Jeff Thielman, Author at International Institute of New England

5 02, 2021

“Safer, stronger, and more prosperous”

“Safer, stronger, and more prosperous”

Jeff Thielman2021-02-17T00:54:08+00:00February 5th, 2021|

Two weeks into the Biden-Harris Administration, IINE is encouraged to see continued executive action aimed at halting and reversing immigration policies that disrupted millions of lives, businesses, and families in refugee and immigrant communities throughout the United States. Following six executive actions on his first day in office that protected DACA recipients, overturned the Muslim Ban, and injected humanity into removal proceedings, President Biden signed three additional Executive Orders this week impacting immigration. Taken together, these orders underscore how “our country is safer, stronger, and [...]

26 01, 2021

The first week: Executive orders focused on immigration

The first week: Executive orders focused on immigration

Jeff Thielman2021-02-17T00:56:01+00:00January 26th, 2021|

It has been a week since the inauguration of President Biden, and we are seeing positive signs of change in immigration policies. A subset of the new President’s executive orders began the effort to overturn more than 400 actions issued by the previous administration that undermined established pathways for legal immigration, naturalization, and humanitarian [...]

19 01, 2021

Inauguration Day

Inauguration Day

Jeff Thielman2021-01-19T15:26:58+00:00January 19th, 2021|

Tomorrow Joe Biden and Kamala Harris become President and Vice President of the United States. For the International Institute of New England, the change in administration is a welcome relief. At IINE, we look forward to working with the new administration in fulfilling its pledge of restoring America as “a nation of laws and [...]

2 06, 2020

IINE Statement of Solidarity with Black Americans and #BlackLivesMatter

IINE Statement of Solidarity with Black Americans and #BlackLivesMatter

Jeff Thielman2020-06-12T12:30:53+00:00June 2nd, 2020|

IINE was founded on the belief that in order for a community to thrive, it must welcome and truly embrace all those who embody it. Our organization is dedicated to building and promoting welcoming communities that recognize the value of every person: refugee, immigrant, and U.S.-born, of every race, religion, and cultural background. The [...]

1 06, 2020

What it means to be a truly welcoming community

What it means to be a truly welcoming community

Jeff Thielman2020-06-15T20:27:00+00:00June 1st, 2020|

June 1, 2020Dear Friend:Last night I was in the IINE office in Boston, where Downtown Crossing and Chinatown meet, getting ready for the week ahead. Around 8:00 p.m. thousands of diverse, peaceful, and enthusiastic protesters marched below my window to condemn the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.The marchers were seeking justice and change, and [...]

26 05, 2020

Persistence pays off for Hospitality Training Program graduate

Persistence pays off for Hospitality Training Program graduate

Jeff Thielman2020-06-01T14:30:42+00:00May 26th, 2020|

When Adolfo Gomes first arrived in the U.S., he spoke little English and worked entry-level jobs in restaurant kitchens. Anyone who has met him will tell you that being in the back of the house isn’t the natural place for Adolfo’s outgoing personality, nor the best use of his degree in advertising from a [...]

11 05, 2020

Advocating for eligible immigrants who are one step away from Citizenship

Advocating for eligible immigrants who are one step away from Citizenship

Jeff Thielman2020-05-11T21:01:02+00:00May 11th, 2020|

As an organization that has welcomed immigrants to the U.S. since 1918, the International Institute of New England has been on the front lines of immigration policy and advocacy for more than a century. In recent days, we have contacted federal legislators from Massachusetts and New Hampshire to call attention to policies recently enacted [...]

8 05, 2020

Three generations now thriving in Nashua: Kanyere and Frediana

Three generations now thriving in Nashua: Kanyere and Frediana

Jeff Thielman2020-05-08T20:53:07+00:00May 8th, 2020|

Kanyere and her mother, Frediana, fled the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2004 and lived in the Kyaka II refugee camp in western Uganda for 14 years. “There were people killed before our eyes,” Frediana said when she recalled the conditions that forced her family to leave their home. In 2018, Kanyere, Frediana, [...]

7 05, 2020

Seeing Success in the Crisis: How IINE clients are a source of inspiration

Seeing Success in the Crisis: How IINE clients are a source of inspiration

Jeff Thielman2020-05-07T18:16:32+00:00May 7th, 2020|

By Emma Tobin Managing Director, IINE-Lowell Seven weeks ago, the IINE community in Lowell faced an enormous challenge: the families we serve were disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic but we could no longer provide them with critical services, face to face, as we’ve done for 102 years. We knew we needed to adapt [...]

27 04, 2020

Ms. Emily Hood, In Memoriam

Ms. Emily Hood, In Memoriam

Jeff Thielman2020-04-28T14:46:01+00:00April 27th, 2020|

IINE recently learned of the death of a longtime supporter, Ms. Emily Hood. She served as a member of the board of directors of the International Institute of Boston in the 1980s and early 1990s. A resident of the Boston area, Ms. Hood had a long career as a professional office administrator. By [...]