New Women New Yorkers is proud to serve and grow with a vibrant, intergenerational, and deeply committed community. Centered around immigrant women, our community includes:
- Program participants and alumnae—women from around the world building new futures in New York City
- Work-Based Learners—graduates who return to lead, train, and grow professionally through paid facilitation roles
- Staff and Board—a passionate team of professionals with deep commitment to our mission
- Volunteers and company partners—mentors, facilitators, and professionals who share their time, skills, and solidarity
Together, we form a community rooted in mutual learning, support, and the shared goal of building a more inclusive New York City.
Who We Serve
Our participants reflect the strength and diversity of immigrant New Yorkers. In 2024:
- Over half of LEAD and We Speak We LEAD participants came from Latin America and the Caribbean, nearly one-third from Eastern Europe, and others from South Asia, the Middle East, and West Africa
- 93% hold higher education degrees, most earned abroad
- 91% come from low-income households, and two-thirds were unemployed upon joining
- Participants span all levels of English proficiency, from beginner to fluent
Bridge to LEAD, our foundational job readiness program offered in Spanish and English, is designed for women with beginner English skills and limited access to formal education and workforce opportunities. Many participants are navigating financial instability or transitional housing and seeking tools and community to help them move forward with confidence.
What unites our participants is resilience—the courage to start again, to invest in their futures, and to show up for themselves and their communities.
From Participant to Professional: A Story of Resilience
“When I joined the program, I felt completely lost—professionally and personally. I had left behind a strong career in my home country, but here I didn’t know where to start. Through NWNY, I found not only guidance and practical tools, but also a community that believed in me. Today, I’m working in a role that connects directly to my background, and I finally feel like myself again.”
—Program Graduate, 2024
Voices From Our Community
“Being part of NWNY’s team has been the most meaningful experience of my career. The women we serve, and work alongside, inspire me every single day.”
—Talita, NWNY Program Specialist
“Volunteering with NWNY gave me a renewed sense of purpose. I thought I came to give back—but I left with so much more.”
—Volunteer Facilitator
“Facilitating a Bridge to LEAD series was my first paid job in the U.S. It built my confidence and leadership—and showed me what’s possible.”
—Program Graduate & Work-Based Learner
Hear More From Our Community
Want to hear directly from the women at the heart of our work?
Listen to the Real People. Real Lives. podcast, where immigrant women share their stories of resilience, reinvention, and hope in their own voices.
Explore journeys of educators, nurses, artists, caregivers, and advocates as they navigate new beginnings in New York City.
You can also visit our blog for personal reflections, creative pieces, and spotlights on our graduates and contributors.
