Our programs and services build pathways to success for refugees and immigrants, as well as for the organizations that serve and employ them. In these divisive political times and as we push forward in pandemic recovery, our work to make Greater Denver an inclusive, model welcoming community is more important than ever.
"Spring Institute offers youth programs in the neighborhood where we live and during times that are good for us. Our parents trust the staff and so do we."
"Learning about various cultures has taught me to understand others instead of taking their behavior personally. It is about embracing differences of values and beliefs."
"Spring Institute does a great job connecting new immigrants and refugees with the Colorado community through education, intercultural and other skill-oriented training, and advocacy."
"As an immigrant, it was very important for me to have the information and knowledge that Spring Institute gave me. They helped me a lot to write a resume, told me how to behave in interviews, helped answer many questions. It was a huge help."
"Spring Institute is a small but impactful organization full of change agents advocating for intercultural learning and awareness and immigrant and refugee communities."
"Before I came to America, I studied English in school, but the classes focused on the grammar, not practical English. We didn't have the practice at all and I couldn't understand people when I came here. It was really hard in the beginning. Spring Institute has helped me with this. I had to learn to communicate without overthinking."
"Spring Institute is one of the best organizations because they help refugees and immigrants when they arrive in the U.S. and for years after. Their programs help families, grandparents, babies, children, and high schoolers."
"This training really helped me think of things from other people's points of view. I will definitively think about this training for long time to come."
"Spring institute is the best organization to help the new American community of refugees & immigrants to be integrated in the USA and involved in different opportunities."
"Ever since I discovered the Colorado Welcome Back Program, they have helped prepare me for interviews and guided me through the process. I met a lot of people from other countries through the CWB Program. Some of my closest friends here in Denver are the ones I met through Spring Institute. I'm so thankful for them and know that we'll be friends for life."
"Spring Institute makes a difference for refugee and immigrant community members by building skills and confidence among English language students, promoting multigenerational learning and health literacy, and advocating for policy change to strengthen our welcoming community."
"Our interpreter from The Interpreter Network was great to work with and his expertise made our event much more inclusive."
"Spring Institute is a great partner with other community organizations. I appreciate the collaborative work and important work to be done with immigrants and refugees."
Spring Institute's mission is to build a thriving intercultural community through learning, language access, and advocacy.
Spring Institute was founded in 1979 to provide intensive English as a Second Language (ESL) training for international students. Within a year, Spring Institute began working within the emerging refugee resettlement network, primarily to meet the English-language and pre-employment needs of these newcomers.
Over the past 40+ years, Spring Institute has grown substantially and currently provides a range of services for linguistically and culturally diverse refugees, immigrants, and low-income families from birth to older adulthood. Our programs and advocacy efforts build pathways to success for individuals - including refugees and immigrants - and the organizations that serve and employ them.
Spring Institute’s full and part-time staff, Board of Directors, program participants, and volunteers embody a range of perspectives from within the welcoming community reflecting diverse cultural identities and linguistic aptitudes. Many have firsthand or familial lived experience as immigrants or refugees. Countries of origin represented within the Spring Institute network include Afghanistan, Benin, Burma, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Libya, Mexico, Paraguay, Russia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Uganda, Tanzania, and the United States. Taking into account the interpretation and translation service providers in The Interpreter Network by Spring Institute, we collectively know over 100 languages.
Organization name
Spring Institute for Intercultural Learning
other names
Spring Institute
1979
Tax id (EIN)
84-0788093
Category
Education, Community Improvement & Capacity Building, Mental Health & Crisis Intervention, Youth Development, Employment, Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy
Organization Size
Large Organization
Address
1373 Grant StreetDenver County, CO, US