We want to provide a voice.
FREE ENGLISH & CITIZENSHIP CLASSES
Our Vision
The New Neighbor Project is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization supporting education and our immigrants neighbors through donation-based ESL and citizenship classes, as well as citizenship application assistance and scholarship opportunities to help provide a holistic pathway to citizenship for people in our community.
“As an ESL teacher and an advocate for immigrants for over 25 years, I understand what it takes to provide a pathway to citizenship for our neighbors. And as a single parent, I also know the financial struggles that can prohibit a family from reaching their full potential in our country.”
Amy Dudgeon
Executive Director
What We Do
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ESL Classes
We offer Beginner and Intermediate ESL classes both online and in person in various library locations in New Orleans. We accept students on a rolling basis, which means you can drop in our classes at almost anytime during the semester. By filling out an application, you can choose which class you think works best for your English level. Classes are completely free.
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Citizenship Classes
Our 12 week online citizenship course takes you through step by step of the citizenship application process. In collaboration with USA LEARNS, we provide the tools you need to take the exam and to be prepared for your citizenship interview. Through exam study, mock interviews and application assistance, we help you feel more comfortable navigating the citizenship process.
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HiSET ExamPrep
This class is postponed until March. Our online HISET prep class offers students a way to prepare for the HiSET exam in order to pursue their dreams to attend college. The classes are currently offered in Spanish as a way to help Spanish speakers take the exam in Spanish. Our tutors offer assistance with the test application, questions on the exam and other information about the test taking process.
Our 2024 Impact
We welcomed more than 2,300 new students across six parishes, creating space for learning and growth in libraries, churches, and community centers statewide.
Our 125+ dedicated volunteers, alongside partnerships with Tulane, Loyola, and LSU service-learning projects fostered meaningful growth, connection, and opportunities within our communities.
Three students achieved a life-changing milestone, graduating from our citizenship program and stepping into an inspiring new chapter in their lives.
We brought together a diverse community, representing 23 languages and connecting learners from five countries and across the U.S., creating a truly global impact.
Thank you to Harrah’s, Dollar General, the New Orleans Culture and Recreation Fund, the Greater New Orleans Foundation, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, and our private donors for your generous support, which has allowed us to expand our reach and deepen our impact.
Meet the Team
Amy Dudgeon
Executive Director, NNP Founder
Amy Dudgeon has been involved with helping immigrants and refugees for almost 30 years in Kentucky and New Orleans. She has a Juris Doctorate from the University of Louisville with a focus on Immigration Law and has worked with several refugee resettlement agencies across the country. She has taught 1000’s of refugees and immigrants since 1995 and founded the New Neighbor Project in 2021. She is currently serving as Executive Director.
Susan Roesgen
Board Member
Susan Roesgen is a television and radio journalist with experience as a CNN Correspondent based in New Orleans and Chicago, co-hosting an international broadcast from the headquarters of National Geographic in Washington, D.C. , and freelance reporting for National Public Radio. In 2012, Susan began volunteering as an ESL teacher for Associated Catholic Charities in New Orleans and later for the Hispanic Resource Center in Kenner. She is a certified ESL teacher who loves inspiring her students to become fully fluent in English so they can become fully part of the American dream.
Kimmie Tubre
Board Member
Kimmie Tubre is a freelance writer, educator, and published author from New Orleans, Louisiana. After years of working in print journalism, she moved to Prague, Czechia, to pursue a career in education. Kimmie has taught English abroad, ESL at Delgado Community College, and Intensive English at The University of New Orleans. Today, Kimmie works as an Adult Education Instructor and is an active member of the NOABJ (New Orleans Association of Black Journalists) and PCNO (Press Club of New Orleans). While she has written for several publications over the years, her most notable articles are published in Where Y’at Magazine New Orleans.
Rebecca Sell
Board Member
Rebecca Sell is an English teacher and marketing professional currently based in Chile. Her diverse background includes projects with SIFAIS, a foundation that provides educational and social support to immigrants in the La Carpio neighborhood of San Jose, Costa Rica; affiliations with Loyola and Tulane Universities as a mentor and guest lecturer; volunteering as an English teacher for Catholic Charities New Orleans; and much more.
Get in Touch
In the News
“I like taking classes at the library. They help me check out books for me and my children. I want to read to them in English.”
~ Hasan M
“I am learning how to take the HISET test because I want to go to college. I have a college degree from my country and I need to continue my education here”
~ Maria M
“The citizenship class has given me the confidence I need to take the test. It is my dream to become a citizen.”
~ Marcella
Vanesa’s Journey To Citizenship
“I've been living in the United States since I was 10 years old and in 2015 I was able to apply for DACA, the dream act. From Daca to a green card, which opened up new opportunities, but also highlighted the importance of pursuing citizenship. I had my green card for 6 years and knew it was time to apply for citizenship. I was skeptical about passing the civics, definitions and N400 questions. I started attending citizenship classes at The New Neighbor Project every Tuesday at the Rosedale Library with Kyle and Chris before I started my process. Their time and teaching help a lot, I really appreciate all their help. We need more people like them. My kids and husband were very supportive of me, so this next step was to finally make things "official."
I sent in my paperwork on Sept 24, 2024, two weeks later I received a letter from USCIS saying they received my application and were reviewing it. Notice also said the waiting time was 7 months and didn't need to go for biometrics; they were going to use my previous ones. All I needed was to wait for the 7 months to go by fast and the waiting began. To my surprise on October 25, 2024 I received an email from USCIS saying they had taken action on my case and it was approved. They had given me my appointment for my citizenship interview for November 19, 2024 at 1:25. Everything happened so fast that I only had less than a month to prepare myself and was studying day and night. Had sleepless nights and anxiety. I just told my husband and daughter about the good news. Didn't want to tell anyone about it and jinx it before it was official.
The day of the interview finally came, I was so anxious and nervous. I didn't even know what to wear and tried so many outfits that day and couldn't decide till I chose I guess the worst clothes ever. It didn't make me feel comfortable at all. I didn't even have my morning coffee or eat breakfast and had so many nauseas of how nervous I was. Walking to the building made me even more nervous. I felt like I was a criminal hahahaha. It was 1:00 pm when I arrived at the point of my interview, checked in and waited. I didn't wait not even 5 mins when my interviewer called me. She was very friendly and courteous, my citizenship interview only took like 10 minutes. My interviewer asked me to raise my right hand and say nothing but the truth, after that she asked me to take a seat. She asked me only 3 civic questions and they were the easy ones. 1. Who is the president of the United States? 2. Who is the president of the United States? 3. What is an amendment? She asked me to confirm my full name and last name and if I wanted to change my name, I said no. She proceeded with the written and reading test. She asked me about my job and how many kids I have my husband's name and my address and that was about it. Oath ceremony was scheduled on the same day an hour after my interview and she printed the notice for me there. She congratulated me and told me to go drink my coffee and come back for the ceremony in an hour.
There were few people in the ceremony. There were like 6 of us taking the oath of allegiance. It felt surreal and I was very emotional at my oath ceremony and officially became a US citizen. It was one of the proudest days of my life.
Every journey to U.S Citizenship is unique, filled with challenges and triumphs. If you are ready to embark on this journey, remember that you don't have to do it alone. There are people like in The New Neighbor Project that offer free help. “
NOLA.COM
“ESL classes to be offered at two West Bank Libraries”