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Author: Danielle Gauthier

From the Desk of the CEO: Thank You for Rising to the Challenge in 2023

Written by Danielle Gauthier on . Posted in Blog, From the Desk of the CEO, Press Releases/Statements.

By Jeff Thielman, President and CEO at the International Institute of New England

As our 2023 fiscal year comes to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect on a year that was unlike any other – and to thank you, our supporters, for rising to meet a level of need none of us could have anticipated a year ago.  

This past year was remarkable in many ways:  

The vast majority of those entering services have come here from Haiti, where political turmoil, natural disasters, water scarcity and famine, and widespread gang violence have displaced millions. Many put their hopes in the U.S. and set off on a long and perilous journey, and for tens of thousands, Massachusetts is their final stop and their new beginning. Here they join a rich community and the 3rd largest Haitian diaspora in the U.S. For Haitian immigrants—and for the thousands of clients we serve each year from more than 60 countries of origin—IINE provides life-saving support by unlocking and delivering federal and state benefits (including food, healthcare, and housing support) they are eligible for and cannot receive without the help of an organization like ours. 

The challenges immigrants face when entering the U.S. are immense. Their journeys to self-sufficiency are often hampered by inadequate funding in Massachusetts for adult ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes, which have extremely long wait lists. Some immigrants also experience delays in the approval of the federal work authorization documents needed to secure jobs. IINE has advocated for increased state and federal funding to expedite immigrant entry into our workforces, lobbying regularly to improve and expand services that support the stabilization and integration of families with so much to offer our community and economy.

Core to all our programming is IINE’s long-term vision that refugees and immigrants are able to realize their dreams and contribute to New England’s growth and prosperity. In support of this, this year IINE launched a new Financial Literacy class. Taught at our Boston and Lowell offices and free for all students, the class covers a range of topics from the basics of banking to financial planning, buying a home, and understanding credit scores and reports. We also piloted a new job skills training program focused on professional development. Designed for a range of English language levels, the course focuses on workplace norms in the U.S. Topics include professionalism and social skills, customer service, email etiquette, transferable skills, teamwork/collaboration, resume and cover letter writing, job search strategies, mock interviews, and salary negotiations. Learn more about the program in our interview with Associate Director of Workforce Initiatives Kubana Alexis. 

This Spring, in partnership with Stellar Story Company and Global Arts Live, seven storytellers took to the Somerville Theatre stage to share their own stories of migration and cross-cultural exchange. Recounting hardship, triumph, and self-discovery, the storytellers brought audience members to their feet. Four additional storytellers, including our youth client Mapendo Mutingamo, shared their personal journeys at IINE’s World Refugee Day celebration at Middlesex Community College in Lowell. Experience our youth client Mapendo’s Suitcase Stories® performance on our blog. 

Launched in the summer of 2022, Resettle Together is a new kind of community sponsorship model through which volunteers enter into a formal partnership with IINE to raise resources for, welcome, and resettle a family of refugees. The partnership expands capacity while drawing on our staff’s expertise and each volunteer group’s community roots. The result? Refugees feel more deeply supported, welcomed, and integrated into their new communities. Over the past year, ten new Resettle Together groups have formed, successfully completed orientation, and have been matched with an IINE refugee family. Tom Barrington, a member of the group “Team Together,” shared his experience. “Accompanying a refugee family is an immense privilege,” he said. “We are able to get to know courageous people who have all kinds of hope and dreams for their future. They have all kinds of opportunities along a crooked road. We cannot travel that road for them but can be with them.” Hear more about his group’s experience supporting an Afghan family of nine in our Town Hall webinar.   

Thank you again for your ongoing support. Refugees and immigrants are finding safety and hope in our region because of you.  

Employee Profile: Meet Joe Gilbert, Education Program Manager

Written by Danielle Gauthier on . Posted in Blog, Manchester, Our Team, Press Releases/Statements.

After spending the majority of his career in higher education, Joe Gilbert joined the International Institute of New England as the Education Program Manager in our Manchester office last year. In our latest employee profile, Joe shares how the ESOL program and his team have evolved, the many hats he gets to wear in his role, and where you are most likely to find the native New Hampshirite on a day off.  

What brought you to the International Institute of New England?

I had been teaching at the University of New Hampshire in their ESOL Program for a couple of years and was preparing to wrap up my time there. Then, during my last semester, the pandemic hit. So, that changed my plans entirely. I became a stay-at-home dad for the next two years. Once the world started to become a little safer and my kids returned to school in person, I started the job hunt. 

I wasn’t sure where I wanted to be. I knew that staying in higher education might require moving, which wasn’t appealing, and I was also eager to work with a different population. Many of the students in higher education ESOL programs tend to come from wealthy international families who can afford to pay full tuition out of pocket. While there were enjoyable aspects of teaching in that environment, I wanted to help people who were more vulnerable and people who were coming to New Hampshire with the intent of staying and building a life here. I started researching opportunities to work with immigrants and refugees and that put the International Institute of New England on the map for me.  

Initially, I had been looking for a teaching job since that was the majority of my prior experience, but then the Education Program Manager position in Manchester opened up. It felt like a bit of a stretch because of the administrative and management aspects, but it was an exciting opportunity to join an organization whose mission I really connected with.  

Yesterday marked your one-year workiversary! How has your role and team grown since you started?

Joe speaks with students during an English Class Orientation

We have welcomed quite a few new faces! We have also been able to expand our team’s capacity by making a number of part-time positions full-time. We are currently hiring additional teachers, too (you can view job openings here).  

When I first joined, the program had recently grown from four ESOL classes to six. We have three levels, and morning and evening sessions for each. We have also expanded our community partnerships. Through a contract with Network for Health, we now teach a healthcare-focused English class onsite for employees at two hospitals in Manchester.  

We are working on starting up afternoon English classes next month in a partnership with the new Meelia Center for Community Engagement. Those will be onsite at St. Raphael’s Parish on the West Side of Manchester, where many clients live who have a harder time getting across town to our Brookside Church classrooms. We are also exploring a partnership with Manchester Community Schools, where our teachers would teach our curriculum to parents and students onsite at schools after hours

So, our program has grown quite a bit. At the same time, my role has shifted too. When I started, I was teaching a class myself, and all of our classes were held virtually on Zoom. Then, as our classes and partnerships began to grow, and as we looked to transition to in-person and hybrid classes, I shifted my focus to oversee those initiatives. A big part of my job has been getting our classes and technology up and running, training teachers and students on how to have hybrid classes, and strategizing on how to get students to our classes when they don’t have reliable transportation as our new in-person location, the Brookside Church, is not directly downtown.

What does your day to day look like? 

It could be 20 different things! This week, in particular, is our first week of classes for the fall semester, so I have been attending orientations for all of our students. I want to be present so students know who I am and recognize me as a familiar face.  

To give you a broader sense though, on any given day, I might be: 

  • Checking in with my team members, who range from teachers to administrative support to data entry specialists. 
  • Attending a weekly Department of Education meeting, where we cover topics ranging from student intake and assessment to curriculum development, data management, and volunteer coordination. 
  • Meeting with our office’s Senior Program and Contract Manager Kayla Rossmeissl to discuss budgets, personnel, and any updates that need to be shared across all Manchester staff who work with our refugee and immigrant clients 
  • Touching base with other service providers in the state who serve similar populations to share ideas and advice. 
  • Meeting with my counterparts at our Boston and Lowell offices, Kristan Fitah and Sherry Spaulding, so we can share innovations and help brainstorm solutions to any challenges. It’s always helpful to pick each other’s brains – and it’s a good opportunity to share our resources and insights so we can try to avoid any duplication of efforts.  
  • Meeting with other departments at IINE, whether it be IT to discuss setting up new tech for our classrooms, HR to discuss staffing, or Marketing (as I am for this interview!) to share ideas on how to promote our ESOL program, etc.  
  • Updating performance trackers and preparing quarterly reports for the DOE 
  • And of course, troubleshooting and responding to any situation that may arise! That might mean substitute teaching for a class, helping order new textbooks for students, conducting student tests, helping with new student intakes, giving students a ride home, organizing donations, etc. So, I get to wear many hats.  

What do you enjoy most about your role? 

Seeing the impact that we make in people’s lives is by far the most rewarding aspect. By learning English, our students are learning self-sufficiency: how to fill out forms to access services, how to communicate during a doctor’s appointment or with their children’s teacher, and how to navigate a grocery store. We’re able to help people gain the skills and confidence to take charge of their own education and career goals. Some of our students come to us with no formal education in any language, at all – to see them gain survival English is huge. And then we have our more advanced students who have gone on to enroll in community colleges or UNH!  

Being at a nonprofit and being able to deliver direct humanitarian aid, it’s something I really value. I can give our students dignity; for example, by providing shopping vouchers for the thrift shop onsite at Brookside so they can get a bag of winter clothing for their kids.

What advice would you share with someone who is interested in joining IINE?

Joe and his family on vacation in Tennessee, including a stop at the Bush’s Baked Bean Museum!

Be prepared for the unexpected. It’s often an all-hands-on-deck effort here. If you have a skill or interest that you don’t think would necessarily be an asset, it probably will be – and we’ll put it to good use! Everyone here helps each other.  

How do you enjoy spending your time outside of the office?

I have a little bit of a homestead at home. I have fruit trees, blackberry bushes, and ducks and geese. My geese are noisy, and this is a feature, not a bug. They’re very effective at alerting against predators. On my days off, you’ll often find me splitting firewood. That’s what I consider self-care – and doesn’t hurt that it keeps our house warm for cheap!  

Interested in joining our team? Our collaborative, team-oriented environment offers opportunities to serve refugees and immigrants, while learning from other staff and departments. View career opportunities here. 

Migrants, Immigrants, Refugees, Asylum-Seekers, Parolees: Understanding the Key Differences

Written by Danielle Gauthier on . Posted in Blog, Explainer, Legal, Refugee Resettlement.

Migrants. Immigrants. Refugees. Asylum seekers. Parolees. They all leave their homes seeking a better life. Some leave by choice, others by dire necessity. The terms used to describe people who make these difficult decisions and journeys are determined by why they come, and the different legal rights they have when they arrive.

Migrants and Immigrants

The terms “Migrant” and “Immigrant” are not humanitarian legal statuses, just descriptors. Though usage varies, formally the main difference between migrants and immigrants is the permanency of their stay in a new location.

Migrants

Migrants are people on the move either within their home countries or internationally, who do not necessarily intend to stay at their destination indefinitely. It’s important to note that “migrant” is often used as an umbrella term when people’s motivation for crossing borders, or their ultimate status after arrival, is unclear. 

Immigrants

Immigrants choose to move to a foreign country with the intention of settling there. They often go through a lengthy vetting process. Many become lawful permanent residents and eventually citizens.  

“Emigrant” is used to describe a person while leaving their country of origin, and “immigrant” is used to described someone who is entering or has entered a new country.

Refugees, Asylum-Seekers, Parolees, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Recipients, Victims of Trafficking, and Unaccompanied Children

These terms refer to Humanitarian Legal Status—they are defined by their reasons for coming or means of arriving, and also by the rights and protections they receive upon arrival in the U.S. 

Refugees

Refugees leave their home countries and are unable or unwilling to return because of a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion. 

Diana and Randy Blog Thumbnail
Meet Diana and Randy, refugees from Cuba

Those who obtain the legal status of “refugee,” are given protections under international laws and conventions. They can live and work legally and receive lifesaving support from agencies like IINE. The determination is made by an official entity such as a government or the U.N. Refugee Agency before the journey is made to a new country. In the U.S., refugees can join the workforce and have pathways to become lawful permanent residents and eventually citizens. 

Informally, “refugee” is sometimes used as an umbrella term to describe anyone who leaves their country due to unsafe conditions, regardless of legal status. Learn about IINE’s Refugee Resettlement program.

Asylum-Seekers

Asylum-seekers leave their home countries with the hope of obtaining the same protections given to refugees once they arrive at their country of destination. Upon reaching or crossing the border, they must apply for “Asylum,” and prove to authorities that they have suffered persecution, or fear that they will suffer persecution, based upon race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. Those whose claims are successful—and who are granted protections within their new countries—are called “Asylees.” Asylum-seekers can apply to work in the U.S. while their cases are pending and like refugees, asylees have a path to a green card, and eventually, citizenship. 

Temporary Protected Status (TPS)

Temporary Protected Status allows designated foreign-born individuals to temporarily remain in the U.S. and apply for work authorization in the U.S. while it is deemed unsafe to return to their country of origin.  

When a war breaks out, or a natural disaster strikes a foreign country, people from that country who are currently in the U.S. may be granted TPS by the U.S. government. TPS is sometimes renewed over several years—and sometimes the renewal decision becomes politically contentious. The status does not inherently provide a pathway to citizenship, or the same rights and protections afforded to refugees and asylees, but TPS recipients can apply for asylum, or other humanitarian legal statuses.  

Parolees

Zahra joined IINE’s staff as a parolee to the U.S. following the 2021 evacuation of Afghanistan. Read more.

Parolees, also known as “Humanitarian Parolees,” are granted entrance to the U.S. temporarily for urgent humanitarian reasons—usually for one year at a time. Like TPS recipients, they do not inherently have a pathway to citizenship, but can apply for authorization to work while in the U.S., for asylum, or for other humanitarian legal statuses. 

Cuban/Haitian/Nicaraguan/Venezuelan (CHNV) Parolees

CHNV Parolees, under a new legal status, can enter the U.S. for two years if they have sponsors in the U.S. who commit to providing housing and financial support for this period. This mirrors the Unite for Ukraine (U4U) program launched earlier for Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion of their country. 

Read our “Spotlight Report: Welcoming Haitians” to learn more about why so many Haitians are making the difficult decision to come to the U.S. and how IINE is responding to their arrival. 

Victims of Trafficking

Victims of Trafficking are people who are subjected to force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of commercial sex, debt bondage, or involuntary labor. Human Trafficking is one way in which people are forced to move across borders, but trafficking victims can be U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents, or foreign nationals.  

IINE provides a Trafficking Victims Assistance Program to provide case management and immigration legal support to foreign-born victims of trafficking.

Unaccompanied Children (UC)

Unaccompanied Children are people younger than 18 years-old who enter the U.S. independently of a parent or legal guardian and for whom no parent or legal guardian in the U.S. is available to provide care and physical custody. They are usually fleeing unlivable conditions and threats to their safety in their home countries, and often seeking to reunite with family members in the U.S. Learn about IINE’s Unaccompanied Children program.

Internally Displaced Persons and Climate Disaster Displaced Persons (CDP)

These statuses currently fall outside of humanitarian protections.

Internally Displaced Persons (IDP)

IDP have been forced to leave their homes because of violence, human rights violations, or natural disasters, but, either by choice or necessity, have not crossed an internationally recognized border. IDPs do not have special status internationally or in the U.S. with rights specific to their situation.  

Climate Displaced Persons (CDP)

CDP have been forced from their homes due to disasters caused by climate change. A growing population, individuals displaced by climate disasters alone do not currently qualify for humanitarian protections internationally or in the U.S.

Refugee Youth Spend Summer Exploring, Learning, and Bonding

Written by Danielle Gauthier on . Posted in Blog, Lowell, Manchester, Press Releases/Statements, Youth Programming.

This summer, refugee youth in Lowell, Massachusetts and Manchester, New Hampshire who participated in IINE programs throughout the year had the opportunity to stay engaged during the school break. With staff and volunteers, they explored their local communities, practiced their English skills, learned about art and science, and formed deeper bonds with their peers. 

Lowell, Massachusetts

“That was really nice. I met a lot of people and made new friends,” writes Farah, a 14-year-old from Afghanistan practicing her English in a tutoring session. “My favorite activity was planting the pots. It was so fun and I love the nature, which makes me happy.” 

Farah is one of twenty young refugees who have spent much of their summer with IINE in Lowell, not only working on their English, but also, sewing, swimming and playing sports at a local YMCA, practicing yoga in a dedicated youth space in the Lowell office, and taking field trips to local spots like Lowell’s New England Quilt Museum.  

They’ve also been making art—the “planting pots” activity that Farah enjoyed took place over two weekly “Art Afternoons.”  While listening to music, eating snacks, sipping tea, and mingling, participants were guided by an IINE community volunteer and a summer intern in decoratively painting two pots. In one pot they planted herbs—choosing from parsley, sweet basil, coriander, and chives—which IINE will plant in a community garden. In the second, they potted spider plants, which each participant was able to take home with them. 

The refugee youth taking part in Art Afternoons and other summer activities range in age from 14-20 (and sometimes bring younger siblings along to join the fun) and have come to the U.S. from Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti and Syria. They are drawn from IINE’s year-long programs, Refugee Youth Mentoring and Youth Goal, in which they are matched with volunteer mentors, who help them set, pursue, and achieve their educational and career goals. They also participate in peer support groups, like a group especially for Afghan women, and workshops in which members of the local community present on education, work opportunities, and skill-building.  

As refugees, these youth have all experienced early trauma, and given their language and economic barriers, can feel isolated in their new communities. IINE Youth Services Manager Isabel Goes developed IINE’s summer programming to keep them engaged, help them practice their English, and encourage them to socialize and make friends. 

“The biggest thing was building community bonds with our youth—reducing isolation when resettlement starts,” says Goes, “and we’ve seen clients form close bonds this summer, which will be useful during the fall. We have tutoring twice per week which helps with English, but it’s also nice to have informal conversations during activities and see how far clients can get with what they know so far. It also opens the door if youth need any guidance during this time.”

While Goes also cites the potted plant activity as a highlight, she is particularly excited for what she has planned to cap off the summer. “There have been a lot of requests for a bake-off or a cook-off with IINE staff as judges! We also want to reserve space in the park for an end-of-summer celebration with yard games.”  

Manchester, New Hampshire 

Meanwhile, IINE staff at our Manchester site planned an equally fun summer for the children and youth engaged in our Refugee School Impact program, which supports newly arrived refugees in navigating the Manchester public school system.  

IINE School Impact Coordinator Jamie Suarez partnered with Southern New Hampshire University’s Center for New Americans Amika Youth Program, helping to plan summer field trips to state parks, amusement parks, and more during the school break.  

IINE has had a great relationship with the program for several years, and Suarez says, “This is a new expansion to our shared goal of giving refugee youth great experiences and keeping the kids educationally engaged throughout the summer months. We are providing additional funding to their existing program so they can take more kids and expand on their field trip experiences.” 

Among other fun activities, youth had a blast at Dupont Splash Pad and Chucksters mini-golf, found inspiration at the Currier Museum of Art, and enjoyed hands-on learning experiences at the SEE Science Center.

“Summer programming at the SNHU Center for New Americans was an absolute blast,” says Center for New Americans Program Coordinator Aloyo Lidia Yen. “The kids enjoyed new experiences with field trips to places some had never been before, mini golf, beach trips, movies, and more! Thank you, IINE, for helping make this happen.”
 

Volunteer mentors and tutors help our refugee youth clients to practice English, complete school assignments, prepare for interviews and exams, and more. If you are interested in volunteering with our youth, visit our Get Involved webpage. 

Suitcase Stories®: How a Cup of Coffee Transports Maryna to Happier Days in Ukraine

Written by Danielle Gauthier on . Posted in Blog, Our Team.

Maryna, a Ukrainian refugee, was living in Kyiv with her daughter when Russia invaded the country in 2022. In her recent Suitcase Stories® performance she shared the story of her difficult and brave decision to say goodbye to family and friends in Ukraine with no idea when they may be reunited, and her determination to give her daughter a safe home in the U.S. Maryna came to IINE as a client and now works as an Employment Specialist on our Career Services team. Every day, she helps fellow Ukrainian refugees and other immigrants to acclimate to life in the U.S. and secure employment. The following is a transcript of Maryna’s story in her own words.

Maryna shares her story at IINE’s International Women’s Day event

Since moving to the United States last year, I have visited many coffee shops in Boston, including Starbucks, Tatte, and Panera. I like Starbucks coffee the best. I order my latte with soy milk and one sugar. I am allergic to regular milk. I like how everything feels normal when I am drinking coffee. But sometimes, when I am sitting at a coffee shop and I hear the sounds of airplanes in the sky, I am immediately transported back to Ukraine. The sound makes me nervous, and I feel like I should run to a shelter. This is a kind of associative feeling from which it is very difficult to leave.

In Ukraine, I was a successful businesswoman. I worked in retail, setting up new businesses such as H&M and Adidas in malls.

I remember when I used to worry about such trivial problems as a broken nail or some kind of ugly hairstyle. This all changed on February 24, 2022. I remember waking up at 4 am as usual because I have a five-month-old daughter, and I needed to feed her. I saw fireworks at the window, or I thought it was a firework. Suddenly, I received an SMS from my friend who lived in the north of Ukraine. He wrote me: “Maryna, take your daughter, dog, and cat, and drive to a safe place. The War Has Started.” I was shocked. I didn’t know what to do. I called all my neighbors to tell them to take their stuff and drive. In one hour, my neighbors came and helped me to package all my stuff. When we finally left, I was driving with my 5-month daughter, cat, and dog and two neighbors (because they had no car).On the road, there were traffic jams, panic, horror, and crowded queues to fill up the car. I called my friends to know which road will be good. We were driving towards the border with Poland and hoped to find friends who could take us for the night. A drive that should have taken five hours took twenty-one. When we got to Lviv, our friends accepted us. Instead of taking a hot shower, resting, or having a bite to eat, we went straight to a shelter because we heard sirens throughout the city. I thought we would stay with them for one night, but instead, we stayed for three months. I did my best to stay busy. I volunteered, collecting donations coming across the border and distributing them to people. I remember my daughter crawling among the boxes.  We had to stay busy, or my mind would go to dark places. The whole time I thought, “We will go home in a few days, we will go home in a few days.”  But a few days would be another week.

Eventually, my neighbors and I decided to return to Kyiv. It was our home. We resigned ourselves to the fact that it will not be the same as before and that we would learn how to live in a new reality. We would be strong. Still, it was hard to return. People were different. People smiled less, and many businesses were closed. I could not return to work because international companies were no longer opening stores in Ukraine. I learned that the nanny who had watched my daughter when I went to work had been killed.

Still, I didn’t want to leave Ukraine. It is our home. I wanted to be strong.

This changed one day when a rocket flew into a neighboring house, and a five-year-old girl lost her parents and became an orphan and disabled. At that moment, I realized the same thing could happen to me and that my daughter could be left an orphan. I told myself I need to move. I found a program that helps Ukrainians to move to the U.S.A. My friend sponsored us, and after we got approved, I packed two pieces of luggage with our belongings and left. Again, the road was hard, and with every distant kilometer, I understood that my heart is in Ukraine, but I want to have a safe future for my daughter.

Upon arrival in Boston, I had to complete all the documents to legally stay in this state of the country so that we could be citizens of this community, and other Ukrainians suggested to me that I could apply to IINE. And I am very grateful to them for assisting in the preparation of all documents, for obtaining insurance, for helping with job searches, and for the fact that now I am part of them and can help Ukrainians like me.

One of the things I remind other Ukrainians is to find joy in the small moments. For me, that is a cup of coffee. Sometimes when I miss home, I actually go to the Natick mall and order a cup of coffee and walk around. It reminds me of my life in Ukraine, and I feel a little less anxious.

Plus, you can’t hear the airplanes from inside the mall.

Suitcase Stories® programming invites storytellers to develop and share meaningful personal experiences of migration and cross-cultural exchange with others—from large audiences to small groups—of all ages. Everyone has a Suitcase story.™ Learn more about Suitcase Stories®.

2 Years After the Afghan Evacuation, Afghans Deserve Permission to Stay in Their New Home

2 Years After the Afghan Evacuation, Afghans Deserve Permission to Stay in Their New Home

Written by Danielle Gauthier on . Posted in Advocacy, Afghan Refugees, Blog.

By Alexandra Weber, Chief Advancement Officer and Senior Vice President

Two years ago, on Sunday, August 15, 2021, the Taliban took control of Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul. More than 76,000 Afghans were evacuated to the U.S. Families arrived exhausted, fearful, and unsure of what would come next, and resettlement agencies across the country rushed to respond. Thanks to an incredible outpouring of support from our donors, community partners, and volunteers, IINE welcomed and resettled more than 500 Afghan evacuees in Massachusetts and New Hampshire within five months. 

Now, two years later, what does life look like for Afghans in the U.S.? Devastatingly, it is still full of unknowns.  

Humanitarian Parolee Status – An Impermanent Solution to a Lasting Problem  

Afghans Deserve Support and Permanency in the U.S.

Afghan evacuees came to the U.S. as humanitarian parolees and were granted legal permission to stay for two years. Recently, the U.S. government offered Afghan families an extension of parole for another 12 months—which, in effect, extends their limbo. Afghan evacuees, most of whom traded their safety to support our country, need more than short-sighted and temporary permission to stay in the U.S. Having worked with the U.S. as allies, returning to an Afghanistan still ruled by the Taliban is not an option. 

Join IINE in advocating for the Afghan Adjustment Act (AAA). The bipartisan bill, recently reintroduced to Congress, would allow Afghans to apply for green cards and set them on a pathway to becoming permanent citizens. The AAA would enable those who came alone to bring their families to the U.S.; many Afghan evacuees were separated from their families in the chaos of being airlifted from Kabul, and their families remain in Afghanistan, in danger every day. Passing the AAA will mean that thousands of Afghans will be able to reunite with their families, and together, remain safely in the U.S. – a country they have come to call home.  

A New Community, A New Home 

Afghan woman sewing at a sewing machineDespite living in limbo, over the past two years Afghans have put down roots in New England. IINE has helped Afghan families in Manchester, New Hampshire gather weekly to cook together, socialize, practice English, and play games. They attend workshops on topics ranging from dental hygiene to child car safety, learning the cultural customs and norms of their new country. In Lowell, Massachusetts, Afghan women gather weekly for an IINE-led sewing class. A few participants have gone on to start their own sewing business; they are excited to be supporting their families and contributing financially in a way they never have before.  

There are many more stories like these. Afghans have created community here. New England is now home. 

Lend Your Voice in Support  

Because of generous support from people like you, IINE has welcomed and supported 554 Afghans since August 2021. You can advocate for their permanent residency in the U.S. by contacting your congressional representative today and asking them to pass the Afghan Adjustment Act (S.2327 and H.R. 4627).

IINE’s donors are our heroes! When the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan, you stepped up. You helped ensure that families who come to Massachusetts and New Hampshire find welcome and life-saving support. Now, your help is needed once more.

Violence, chaos, and widespread food and water shortages in Haiti are endangering the lives of its people. IINE is currently serving more than 5,000 Haitian immigrants – a number unlike anything we have ever seen before. Learn more and discover how to support this vulnerable population here: https://iine.org/5-things-to-know-about-the-crisis-in-haiti.

Employee Profile: Meet Julian D'Andre, Case Specialist

Employee Profile: Meet Julian D’Andre, Case Specialist

Written by Danielle Gauthier on . Posted in Blog, Boston, Our Team.

Julian D’Andre joined the International Institute of New England earlier this year as a Case Specialist. Driven by a desire to help fellow Ukrainian refugees, Julian spends his days helping our clients to access the resources they need to achieve security in their new home. Julian shared his path to IINE, what he enjoys most about his role, and how he finds hope and purpose as the war in Ukraine continues.  

Julian D'AndreWhat brought you to the International Institute of New England?

I didn’t necessarily envision myself working at IINE, but having lived in Ukraine for nineteen years of my life, I had a strong desire to help Ukrainians who were coming to Massachusetts through the U4U program. I knew that I would be well equipped to bridge the gap between Ukrainians who moved to Massachusetts and the possibilities that are available to them.

What does your day to day look like? 

As a Community Services Case Specialist my day to day varies, but every day there is a fair amount of documentation that takes place. In addition, I apply to different public benefits for my clients and check in with them to make sure that their needs are being met to the best of my ability.

What aspect of your role do you enjoy most? 

I enjoy interacting with my clients and helping them to get from where they are to where they would like to be. I enjoy being a step in the process of becoming integrated into the community. I love connecting people, so meeting people and connecting them to different resources, community leaders, etc. is something I enjoy.

What advice would you share with someone who is interested in joining IINE?

IINE is a special place in that you are one of the first people that someone meets when moving to the United States. You have the unique opportunity to help someone get on the right path toward their goals. In addition, you can be kind to someone who may not have experienced kindness or positive emotions for a long time.

Share something you are passionate about.

It’s difficult at times to focus on hobbies because for Ukrainians, the number one goal at the moment is victory and survival. In order to get to victory faster, I started an initiative for creative people to do projects for people and use the revenue to support Ukraine. I have been doing photo and video shoots to help my friends who are fighting in Ukraine and who are in dire situations (you can view the photos and videos on Instagram).

Interested in joining our team? Our collaborative, team-oriented environment offers opportunities to serve refugees and immigrants, while learning from other staff and departments. View career opportunities here. 

Mapendo Suitcase Stories

Suitcase Stories®: Mapendo Reflects on Her Family’s Journey From the Democratic Republic of Congo and Starting Over

Written by Danielle Gauthier on . Posted in Blog, Client Stories, Suitcase Stories.

“This is when we knew we had to start life all over.” Mapendo Mutingamo, a refugee youth client at IINE, is originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo; however, she and her family have not been there in over a decade. In our blog, she shares her Suitcase Stories® performance – the story of her family’s journey from their home in the DRC, where life was comfortable until her father suddenly went missing; to Uganda, where they lived for ten years; to the U.S. After a long, difficult journey, Mapendo and her family of eight are putting down roots in Massachusetts, and Mapendo is determined to find success. She recently graduated from our Certified Nursing Assistant Program so she can pursue a role in healthcare. Here, she shares her story in her own words… 

When I was young I felt like a celebrity because my father was a famous sculptor, researcher, and book writer about African art. We lived a life everyone worked hard to get in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It was a luxurious life with my parents and four older siblings. Life was too smooth until one day my father went missing. We didn’t take it very seriously for the first weeks because he usually went for business trips for his research work, but as weeks turned into months, we started getting worried. The fact that we were not able to communicate with him made it even worse. As a little girl who never thought of living without both of her parents, I remember asking my mother each single day to bring back my father, but with tears rolling down her eyes, she had nothing to say. She only got more grief.

Mapendo gives a Suitcase Stories® performance at IINE’s 2023 World Refugee Day event in Lowell, MA

One night, we received a call from an anonymous number to find out it was my father. He was elaborating on how unsafe it was for us in Congo and that we had to flee immediately to Kampala, Uganda. That very night my family started packing only the things we will need for the journey. The young me was totally confused about what was going on, so I grabbed my favorite snack and a doll, thinking we were going for a family picnic.

We took a cargo ship to Uganda since it was the only means of transport we could get. Upon reaching Uganda, we took a bus that drove us to the capital. When we reached Kampala, we didn’t know how we were going to locate our father. We did not understand what people were saying. At that point I was confused about how I moved from luxury to the ghetto. Fortunately, a stranger saw how confused we were and took us to the nearest police station. One of the policemen knew Kiswahili and asked my mother questions. After a while, a stranger came claiming that he knew where we could find our father. He offered to take us. At that point, we had mixed feelings of happiness and fear, but fleeing from Congo was a risk we already made, so we had no choice but to go with him to where my father was.

Mapendo at the graduation ceremony for IINE’s Certified Nursing Assistant program

At last, we met my father, and we were so happy to see him again after a year. But we were so exhausted and famished. When he took us to the place we had to start living, we all broke down. This is when we knew that we had to start life all over with nothing like cars, luxurious foods, houses, or Barbie bedrooms.

After five years, life got better and we had access to good schools and better houses, and my family had also expanded, but the fact was that we could not be offered citizenship as neither my grandfather nor father were Ugandans.

After ten years, we got resettled to the United States. We got so excited but we felt like something was missing because one of our sisters went missing and our going to the States meant that we will never get a chance to look for her ever again.

Upon arriving in the United States, we came with a lot of expectations only to find out that I needed to get a job so I can help out with bills, rent, and paying my own tuition. I’m currently working as a crew member at a fast food restaurant. As a young adult, I have learned that in life, regardless of what you are going through, there are moments of happiness that you need to make the most of.

Suitcase Stories® programming invites storytellers to develop and share meaningful personal experiences of migration and cross-cultural exchange with others—from large audiences to small groups—of all ages. Everyone has a Suitcase story™. Learn more about Suitcase Stories®.

Meet Kubana Alexis, Associate Director, Workforce Initiatives

Employee Profile: Meet Kubana Alexis, Associate Director, Workforce Initiatives

Written by Danielle Gauthier on . Posted in Blog, Our Team.

Kubana Alexis joined the International Institute of New England in 2018 as a Skills Training Specialist. Today, he is the Associate Director, Workforce Initiatives, managing and innovating our job skills training programs. Kubana discussed his journey from client to employee at IINE, his advice for prospective IINE employees, and how he enjoys spending his free time.  

What brought you to the International Institute of New England?

I came to IINE as a client in 2017. I was resettled here as a refugee after living in Uganda for thirteen years. I had worked with refugees for around nine years before that, and I was passionate about continuing that work no matter what. In the beginning, it wasn’t easy. I did a year of service as a Commonwealth Corp member. I oversaw sourcing and recruiting volunteers to support education, skills training, and career coaching programs, and expanding the organization’s volunteer outreach systems. In 2018, my year of service ended, and I started to look for a new job. I wanted to stay in the U.S. and be an inspiration to others. Coming here as a refugee, you have a lot of expectations for yourself. It can be hard to fulfill them. I was determined.  

Throughout the year, I stayed in touch with my caseworker at IINE. They offered me a job as a Skills Training Specialist. I wanted people to see that IINE can resettle you, and you can work for them, too.  

It’s been five years since you first joined IINE as an employee. Congrats on the work anniversary! How has your role evolved over time? 

Kubana teaching a Hospitality Training Class
Kubana teaching a Hospitality Training Class

As a Skills Training Specialist, I focused on coordinating skills training programs and training clients. In 2019, I was promoted to Training Manager, and I continued that work until 2021. Then I was promoted to Associate Director, Workforce Initiatives. In this new role, I have expanded our existing skills training programs and implemented new initiatives.  

Can you tell us more about these new initiatives? 

Sure, let me share two in particular. One of the first new programs we piloted was a professional development course across our three sites (Boston and Lowell, Massachusetts, and Manchester, New Hampshire). The course was designed for a range of English language levels, from immigrants who are still beginners to those who are very advanced. Many of our clients are highly educated and had successful careers in their home countries. I wanted to design a course that would help them find good jobs in the U.S. too. We cover topics like professionalism & soft skills, customer service, professional email etiquette, transferable skills, teamwork/collaboration, professional resume and cover letter writing, job search strategies, mock interviews, professionalism/work ethics, and salary negotiations. Five individuals just successfully completed the course, and we are running the next cohort soon! 

Another program I have led us in piloting is called SelfCorps. With this program, we want to make sure that we don’t just support our clients in getting jobs, but also in integrating into their communities. When we come to work, we bring our issues from our homes and communities with us. People are dealing with mental health issues, financial issues, police reform, etc. I want to help people balance their personal lives and work and to connect with resources in their communities. So, that’s the focus of the program.  

You definitely keep busy! What does your day-to-day look like? 

Every day is different. Right now, I’m very involved in community engagement, so I’m working closely with external partners, attending conferences, and setting up meetings about recruitment and training, etc. That might be my Monday, and then on Tuesday, I’m working on a grant proposal. Wednesday, I’m working on budgeting. It’s always changing! 

I also try to work across our three sites, so I can collaborate with our different teams – whether that’s discussing our programs with a career navigator, talking with marketing about how to promote our programs, or collaborating with HR to think about recruitment and outreach. I am always looking to see where I can be most useful; I want to support wherever I can.  

What aspect of your role do you enjoy most? 

I enjoy being able to advocate for our clients. They have inspiring stories to share.  

I also enjoy highlighting the work we are doing to support them. I’m proud to say that IINE has served 7,000 refugees and immigrants this year. That takes a lot of work and a lot of courage. We have an amazing team.  

What advice would you share with someone who is interested in joining IINE? 

Be flexible and open to change. The staff at IINE is a welcoming community. They want to support and teach you, and you have to be willing to support them and learn, too.  

All of us are working towards a common goal – to support refugees and immigrants and make their lives better. Believe in the mission, and you will be fulfilled here.  

Bonus: Share something about yourself that people might be interested to know. 

I’m very social! I like being with people, listening to music and dancing together. I am also a crazy sports fan. I love soccer and basketball. I call myself a Bostonian; go Boston Celtics!

Interested in joining our team? Our collaborative, team-oriented environment offers opportunities to serve refugees and immigrants, while learning from other staff and departments. View career opportunities here. 

Major League Opportunity for Refugees at Fenway Park

Major League Opportunity for Refugees at Fenway Park

Written by Danielle Gauthier on . Posted in Blog, Boston, Employment Support.

Getting a call from the Red Sox to come on down to Fenway Park is the dream of many a New Englander. Even though he wasn’t being asked to suit up, IINE Career Service Manager Nico Britt was thrilled when it happened to him shortly before the start of the baseball season. 

“Our [employment] partnership with the Red Sox and Aramark, [who provides their concessions], was one that started because they reached out to us,” Nico explains. “We jumped on this opportunity and reached out to Jeff Carson who is the head of recruitment for Fenway. He invited us to tour the facilities. He has experience working in refugee resettlement and feels passionately about giving refugees and immigrants an opportunity in the American workforce. Our clients were really excited to work at Fenway as it is a famous stadium. The schedule is super great as it allows clients to pick their shifts—a lot of flexibility.” 

In April, several IINE clients—refugees seeking their first job in the U.S. who had prepared with IINE Career Services staff—headed down to America’s favorite baseball park for a recruitment event. They learned about job opportunities with Aramark at Fenway and then had on-the-spot interviews. Three clients, from Yemen, the Central African Republic, and Ukraine, were handed offer letters for jobs in custodial services.  

So far, their Fenway work experience is going better than the slow-starting 2023 Red Sox season. “It’s a great job. I like it a lot!” says Osamah, a recent refugee from Yemen. “Aramark is a good employer.”  

So, has the partnership created some new baseball fans?

IINE Employment Case Specialist Sean Burke enjoys a visit to Fenway Park, where his refugee clients have landed their first jobs in the U.S.

Sean Burke, an IINE Employment Case Specialist says that in conservations with the clients placed at Fenway, he finds that “they don’t necessarily follow everything that’s going on [on the field] but they appreciate the enthusiasm—how everyone is just thrilled to be there.” 

Sean and his colleagues certainly were when IINE’s Career Services team was invited to the park to watch the Sox “perform tremendously well in a riveting game vs the Seattle Mariners” as a thank you for helping Aramark staff up. 

Maryna Vernyhora, a refugee from Ukraine who now works as an IINE Employment Specialist is officially a convert. “It was my first game. I would gladly go again. It was incredible! To be honest, before I did not watch baseball at all, but now I am a fan of the Red Sox!”

Inspired by the mid-game heroics of the Sox (who won their fifth World Series title in 1918, the year IINE was founded in Lowell), Sean offered this final reflection, “It’s been a really great opportunity. Baseball’s an important part of American culture, and as the crew came out to clean up the field after a dramatic sixth inning, I came to realize how much the Red Sox and IINE Career Services have in common: we’re both signature New England teams.” 

IINE provides job placement and targeted skills trainings so refugees and immigrants can earn a steady income and build a career path. Learn more about our employment services. 

Volunteer Spotlight: Phoebe Park

Volunteer Spotlight: Phoebe Park Finds a Connection That Transcends Language Barriers

Written by Danielle Gauthier on . Posted in Blog, Boston, Volunteer.

In our Volunteer Spotlight series, we catch up with cherished IINE volunteers to hear more about their passion and experiences. Our latest edition features Phoebe Park, a recent college graduate who has been tutoring the children of a refugee family in Boston.

Phoebe shared how her academic interests and personal background led her to IINE, what she has learned about being an effective volunteer, and how this experience has deepened her community ties. Read on to discover what Phoebe had to say…

IINE: What drew you to volunteer with IINE?

Phoebe: I have always been passionate about volunteering as a way to give back and get involved, and I enjoy using the privileges and opportunities I have been given to help others. I’m also a people person; I enjoy interacting with others! 

Phoebe with the two younger children she tutors in English (and enjoys snacks with!)

I came to IINE specifically for two reasons. First, I studied government and political science in college, which included looking at refugee movements. So, immigration and resettlement were academic areas of interest for me. When I heard about IINE through a friend who interned at your organization, I became excited about the opportunity to gain hands-on experience—not just learning about refugee movements, but seeing them in the community around me and being able to help—that was fascinating to me.  

Second, I grew up in an immigrant household in Texas and can speak multiple languages, including Korean, which we spoke at home, and Spanish, which was my major in college. I felt like volunteering with IINE would be an opportunity to draw on my own specific perspective and skills.  

IINE: What kind of volunteer work do you do?

Phoebe: For the past month, I have been volunteering with a refugee family in Boston a few times a week. There are four children. I help the older two, who are in school, with their homework, and I tutor the younger two in English. I also help the mom with English.  

I work as an analyst at a clinical trials recruitment company, so this volunteer work is completely different from how I spend most of my day. It allows me to fulfill my passion for helping others.  

IINE: What has been the most impactful aspect of volunteering?

Phoebe: I’m sure a lot of volunteers would say this: even if English isn’t their first language, the gratitude and the love that the family members give me are so tangible. I might not be able to have in-depth English conversations with the mom at this stage, but every time she invites me to join them for dinner or packs a Tupperware of snacks for me to take home, I feel the strength of our connection. 

I have told so many of my friends about volunteering with IINE! I want others to have this same experience.  

IINE: Speaking of, is there any advice you would share with people who might be considering volunteering with IINE?

Phoebe: I think open-mindedness is really important. For example, I originally signed up to tutor the kids – that was how the volunteer opportunity was listed. But then, one day, I was at the family’s house, tutoring the kids, and I noticed that there seemed to be a language barrier between the mom and a maintenance worker who was fixing their fridge. They were communicating in English, but it wasn’t either of their first language. I realized that the maintenance worker was Korean, so I was able to translate what he was saying into English for the mom. It wasn’t an experience I signed up for, but having an open mind helped. Now I always try to notice and adapt to the current needs of the family – whether it’s tutoring the children or just spending time with them to improve their social skills.  

IINE: Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

Phoebe: I would share that Boston has a high immigrant population; immigrants are all around us. Reaching out into your community and helping is so rewarding. These are people that are a part of your city.  

Interested in IINE’s volunteer opportunities? Click to find a list of ways you can get involved.

WRD 2023

IINE Celebrates World Refugee Day 2023

Written by Danielle Gauthier on . Posted in Blog, Boston, Events, Lowell, Manchester.

World Refugee Day 2023

The United Nations General Assembly established the first World Refugee Day on June 20, 2000. The international holiday honors the courage and resilience of refugees worldwide, celebrates the significant contributions they make to every community they join, and calls for expanded protections for a population that is forced to flee their homelands.  

Our community came together at our three sites—Boston and Lowell, MA and Manchester, NH—to celebrate our clients’ successes, hear their stories, and honor our community partners, who make our work helping refugees possible.  

Highlights of the Day

Refugee Voices: Clients Share Their Personal Journeys

A number of clients took the stage to share what brought them to IINE and the challenges and opportunities they have faced since arriving in the U.S. Originally from the Congo, Suitcase Stories® performer Mapendo Mutingamo reflected on her years-long journey to Massachusetts. Mapendo grew up in a large house with her four siblings and their parents. When her father, a successful artist, went missing, Mapendo and her family left the Congo to try to reunite with him. They would spend the next 15+ years living in Uganda, in a home “smaller than a restroom.” Food was scarce, the house lacked beds, and the bathroom was outdoors and shared with other families in the area. When Mapendo and her family were finally able to migrate to the U.S., they found hope. Today, with support from IINE, Mapendo and her siblings are enrolled in school, her family has a comfortable home, and she has graduated from our Certified Nursing Assistant Training Program. Reflecting on her experiences as a refugee, Mapendo shared this insight, “Take this from me: life is like a potato. Sometimes it’s smashed, sometimes it’s hard, and sometimes it’s turned into fries, so enjoy it as it lasts.” 

Congratulations to our Graduates and Award Recipients!

There were many accomplishments to celebrate this World Refugee Day! We recognized our eight refugee youth clients who have been accepted to represent the state of Massachusetts as part of the National Youth Leadership Council. As NYLC members, our youth clients will receive training to be leaders in improving their communities and addressing real world issues. We also celebrated multiple graduations. Our ESOL (English Speakers of Other Languages) students celebrated the end of term and having gained the language skills and culture knowledge they need to be successful in the workforce. Our LNA (Licensed Nursing Assistant) class celebrated completing the 18-week program, which prepares them for the NH Board of Nursing LNA licensing exam. We are so proud of our clients’ successes!  

Support from the Community

This year alone, our organization has supported over 6,000+ refugees and immigrants. Meeting this unprecedented need for our services would not be possible without the help of our community. We honored the contributions of numerous community partners this World Refugee Day, including Abisi Adult Education, ASAIPSAR (Acton Stow Area Interfaith Partnership Supporting Afghan Refugees) Volunteer Team, Boston Area Gleaners, Department of Transitional Assistance, Middlesex Community College, and Starbucks. At our Lowell celebration, representatives from Starbucks took attendees on a tour around the world via coffee. Starbucks recently hired multiple IINE clients. In New Hampshire, we heard from Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig and representatives from Senator Jeanne Shaheen’s and Congressman Chris Pappas’ offices, who all recognized the invaluable role refugees play in strengthening our local economy and culture.  

Fun Had by All

At all of our sites, our staff, clients, and supporters enjoyed the opportunity to gather in-person, celebrate this important holiday, and enjoy great food, games for the whole family, and each other’s company! 

We are proud to have welcomed, resettled, and supported refugees in the New England region for over 100 years. Learn more about our refugee resettlement work here.