Elise Gardella, a mentor and guide at St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery’s Welcome Center, pointed around the nave, directing a visitor’s attention to different tables.

To her left in that church sanctuary, two civic advocates sat across from two immigrants, discussing ways to secure their special immigrant juvenile status, one pathway to a U.S. State Department green card for legal residency.

Gardella and the immigrant she’s been mentoring but would not name sat in those seats when they first met in August 2025. He arrived in New York alone last year.

She worked with him to submit the special juvenile status application just days shy of his 21st birthday — the age when he would no longer be eligible to apply. Over the last 10 months, they’ve had multiple court hearings.

“We finally got a paper, a form, saying all the paperwork had been received, but it really stated nothing about status. So, this is a long [process],” said Gardella, who was approved to be a guardian. Still pending, though, is the decision over his juvenile status and ability to remain legally in the United States.

“[The program] is very special because we try to cover a range of ways to help and assist people,” said Gardella, who has been volunteering at the Welcome Center weekly since last summer.

The center was created in winter 2024 in response to an influx of immigrants and asylum seekers to the East Village. The majority of those who go to the Welcome Center are Muslim, West African men. From 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays, they receive meals, haircuts, tutoring, legal advice and more.

The center is fully reliant on volunteers and donations.

In a far corner of the room Gardella had been showing a visitor, some volunteers helped immigrants sign up for health insurance. Others tutored the men in English and assisted with preparations for New York State Regents Examinations or GED tests.

Mixed in among the bunch were translators for the mainly French-speaking immigrants.

“There’s [still] a lot more going on, it’s kind of wild,” Gardella said, chuckling as she marveled at the variety of things happening around the room.

While the academic and legal services are crucial to the program, many immigrants return because they feel a sense of belonging and safety. For instance, even though St. Mark’s is an Episcopal church, a space is provided for Muslim migrants to whisper their afternoon prayers.

The room is also a social hub. Groups of people gather together to play cards, chat over dinner, watch the World Cup. Even when they are not taking lessons, they are still picking up English by being around the tutors and mentors.

Saad, who did not share his last name, came to the United States from Guinea three years ago. Two years ago, he started coming to the Welcome Center.

He seems relatively fluent in the second language he’s been refining here at St. Mark’s.

“[I keep coming] just to hangout,” Saad said.

At first, many who come to the center are cautious.

How to build trust with those newcomers from across an ocean? Gardella thought for a moment. Finding her words, she offered, “Always be honest with them. When you’re helping people, just try to provide what they need.”