At 197 East Broadway stands the Educational Alliance. Throughout its existence, the Educational Alliance has provided exemplary service to the community.
The Educational Alliance (from the digital gallery of New York Public Library)
The Educational Alliance, known originally as the Hebrew Institute, was formed in 1889 to promote Americanization in the Jewish community that inhabited the area in Lower East Side, Manhattan. They achieved this by lecturing and giving classes in a myriad of different subjects such as Engliush, philosophy, arts, history, and music.
A Cooking Class at the Educational Alliance (from Milstein Jewish Archives)
Other programs which they implemented throughout the years aimed to solve problems in the area such as teenage homelessness, gangs, and drug abuse. They also later created programs to help the elderly in a number of ways.
American Red Cross First Aid Training (from Milstein Jewish Archives)
Photo of the Educational Alliance( from the Milstein Jewish Archives)
Recently, the Educational Alliance has seen an sharp increase in the number of Asian (especially Fuzhounese) participants in their programs. This is due to the migration wave from Fuzhou which is still happening right now.
Photo of the Educational Alliance (Contemporary)
As times change so does the characteristics of the community and so does the Educational Alliance. When new waves of immigrants arrive, the Educational Alliance evolves adapt to the needs of the newcomers. Today, the Educational Alliance still stands in the same place, providing services to the community which is now dominantly Fuzhounese with programs such as We Are New York, Early Headstart, and the College Prep Program.
One of the Educational Alliance's programs, the College Prep Program helped a student in getting a 4 year scholarship to Middlebury College.
