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Our Boston office will be closed from 3-5 PM on Tuesday, May 14 and Wednesday, May 15. Our Lowell office will be closed from 9 AM - 12 PM on Friday, May 17.

Year: 2017

Fostering Friendships over Food

Written by Jeff Thielman on . Posted in Blog, Boston, Community, Lowell, Manchester, Volunteer.

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IINE-Lowell and local community groups unite residents and newcomers at shared dinners.

On Jan. 24, 2017, Lowell community members and three newly- arrived Congolese families gathered for a meal at IINE-Lowell’s site office. The potluck meal was hosted by the local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Khalil Abdo’s smile disguises the difficult journey that brought his family from Syria to Lowell, Massachusetts. In 2013, war and violence forced them to leave their homeland, and in 2016 they became some of the few Syrians granted resettlement in the U.S. When the family of seven arrived, Khalil knew little English and relied on interpreters to navigate his new surroundings. In Lowell he faced challenges as he adjusted to a new community, addressed urgent medical issues, and searched for employment. The first months for any refugee in the United States are challenging, yet can be eased by a warm welcome from new neighbors. Last summer, IINE-Lowell staff worked with community and faith groups to organize a series of welcome dinners for newly arrived refugees. Since the launch, 12 refugee families have participated in a welcome dinner, including the Abdo family who attended one hosted by IINE supporters in Andover, Mass.

Held in a local hall, the space was brightly decorated and an array of ethnic and traditional American foods was available for all to enjoy. The dynamic at each welcome dinner is slightly different. When a group of professors hosted Congolese families recently, the hosts and their guests spontaneously broke out in African dancing. At another dinner, the group discussed shared interests and cultural traditions. In Andover, Khalil and his wife and children practiced English and Arabic words with their new friends over chocolate cake.

Welcome dinners are easy to organize, and their impact is enduring. Through the relationships formed, refugees secure play dates for their children, learn about job opportunities, and get insights on the American healthcare system and culture. At the same time, families such as Khalil’s share the experience of their journey with their hosts. This gives American families an intimate perspective on the global refugee crisis. At the end of dinner in Andover, Khalil surprised the organizers by sharing that the evening was his sixth-month anniversary in the U.S. Smiling, he told the group, “This is the first night in the country where I only feel joy, only joy. Thank you.”

Many of these welcome dinners are hosted by Resettle Together volunteers, a growing network of community partners who help refugee families rebuild their lives in New England.  They also provide immediate and long-term support to refugees and immigrants on the road to self-sufficiency. If you’re interested in becoming a Resettle Together partner, contact Cheryl Hamilton at chamilton@iine.org.

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TripAdvisor Leads the Charge on Refugee Crisis

Written by Jeff Thielman on . Posted in Blog, Boston, Community, Lowell, Manchester.

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IINE-Boston partners with TripAdvisor to locally respond to the global humanitarian issue.

When the worldwide migrant and refugee crisis hit its peak in 2015, TripAdvisor’s CEO Steve Kaufer invited the company’s traveler community to support organizations that help refugees, and the company agreed to match their donations dollar for dollar.

In September of 2016, following the White House Summit on Refugees, TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site, committed to donate $5 million to organizations that support refugees. The company pledged to educate its employees about the global refugee crisis and emerged as a leader on this issue.

During IINE’s recent visit to TripAdvisor, employees assembled 150 hygiene kits for the Institute’s refugee, immigrant, and asylee clients in Lynn, MA to support workplace readiness.

On November 9, 2016, IINE’s President and CEO Jeff Thielman, Refugee Resettlement and Employment Services Manager Ashley Wellbrock, and Community Services Case Specialist Rahmatullah Aka, participated in a “Fireside Chat” with TripAdvisor’s Human Resources team and other staff in their Needham office.

During the visit, Jeff and Ashley spoke about the Institute’s mission and work, and Rahmatullah, himself a refugee from Afghanistan, shared his personal journey with 150 TripAdvisor employees. In response, employees assembled and donated hygiene kits and interview preparation booklets and handouts to support workplace readiness.

Employees followed the November meeting by collecting 700 pounds of clothing and household items, and $750 worth of gift cards for distribution to IINE clients to cover basic needs such as food and transportation. In addition to in-kind support, the TripAdvisor Charitable Foundation generously donated $30,000 to the Institute to help sustain services to new Americans.

As part of its commitment, TripAdvisor plans to continue hosting educational events about the refugee crisis for employees, area foundations, other corporations, and local communities. By developing a meaningful way for the company, its employees, and even its customers, to support refugee relief, TripAdvisor is setting the standard for how a company should engage in social responsibility.

“We wanted to do more than just support this cause with a donation,” said Tali Golan, Head of the TripAdvisor Charitable Foundation who has visited refugee resettlement camps as part of her work. “We’re the largest online travel company in the world, and our customers span the globe. We are experiencing the largest refugee crisis since World War II. While we support a political solution to the crisis, we want to make a difference in a meaningful way and can do that globally as well as locally by supporting organizations like the International Institute of New England.”

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2017 International Women’s Day Luncheon: Global Stories of Inspiration

Written by Jeff Thielman on . Posted in Blog, Boston, Community, Lowell, Manchester.

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On March 8, 2017, nearly 400 people – including employees of 38 Greater Boston companies – joined clients and staff of the International Institute of New England (IINE), Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh, and WCVB news anchor Maria Stephanos to celebrate International Women’s Day.

This year, IINE observed the day by hosting a luncheon in the impressive Great Room at 60 State Street in downtown Boston to recognize the contributions and success of global women and to honor three extraordinary women: Boston Common Asset President and Founder Geeta Aiyer, WGBH Reporter, Creator/Host of “Otherhood” and Co-Host of “The World” Rupa Shenoy, and AARP Chief Medical Officer Charlotte Yeh, M.D.

Telling Their Stories

IINE was honored to have Boston Mayor Marty Walsh provide welcoming remarks, during which he spoke of the city’s increased focus on gender equality, diversity, and the wage gap. “I’m a labor guy. I stand for equal pay for equal work,” he said. “We’re going to stand for women’s health. We’re also going to make sure that we celebrate the diversity of our city.”

Maria Stephanos then moderated a panel discussion where the honorees shared inspiring personal stories about how their personal and professional lives were shaped by being an immigrant or the daughter of immigrants.

When asked how she would counter the argument that her parents should not have come to the U.S., Dr. Yeh, whose parents flew in from Pittsburgh for the event, responded: “My parents have demonstrated fearlessness, resiliency, compassion, and the drive to put education above all else. It is these characteristics and qualities as a child of refugees that I have emulated to become a doctor, a surgeon, a businesswoman, and the Chief Medical Officer of AARP.”

For many, the immigrant experience has left them feeling conflicted about their identities. “I have always felt like I’ve lived a hyphenated life,” said Geeta Aiyer, who was the second woman immigrant from India to attend Harvard Business School and has since built one of the largest woman-owned investment firms in Boston. “I strive to be the best Indian-mother, the best American-mother, and the best woman-entrepreneur.”

As a child of immigrant parents from India, Rupa Shenoy also has always felt as though she’s had a foot in two worlds. Through her podcast “Otherhood,” she elevates the conversation about what it means to be ‘other’ in this country. “My podcast was born out of my obsession to give a voice to first-generation immigrants, otherwise known as ‘new American’ citizens. Through storytelling, my voice is also heard,” she said during the discussion. She bonded with Geeta over the legend that somehow all immigrants from India come to the U.S. “with seven dollars in their pockets”.

The conversation between these remarkable and talented women underscored how significant new Americans are to the vitality and renewal of our nation, and how strong women leaders in all their diversities strengthen our communities. “I made the choice to remain in the U.S. It was my ‘free will’ to become an American citizen,” said Geeta. “I feel a sense of loyalty and am motivated to contribute to this country in exceptional ways.”

The Discussion Isn’t Over

The International Institute of New England serves nearly 2,000 refugees and immigrants each year. The majority of those we serve fled nations where they were persecuted for religious and political beliefs, and even their gender. Many of these women protected their families as they fled war and violence in places like Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Somalia, Syria, and other countries. They have overcome incredible odds to come to New England and they are determined to contribute to life in their new country. It is for this very reason that we must continue to support and provide critical services to vulnerable populations, especially women, not just on March 8th, but on every day of the year.

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The International Institute of New England Receives $10K Grant from the Boston Foundation

Written by Jeff Thielman on . Posted in Blog, Boston, Community, Lowell, Manchester.

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“The Boston Foundation awarded The International Institute of New England (IINE) a grant of $10,000,” Jeff Thielman, CEO and President of the International Institute said today. According to Thielman, the grant will help expand the Institute’s volunteer program and establish a volunteer coordinator position at their Boston site office.

“There is an overwhelming amount of community interest in protecting the refugee admissions process, welcoming immigrants, and supporting services that help new Americans integrate and thrive,” he said. “The grant from the Boston Foundation will give us additional resources to sustain our public engagement and education initiatives.”

In operation for nearly a century, IINE is one of the oldest and largest social service organizations for new Americans in the region. Each year, the Institute serves nearly 2,000 refugee, asylee, and immigrant clients across their three sites in Boston and Lowell, Massachusetts, and Manchester, New Hampshire. To learn more about the Institute visit iine.org.

The Boston Foundation serves as a major civic leader, think tank, and advocacy organization in Greater Boston. The Philanthropic Initiative (TPI), an operating unit of the Foundation, designs and implements customized philanthropic strategies for families, foundations and corporations around the globe. For more information about the Boston Foundation and TPI, visit tbf.org or call 617-338-1700.

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Volunteer Highlight

Written by Jeff Thielman on . Posted in Blog, Boston, Community, Lowell, Manchester.

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Louisa French, Resettlement and Employment Training Volunteer, IINE-Lowell

Over the past five years, Louisa French has volunteered at the International Institute of New England’s Lowell site office in nearly every capacity. From organizing in-kind donations to setting up newly-arrived families’ apartments, she plays a significant role in welcoming newcomers to Lowell.

Louisa’s personal interest in humanitarian work stems from her time providing policy guidance to third-world nations at the Harvard Institute for International Development. This interest led her to the Institute where she supports refugee resettlement, case management, and cultural orientation programs. Leveraging 15 years of experience as a Human Resources professional, Louisa teaches a weekly employment readiness class known as the “Job Club,” which is held every Friday. During these sessions, Louisa educates predominately Swahili and Arabic speaking clients on interviewing, time management, industry-specific vocabulary, administrative tasks, and U.S. labor laws. In addition to providing practical job readiness skills, the course gives clients an extra opportunity to practice English.

Louisa finds volunteering deeply gratifying and enjoys seeing clients progress through the Institute’s services.

“Learning English is the key to success. It allows for greater integration into American society and opens doors to future opportunities.

In the first six months of the fiscal year that began on October 1, 2016, over 200 people have volunteered at the Institute, contributing nearly 13,000 hours of service to the Institute’s refugee and immigrant clients. The generosity of volunteers like Louisa is critical to the Institute’s work of helping new Americans contribute to their new communities.

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Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center Supports New Americans on the Path to Success

Written by Jeff Thielman on . Posted in Blog, Boston, Community, Lowell, Manchester.

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IINE-Manchester partners with Crotched Mountain to help refugees and immigrants begin healthcare careers

The biggest challenge for Khem Basnet when he arrived in the U.S. was studying for his driver’s license exam and buying a car, which was vital to getting a job in New Hampshire. In 2008, the International Institute of New England resettled Khem and his family from Nepal to Manchester, an area with vast expanses of highways and country roads. In order to help support his family, he needed a car.

Khem quickly achieved his goal of passing a driver’s test and buying a used car. He was able to get a job at a fast food restaurant, and for three months Khem worked 80hours a week to make ends meet. His life in America bore little resemblance to life in his homeland where he was an accomplished teacher. When he applied for a position as a residential counselor at the Crotched Mountain Foundation, a rehabilitation center in Greenfield, NH that serves students and adults with severe disabilities, he assumed this was just another job. It was on the Mountain, however, that he found something more than a job—he discovered a career.

““I was able to use my expertise and experience doing something that had meaning and purpose and this is what I share with other foreign staff. At Crotched Mountain, you have the opportunity to do incredibly important work and climb the professional ladder.”

Khem began his career at Crotched Mountain as a Community Residence Manager and worked his way up to manage three residences. He was eventually promoted to his current role as the Human Resources Diversity Recruiter.

Over the past two years, Khem recruited and hired more than 20 IINE-Manchester clients as Crotched Mountain staff members. In addition, he holds weekly meetings with the Institute’s staff in Manchester to pre-qualify and prepare new recruits for the demands of being residential counselors and paraprofessionals.“ The International Institute is incredibly supportive of us,” he says. “They are one of our strongest partners.”

Today, as he stands in his office at Crotched Mountain overlooking the sprawling horizon of the Monadnock Valley, he has found contentment in a simple truth: New Hampshire is home and is a place where he has found personal and professional success.

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Equipping Immigrants with Workplace Skills

Written by Jeff Thielman on . Posted in Blog, Boston, Community, Lowell, Manchester.

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IINE-Boston’s Service Industry Training Program prepares immigrants for hospitality, healthcare, and banking jobs

In April 2014, Asma Amahri came to the U.S. from Morocco knowing little English. Shortly after her arrival, however, she took a job as a cashier at Dunkin’ Donuts in East Boston. While this position did not meet her  career goals, it allowed her to strengthen her language skills. She knew that in order to advance in any career, she needed to achieve a higher level of fluency in English. A close friend referred her to the International Institute of New England and mentioned
its English and skills training programs. Asma knew this was her opportunity.

Asma enrolled in the Institute’s Service Industry Training Program (SITP), a 12-week course that equips students with the skills they need to start a career in the hospitality, healthcare, and banking industries. During the program, Asma participated in industry-specific skills and customer service training, intensive English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes, and computer literacy training.

Following her graduation in December 2016, Asma worked with Skills Training Program Coordinator Chloe Walker and Skills Training Program Specialists Kelson Brighton and Maureen Carani to find a full-time job. It took less than a month for her to land a well-paying housekeeping position at Boston Medical Center, a large hospital with many opportunities for growth.

On December 2, 2016, Asma Amahri attended her Service Industry Training Program graduation ceremony at the IINE- Boston office. She is pictured above with Skills Training Program Coordinator Chloe Walker and Skills Training Program Specialist Kelson Brighton

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“I had a great experience at the Institute, and they gave me confidence in my abilities,” Asma said. With a laugh and a smile, she added: “I think they helped me so much. I recommend that all immigrants go through the program at the Institute because even if they don’t realize it, they need help and support.” Asma demonstrated her language abilities during a recent lecture event at the IINE-Boston site office, where she participated in a dialogue about integrating immigrants into the workforce.

While she’s only worked at Boston Medical Center for a short time, Asma continues to plan for the future.“I want to become a nurses’ assistant, and then maybe pursue something completely different,” she said. “I have a lot of dreams, and thanks to the Institute I have the skills and confidence to pursue them.”

To learn more about the Institute’s programs and services visit iine.org.

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