MALDEN, Mass — The Immigrant Learning Center (The ILC) is now seeking art and essays from teens at Everett, Malden and Medford public high schools for our fifth annual Teen Perspectives Contest. Students are invited to submit original work on the topic “How Immigration Benefits My Community” now through Monday, February 9, 2026. Cash prizes up to $300 will be awarded for first, second, third place and honorable mentions in both categories.
Describing the relevance of the contest, now in its fifth year, former EHS English Department Chair Ryan McGowan said, “For a city like Everett with so many hard-working immigrants, this contest really shows our students that their stories are important and valued in our community.”
Winners will be notified the week of March 23, 2026. There will also be a ceremony for the students, their families and teachers on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Malden High School.
Learn more about how to enter this year’s contest and view last year’s entries on The ILC’s website at https://www.ilctr.org/for-teachers/teen-perspectives.
Photos from last year’s event are available upon request.
The 2026 Teen Perspective’s Contest is sponsored in part through a grant from the Malden Cultural Council. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available. Those interested in contributing can reach out to Director of Development Mark Correia at [email protected].
About The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc.
The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc. of Malden, MA, is a not-for-profit organization that gives immigrants a voice in three ways. The English Language Program provides free, year-round ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes to help immigrant and refugee adults in Greater Boston become successful workers, parents and community members. The Public Education Institute informs Americans about immigrants and immigration in the United States, and the Institute for Immigration Research, a joint venture with George Mason University, produces valid, reliable and objective multidisciplinary research on immigrants and immigration to the United States.