Farida Niazi, a former refugee from Afghanistan who has made Lowell, Massachusetts her home since 2019, says that she loves the freedom she feels here. “In the United States, religion is different, and everyone is different, but nobody told me about my hijab, or anything. Here the good thing is what [...]
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 [...]
Sokhary Chau, a Cambodian refugee who survived the Khmer Rouge’s genocide, has become the Mayor of Lowell, making him the first Cambodian-American mayor in the United States. Currently serving as a city councilor in Lowell, he was unanimously picked by his council peers to assume the top post on January 3, 2022. He also [...]
Safeena poses with her three children. Safeena came to Lowell, MA as a refugee from Afghanistan in 2017, with her husband, two young children, and another baby on the way. She knew there would be challenges ahead. “My parents were here, so I was a little bit confident,” she says, but she [...]
Newell Flather, an impactful philanthropist and a steadfast friend to Lowell’s immigrant community, died last week. Newell was the founder of GMA Foundations, and he was also widely recognized for his early work in creating new community foundations throughout New England, including the Greater Lowell Community Foundation. Newell grew up [...]
U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren visited the Lowell Community Health Center (Lowell CHC) today. She met with the Lowell CHC leadership, toured the Mill City Grows mobile market, and visited IINE’s new offices on the second floor of the Health Center. Senator Warren participated in a roundtable discussion with Lowell CHC staff [...]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 18, 2021 Contacts: Clare Gunther, Lowell Community Health Center, ClareGu@lchealth.org, 978-746-7891 International Institute of New England (IINE) to be Housed at Lowell Community Health Center Move will enhance organizations’ ability to provide comprehensive social services, education and healthcare to Lowell’s refugee and immigrant communities LOWELL, MA -- The International Institute [...]
After a momentous weekend, our staff returned to work—either virtually or in person—yesterday. Here’s what their Monday looked like: In Boston, a member of the Employment team helped an immigrant client file an application for unemployment. They had been working at a nearby hotel for a number of years before being furloughed and eventually [...]
By Sherry Spaulding, Education and Youth Program Manager I received a very special phone call today. It was Samuel Jordan, the 74-year-old patriarch of a Liberian family who was my very first job placement client when I started working at IINE’s Lowell office as an Employment Specialist in 2004. He was calling to tell [...]
This message comes from Sabyne Denaud, IINE’s Community Services Manager in Lowell. She shared this story as part of our All Together campaign, made possible by a generous $15k match offer from a family foundation and friend of IINE. This month, they will match every donation, dollar-for-dollar, up to $15,000 $30,000. Like my colleagues, I’ve been working from home since [...]
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