and policies so that in the coming years we can resume our community dinners. We’re really going to miss being with you in person. There’s a power in joining together. Our dinner in the past has been a wonderful celebration of community and the cultures of our students.

Bring the Spirit of the Dinner Home

This year, we are posting a delicious recipe by our student Latha, from southern India, for you to try at home and share with your loved ones—an opportunity to experience that exchange of culture and connection in your own home.

If you’re feeling frustrated and powerless by how disrespectfully immigrants are being treated these days, this is one concrete thing that you can do. Please dig deep and make a difference in the life of a student and their family.