Our Mission
Presentation Lantern Center is a drop-in center offering hospitality, educational opportunities and advocacy to adult immigrants, especially women, who are striving to better their lives.
Statement on re-opening
The safety and well-being of all of our students, tutors, staff, and community is paramount and therefore, because community spread in the US & Iowa is occurring, we will remain closed at least through the end of July and will revisit reopening discussions prior. With regard to resuming public tutoring in our organization, the Presentation Lantern Center has and will continue to base decisions on scientific data and reliable projections. Therefore, the criteria the Center is waiting upon before re-opening includes the following: the downward trajectory of new COVID-19 cases reported within a 14-day period, the downward trajectory of hospital bed, intensive care, and ventilator usage, and the downward trajectory of daily death reports. In addition to these things, it is necessary to have adequate contact-tracing and a robust testing program. Achieving these conditions will indicate that it may be reasonably safe to resume, with safety measures.
At Presentation Lantern Center visitors are greeted by staff and volunteers. They receive a tutor with whom they study English; they learn practical life skills to use in a new country; they meet many people from other countries of origin; they share their stories and cultures; and they experience so much more … and all are blessed by their coming.
Hospitality
The Presentation Lantern Center opened in 2002 to welcome individuals from around the neighborhood and from across the globe. Services are free.
Educational Opportunities
Students work one-on-one with volunteer tutors to learn English and to prepare for the citizenship test.
Advocacy
The center empowers individuals to be advocates for themselves and their families and connects them to community resources.
Multilingual COVID-19 resources
Iowa’s multilingual COVID-19 hotline: (877) 558-2609
Guidelines for self-management and self-isolation
Dealing with stress and isolation
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
HOW YOU CAN HELP
• Donate. Click here or mail a check for “immigrant financial need” to Presentation Lantern Center at
900 Jackson St.
Ste. LL5-1
Dubuque IA 52001
• If you know an immigrant in need, call (563) 557-7134 or email megan@thelanterncenter.org. If urgent, call or text (563) 513-8646.
• Volunteer. Apply to be a tutor here. If you can volunteer with relief efforts, please call and leave a message at (563) 557-7134.
• Our partner VIATS is picking up and dropping off food and supplies for immigrants in need. Learn more here.
