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International Student House of Washington, D.C.

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Coordinates: 38°54′46″N 77°2′32.4″W / 38.91278°N 77.042333°W / 38.91278; -77.042333
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International Student House of Washington, D.C.
Founded1936; 88 years ago (1936)
Type501(c)(3) non-profit
FocusIntercultural education
Location
Coordinates38°54′46″N 77°2′32.4″W / 38.91278°N 77.042333°W / 38.91278; -77.042333
Area served
Worldwide
Members96 current residents, over 15,000 alumni
Key people
BudgetUS$2 million[1] (2018)
Websiteishdc.org
Part ofDupont Circle Historic District (ID78003056)
Designated CPJuly 21, 1978[2]
ISH-DC's great hall hosts a variety of events.

The International Student House of Washington, D.C., abbreviated as ISH-DC (pronounced /ɪʃ/ ish), is a residence at 1825 R St. NW in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C., which houses primarily international students and young professionals studying or interning in the city.[3][4] It is run by a nonprofit organization, International Student House Inc.[5] It is home to up to 96 people at any given time and has more than 15,000 alumni.[6] The residence also hosts events for residents[7][8] and outside groups in its great hall, and serves breakfast and dinner to residents during weekdays.[9]

History

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ISH-DC was established in 1936 by a group of Quakers as part of the international student house movement spearheaded by the missionary Waldo Stevenson.[10][11] They sought to promote intercultural exchange[12] and to aid international students of color unable to find housing due to racist housing norms prevalent in the city at the time.[10] The group was originally located at 1708 New Hampshire Avenue NW,[13][14] but in 1946, it moved to its present location, a Tudor mansion built in 1912 for Henri Meserve.[10] In 1967, an additional residential building, Van Slyck Hall, was constructed adjacent to the main building, and in the 1980s, ISH-DC purchased a residential building, now named Marpat Hall, located behind the main building.[10] The main building and Marpat Hall are listed as contributing properties to the Dupont Circle Historic District.[15]

Demographics

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At full capacity, ISH houses 96 people.[6] The house also has over 15,000 alumni.[6] Over the course of 2018, ISH hosted 194 residents from 48 countries.[16] Geographically, 38% of residents were from Europe, 28% from North America, 23% from Asia, 5% from Africa, 5% from South America, and 1% from Oceania.[16] Most ISH residents are in their 20s, with an average age of 27.[6]

Operations

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ISH supplements its income by renting its common spaces to external groups for events.[1] In June 2020, ISH ended its food services contract with Sodexo and switched to a local Nordic restaurant, Mikko.[17]

References

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  1. ^ a b "International Student House, Inc" (PDF). GuideStar. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  2. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  3. ^ Austermuhle, Martin (October 31, 2012). "International Student House Offers Roof and Relationships". The Washington Diplomat. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  4. ^ Ahmad, C. Naseer (July 9, 2016). "International Students House – Nurturing Leaders of Tomorrow". The Diplomatic Courier. Retrieved 22 March 2019.[permanent dead link‍]
  5. ^ "International Student House Inc". Charity Navigator. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  6. ^ a b c d "About ISH". International Student House. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  7. ^ Gawel, Anna. "British Ambassador Fêtes International Student House of D.C." The Washington Diplomat. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  8. ^ Woods, Marjorie Binford (14 December 1947). "International House Groups Share Christmas Customs". The Washington Post. ProQuest 151964208.
  9. ^ Durrani, Anayat (July 18, 2017). "Find Global Student Community Via International Houses". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  10. ^ a b c d "Our History". International Student House. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  11. ^ Mullens, Creston B. (27 February 1937). "Students Link All Nations: Hospitality Extended by Unique House in Washington, Which Is Creating Understanding Among World's People. Peace-Loving Quakers Have Taken Lead". The Evening Star – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "International Student House Cures Bias—Even Alabaman's". The Washington Post. 22 September 1947. p. B1. ProQuest 151919096.
  13. ^ Reynolds, Genevieve (28 April 1940). "Students Live in Peace At International House". The Washington Post. ProQuest 151285204.
  14. ^ Simpson, Anne (27 Oct 1988). "A United Nations of College Students; International House Near Dupont Circle Caters to Foreigners". The Washington Post. ProQuest 139403924.
  15. ^ "Dupont Circle HD Contributing Structures" (PDF). Washington, D.C. Office of Planning. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  16. ^ a b "2018 Impact Report" (PDF). International Student House of Washington, D.C. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  17. ^ "International Student House". Facebook. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
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