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East Harlem is a neighborhood located in Upper Manhattan, New York City. Originally, East Harlem was known as, “Little Italy,” because it had the largest population of Italians outside of Italy. In the early 1900’s, the area became more diverse with people from Irish, German, and Eastern European backgrounds. By the mid 1900’s, the area became known as Spanish Harlem, or El Barrio, because of the many families from Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Cuba and Mexico. Today, the area continues to become more diverse, with a influx of people from West Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East. East Harlem is one place in the U.S. that truly represents people from all over the world coming to live the American Dream.

Within East Harlem, is the Union Settlement Association. The Union Settlement Association dates back to 1895, and was one of the oldest settlement houses in New York City. The Union Settlement Association was part of the Settlement Movement, a charitable social movement, with the goal of helping impoverished areas. In America, the common philosophy of the settlement movement, was to give the people tools to break out from the cycle of poverty, instead of monetary handouts. This philosophy is now referred to as “scientific philanthropy.”
The Union Settlement Association house was where volunteer middle-class, “settlement workers,” lived within the neighborhoods they’re serving, to learn first hand what problems local residents face. Over the years, the Union Settlement Association has helped thousands of people of all ages.

The Union Settlement Association was founded by members of the Union Theological Seminary Alumni Club; after they returned from a visit to Toynbee Hall in London. Toynbee Hall, is a charity in London whose goal is to bridge the gap between people of all different social and economic backgrounds, while striving for a future without poverty. With the example of Toynbee Hall and Chicago’s Hull House, The Alumni Club wanted to create a services for the community of East Harlem. The Hull House was a settlement house that was founded in 1889 by Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr. Addams and Starr created social, educational, and artistic programs that set the bar for settlement houses across the United States.

Today, the Union Settlement Association is one of the largest social service agencies in the neighborhood. It serves more than 13,000 people each year and has seventeen different locations. The agency offers several programs for residents ranging from infancy to retirement; including early childhood education, youth development, senior services, job training, experience in the arts, adult education, nutrition, counseling, mental health counseling, a farmers market, and cultural events. The Union Settlement Association could tutor other service agencies in how to support everyone in the community.

East Harlem tutors also want to support the community by helping students succeed in school. If your student is struggling in school, an East Harlem tutor might be your answer. Every student deserves to reach their educational dreams.