The reborn Academy is dedicated to serving the new immigrant population of Elizabeth just as its predecessor did nearly 250 years ago. We are in the process of gathering a mix of governmental and non-profit organizations who would find synergy by working under the same roof to serve the people. If your organization wants to reach the people of our city and county in new ways, let us know!

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The Agapé ministry of Westfield PC will help feed the working poor on Wednesdays.
The commercial kitchen will help train persons for work in food services.
ESL training is a foundation for better jobs and adjusting to life in the USA.

 

The city has long been a magnet for immigration as over time, Elizabeth also became a center for manufacturing. Companies such as Singer sewing machines and BeechNut chewing gum once called Elizabeth home. Elizabeth today is considered one of most ethnically diverse cities in New Jersey, boasting residents who can trace their ancestry to virtually every country of the world. We say once because Elizabeth suffered the same fate of most industrial cities after World War II. Equipped with automobiles, many Elizabeth residents moved west into the growing Union County suburbs. At the same time, the manufacturing base declined as factories closed and relocated. Fortunately, given the valuable seaport, the proximity to Newark Airport, its location astride three major highways, and its nearness to major oil-refineries, Elizabeth’s economy did not suffer as badly as some areas. Immigrants continue to come in and property values remain fairly high.

Nowadays, most of the immigrant population is Latino. Starting with refugees from Cuba in the early 1960s and subsequently embracing Puerto Ricans relocating from New York City as well as the island itself, Elizabeth’s population is now dominated by persons who can claim Spanish as their first or second language. Most of countries of Central and South American are represented in Elizabeth and Elizabeth High School offers ESL help in at least 24 different languages. Consequently, the city remains a robust and vibrant center of cultural diversity.

The reborn Academy is dedicated to serving the new immigrant population of Elizabeth just as its predecessor did nearly 250 years ago. We are in the process of gathering a mix of governmental and non-profit organizations who would find synergy by working under the same roof to serve the people. If your organization wants to reach the people of our city and county in new ways, let us know!