Presentation Lantern Center

Welcome. Learn. Belong.

At Presentation Lantern Center, every gift helps a neighbor feel seen, supported and empowered. Since 2002, we have served more than 2,500 adult immigrants and refugees from 85 countries who now call the Dubuque area home. Some are newly arrived, while others have been here for years but are still working to overcome language barriers.

Your support provides free one-on-one English tutoring, helping multilingual learners gain the confidence to speak with a child’s teacher, communicate at work or navigate a doctor’s visit. It also supports citizenship preparation for eligible immigrants, with 108 individuals realizing their dream of U.S. citizenship which reflects a 100% success rate for the Center. Through this work, we also strengthen families, supporting parents as they guide and advocate for hundreds of children.

Thanks to funds from private donors and grants, we are also able to provide urgent financial assistance when unexpected needs arise, along with advocacy, connections to community resources and support services.

Last year, volunteers gave 4,925 hours of their time, building skills, confidence and connection across our community.

When you give, you help create opportunity, stability and a true sense of belonging.

Testimonials

1. “I want to express my immense gratitude and my complete respect and admiration for what you have built here.  It is a great help for all the community, as much as it has been for me.  I had the opportunity, not just to learn and practice my English skills, but also to meet a lot of interesting people.  Thank you so much for accepting me and giving me a place to grow as a person.”—Simon, 2026

2. “I am truly grateful for the support to help finance my car. Having reliable transportation means so much as a single mom.  It lifted a financial burden and gave me stability and peace of mind.  Your generosity is making a real difference in my life and motivates me to keep working toward my goals.  Thank you for your support.”—Single Mom received transportation support thanks to donor funds, 2026

3. “Through the Lantern Center, students find homes and jobs, enter school, and nurture their children. They look to the Lantern Center for safety and comradery. I discover a fresh love of democracy. Along this pathway, my view of otherness stretches, reaches out its arms, and expands into the light of a fuller appreciation of humanity. I teach them English. They teach me the world."—Katherine Fischer, Professor of English Emerita, Clarke University, 2025