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 [...]
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, [...]
The president’s Proclamation on April 22 has created confusion and concern among our immigrant and refugee community. Managing Attorney Chiara St. Pierre has prepared a quick analysis to help IINE staff and clients determine the immediate impact – if any - this action will have on them. 1) Effective Date: The proclamation is effective [...]
The International Institute of New England has been selected by the Commonwealth Corps to host two service positions that will support English for Speakers of Other Languages and Skills Training programs in IINE’s Boston office. The members will serve as Commonwealth Corps Career Readiness Specialists to ensure immigrants and refugees facing under- and unemployment [...]
Happy Patriot’s Day. What better way to celebrate than to support our newest American neighbors? As you know, IINE is a direct response human services organization that, during normal times, ensures new Americans have food to eat, a roof over their heads, diapers for their babies, and toys and school supplies for their older [...]
Each year, the International Institute serves thousands of refugee, asylee, and immigrant families through our many supportive services. Nearly every IINE program depends on volunteers to deliver the quality support our students and clients deserve. IINE staff often remark that “we couldn’t do it” without the amazing corps of dedicated volunteers. IINE volunteers [...]
Since March 12, 2020, the vast majority of IINE employees are working remotely to keep safe and practice social distancing. For an organization that thrives on personal connection, face-to-face service delivery, and group interaction, it was an adjustment for us to move our operations online. It wasn’t long, though, before we found that [...]
In these challenging times it is remarkable to me how communities across the country are coming together. People are taking social distancing seriously, school districts are doing their best to provide remote learning, companies are manufacturing ventilators and other equipment as quickly as they can, neighbors are checking in on one another, [...]
By Sarra Briki Intern, Marketing & Community Relations Serving refugees and immigrants for more than 100 years, IINE's mission is built on community and resilience. With the rising challenges that COVID-19 imposes on all of us, we feel even more committed to keeping our community tightly connected and strengthening our sense of togetherness in [...]
By Cheryl Hamilton, Suitcase Stories Director “I am not sure I have a story.” This is often the response when I speak with someone about participating in Suitcase Stories®, a signature program of the International Institute of New England. Suitcase Stories is how we explore storytelling through the lens of migration. We believe that [...]
