The International Institute of New England condemns the federal administration’s most recent cruelty in terminating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghans. The administration claims that conditions in Afghanistan have improved, but the Taliban’s continued control of the nation contradicts this assessment. Human rights violations have only worsened, with women and girls at heightened risk of facing gender-based violence, in addition to thousands of disappearances, arbitrary arrests, extrajudicial executions, attacks on freedom of expression, and the near collapse of their health system. Sending people who have fought alongside us, sought safety in the U.S., and would likely face retribution upon return to a country in crisis would be a complete reversal of our nation’s long-held values of refuge and humanitarian relief.
IINE has a long history of welcoming and supporting Afghans from the early 2000’s to today. After the fall of Kabul, our communities stepped up and opened our doors because it was the right thing to do. Thousands of Afghans left their homes behind, and in some cases their families, to ensure their safety, including our allies who aided American troops during the war. These brave and resilient individuals have become our neighbors, colleagues, and friends – like Nazia. An English teacher in Afghanistan, Nazia fled after receiving death threats from the Taliban for daring to educate women and girls. Today, Nazia continues to teach English in the Boston-area and hopes to pursue her masters. These are the kind of people we would be turning our backs on if the administration terminates TPS on July 12.
We must stand by our commitment to welcoming those in need, and we can do so. By passing the Afghan Adjustment Act (AAA), Congress could allow Afghans to apply for green cards and set them on a pathway to becoming permanent citizens. It would 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.
As we celebrate our Boston Centennial—100 years of welcoming and supporting refugees and immigrants—we are reminded that nearly all of us have an immigration story to share, whether we were the first in our family to build a life in the United States, or it was our parents, grandparents, or generations further back who first made the brave journey to this country.
For our blog, members of our Board of Directors and our Leadership Council share how their families came to call the U.S. home.
Carolina San Martin
Managing Director, Global Head of Sustainable Investing Research, State Street Global Advisors; Member, IINE Board of Directors
Rio de Janeiro, 1976: My mom, a young Argentine with a gift for languages, finds herself a single mother in a foreign country. As a child, she had dreamed of leaving Argentina someday, but where she dreamed of going was not Brazil, it was the United States. As unexpected and difficult as it is to be in her situation, she is now free to pursue that dream. A few years later, she gets her chance. Her strong track record in a globalizing American firm gets her a transfer to the company’s headquarters in the U.S.
Smyrna, Georgia, 1979: I find myself settling into kindergarten. I don’t speak English, no one around me speaks Spanish or Portuguese. I don’t understand what the teacher is saying or how things work, but little by little, I figure it out. At the time, I see my predicament as a handicap. I am the different one, the outsider. I experience all the reactions and insecurities one would expect of a child in that situation: when kids laugh and I don’t understand them, l wonder, Are they laughing at me? When we are learning grammar rules and writing in class, I think, How far behind am I going to be since I’m still learning English?
Boston, Massachusetts, 2025: Looking back, what I thought was an obstacle – being the immigrant who was different – was an immense gift. I understood at a young age how much I could grow by having the determination to figure things out. It was more than just adapting – I was understanding my capacity to learn and accomplish more than I seemed capable of, all thanks to being the different one in that kindergarten classroom.
Fereshtah Thornberg
Executive Vice President, Head of Sales & Client Management, North America, State Street; Member, IINE Board of Directors
My mom, three of my siblings, and I left Kabul, Afghanistan, in 1989, heading for New Delhi. This was towards the end of the Russian invasion with growing worries around the Taliban’s influence. We migrated to New Delhi as refugees while my dad worked on finding his way out of Kabul. We lived in a single room rental in New Delhi as we settled in and worked on our next goal of settling in Europe or America. My mom started to volunteer in the refugee center and later on was hired as a full time employee. I worked on building skills that could land me a job, while remotely working on my college degree. I started with typing lessons and later on joined a program to study computer science.
Four years later, we received our green cards and flew to New York where we had family and a support system. Settling in New York was many times more challenging than New Delhi, and I often comment that I wish we had had access to an organization like the International Institute of New England. 30 years later, we live very successful fulfilling lives, and there isn’t a week when we don’t reminisce about our journey here.
Tuan Ha-Ngoc
Retired President and CEO, AVEO Oncology; Member, IINE Board of Directors
I was born and grew up in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. In 1969, I had the opportunity to leave the country to pursue higher education with the condition that after graduation, I would return to Vietnam to help build the country despite the war. I landed at Paris University, where I obtained a pharmacy degree. I had been planning to return home in the summer of 1975, when the country fell to Communist rule that April. I had two options: return and live under a Communist government or stay in Paris and seek asylum, which is what I did. I still have the document issued by UNHCR, which deemed me “stateless.” It’s a word that has stayed with me to this day. It felt like I belonged nowhere, that I was on a boat in a vast ocean by myself—not literally, of course, though many of my compatriots experienced exactly that.
Thankfully, my parents and siblings were able to leave Vietnam and join me in France. I stayed there for two years during which I obtained a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from INSEAD. In 1976, I joined a U.S. company called Baxter Healthcare, at their European HQ in Brussels. Then in 1978 two things happened—I got married to my beautiful wife, and my company decided to transfer me to its U.S. headquarters in Chicago.
We arrived there in November with very little money, no family or friends to rely upon, and with my wife speaking very little English. That’s how we started our lives in the U.S. In 1984, I was recruited by one of the first biotech companies, which brought us to Boston, where we have been ever since.
Deborah Dunsire
Chair, Neurvati Neurosciences; Former CEO, H. Lundbeck A/S; Senior Advisor, Blackstone Life Sciences; Member, IINE Leadership Council
I was born in Zimbabwe to Scottish immigrant parents, and my husband was born as the oldest in the third generation of mixed English and Netherlands families. After medical school and working as a GP and my husband as an orthopedic resident, I joined the pharmaceutical industry and was transferred to Switzerland, where my husband joined the same company. We were independently both offered jobs in the U.S. headquarters in New Jersey in 1994 and set off on our 30+ year adventure in the U.S. We quickly learned to love the open-hearted hospitality and admired the philanthropic culture that abounds here. We also learned that English is not the same all over the world!
My husband and I became naturalized U.S. citizens in 2004, and raised our two sons here.
Wade Rubinstein
Founder and President, The Bike Connector, Inc.; Member, IINE Board of Directors
I am the son of immigrants. My mother’s family came to Boston in the 1920s after fleeing pogroms in Russia. My father, who grew up in a town that’s now part of Ukraine, was a Holocaust survivor. During the war, he was in hiding for three years. The Soviets liberated him in the spring of 1944. An orphan after the war, my dad lived in Displaced Persons camps in Czechoslovakia and Germany. He was smuggled into Palestine in 1946 and came to the U.S. as a refugee in the early 1950s to join family members who were already here.
My parents’ journeys have shaped me in a foundational way. Because of their resilience and hard work, I had the chance to become a first-generation college graduate.
I studied computer science at Boston College. After college, I worked at a Digital Equipment Corporation for 10 years, before going on to work at several telecommunications start-ups. In 2003, I left the field and pursued a degree in elementary education. I taught in West Newton for a couple of years. Then, I decided to open up an ice cream shop, Reasons to Be Cheerful, which I ran for eight years. I sold the shop in 2018 and founded The Bike Academy, which was an after-school bike riding program in Lowell and morphed into the nonprofit I run today—The Bike Connector.
I’ve always felt life is too short to not pursue your interests; it keeps things interesting! And for me, it’s felt like my opportunity to live the American Dream—which I can only do because of the choices and sacrifices my parents made.
Örn Almarsson
CEO and Co-Founder, Axelyf; Member, IINE Leadership Council
In 1989, I left my native Iceland to pursue graduate studies in the United States, marking the beginning of a remarkable scientific and personal journey. With a deep passion for chemistry and molecular science, combined with a desire to contribute positively to human health, I embarked on a Ph.D. program in bio-organic chemistry at the University of California, immersing myself in advanced research at the intersection of organic chemistry and biological sciences. My academic success and intellectual drive led me to a post-doctoral research position at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), one of the world’s leading centers for innovation in science and technology.
At MIT, I refined my expertise under the guidance of world-class scientists and engineers, and moved toward translational applications of chemistry in pharmaceuticals. It was here that I forged important scientific and professional relationships that helped launch my industry career. My first role in the pharmaceutical industry came at Merck, where I contributed to drug discovery and development in a dynamic and deep R&D environment known for scientific rigor and excellence. This position marked the start of my enduring commitment to advancing therapeutics for human health.
Over the years, my contributions have extended across multiple therapeutic areas, with one of the most notable being my work on the formulation and delivery system of Spikevax, Moderna’s mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine. My expertise in drug delivery, particularly involving lipid-based systems, played a significant role in the successful evaluation and ultimate deployment of the vaccine during a time of global crisis. In addition to this very visible achievement, I have worked on numerous other pharmaceutical products and delivery technologies that have improved patient care and therapeutic outcomes in psychiatry and treatment of infections, for example.
My journey is also one of family, partnership, and shared purpose. My wife, Brynja, also from Iceland, has been a constant presence throughout this journey, offering support and building a warm, bicultural home in the U.S. Together, we have raised three children who have each found their own path in healthcare and pharmaceuticals—continuing the legacy of scientific inquiry and public health impact that defines our family. Whether in biological research, biotechnology, or healthcare delivery and education, each member of our family contributes uniquely to the field, embodying the values of education, service, and global citizenship.
From a young Icelandic student to a scientific leader who helped shape one of the world’s most important medical interventions, my immigration story is one of dedication, resilience, and enduring impact.
Jeffrey Thielman
President and CEO, International Institute of New England
My great-grandmother, Antoinette, came from Italy to the U.S. in the early 1900s. She came over from Naples on a boat. It was an arranged marriage that brought her here. She went on to have seven children, one of whom was my mother’s father—my grandfather—who I adored and who rose to become a state senator in Connecticut.
My great-grandmother had very little money, and she never quite learned English well. She struggled a great deal to adapt and learn a new culture, but she worked very, very hard to make sure her sons and daughters were contributing citizens of our country. I am proud to honor her through my work today.
During our centennial year, we celebrate 100 years of life-changing support for refugees and immigrants in Greater Boston and prepare for our second century of service. Learn more here: IINE Boston Centennial.
Bashir speaks warmly of the culture he grew up in.
“Somali culture is based on hospitality. They are a joined community—a community connecting each other. They live as a family. Somali culture is based on loving each other, on welcoming people.”
Tragically, at sixteen, he had to leave his beloved community in Somalia behind. “I left my country because of the fighting going on,” he explains. “Because of the extremist groups like Al-Shabaab who killed two of my family members in front of me. My family decided to send me to a different country because I might be the next target for these militias.”
In Ethiopia, Bashir would spend years in a refugee camp. While he never lost hope of a chance at a brighter future, day-to-day life was hard.
“You can’t imagine it if you haven’t been there,” says Bashir. “You see people don’t have clean water, don’t have shelter that’s enough for the family—sometimes you see an extended family of ten or more and they’re living in one single room.”
After two years, it looked like Bashir’s chance had arrived when he was officially granted refugee status and the promise of resettlement in the U.S. The year was 2016. Then, a new presidential administration entered the White House and within a week, passed a sweeping ban on immigration by nationals from predominately Muslim countries. The door that had finally opened for Bashir was now shut.
Despite this, Bashir was determined to stay positive. He dedicated himself to working with aid agencies to improve life at the camp. Bashir learned English and became a social worker for the Rehabilitation and Development Organization, which helps people with disabilities, and for the International Rescue Committee, through which he helped to educate community members about the problem of sexual violence. He also worked as a teacher at what he describes as “my own mini school,” helping people of all ages learn how to read and write.
After seven years, the U.S. had again become more welcoming to refugees, and another door opened for Bashir.
“In 2023 I got my dream destination. As a young man, I saw that coming to America would be a door to enter my life dreams of becoming what I want—working in a peaceful environment, rebuilding my life, helping myself and my family.”
Bashir traveled to the U.S. by himself. When he arrived, a team from IINE was there to meet him and to drive him to a hotel room where a warm meal had been prepared for him. After a week, IINE helped Bashir move into a fully furnished apartment.
He was overjoyed to be in his new home, but adjusting took time.
“When you come to an environment that’s different than where you lived your whole life, it’s a shock. I remember when I first came, it was March and Boston was so cold. I came from 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and I came here—it was like 17 or 20— [it was] really hard!”
“Without your family and friends, without the people that you know who have the same culture, it’s not easy,” he says.
With time, Bashir began to find a community. His roommates—three fellow refugees—all came from different countries, but the initial language barriers soon faded away to a blossoming friendship. Bashir recalls hours spent hanging out in their shared living room and kitchen, helping one another adjust. Meanwhile, Bashir was working with IINE on everything from figuring out how to get around Boston, to completing U.S. workforce orientation and applying for jobs.
“Everyone was so nice to me,” he recalls, “my case manager, the site manager, my legal support, everyone was welcoming when I needed to meet with them.”
Today, Bashir enjoys working as a concierge at a residential building, and as an interpreter for an agency that works with schools and hospitals. At IINE, he discovered a passion for coding and set a long-term goal to become a Software Developer. IINE has connected him with a skills training program in which he’s learning front-end development.
Bashir (left) celebrates after his soccer team won a tournament, with the tournament organizer (middle) and his team’s coach (right)
Once he became independent enough to make his own living arrangements, Bashir found an apartment in a neighborhood with a sizable community of fellow Somali refugees. He lives near a mosque, plays pick-up soccer, and relishes being part of a Somali community again. It’s a beautiful reunion of sorts, but Bashir says the feeling of acceptance and support he has received in Boston extends far behind his neighborhood.
“The American people—they’re really nice people. I think everybody has a feeling of the meaning of immigrants. These people are really kind and welcoming. Everybody says, Where are you from? and when you tell them, they say, Wow, welcome! and they try to help you.”
Meanwhile, as he works, studies, and enjoys his new life, Bashir is pursuing a few more of his American dreams. He says that over the next two years he’s eager to get his first car, to vote in his first U.S. election, and “to give something back to the American community that has really helped me a lot.”
Among the many challenges refugees face in the U.S., transportation access can be particularly daunting. It takes a long time to afford a car, and as many New England commuters know all too well, public transportation has its limitations. If refugees live too far away from potential jobs and community resources, they can feel stuck.
The solution comes on two wheels. Here’s how philanthropic bicycle enthusiasts in three communities are turning their passion into crucial support for their newest neighbors.
Queen City Bikes, Manchester, NH
“Transportation’s tough,” says Henry Harris, Managing Director of IINE’s Manchester, New Hampshire office. “It’s hard to get a car when you you’re starting over. You don’t have any credit, and before you have a job, if you do have any resources, they have to go into food and basic necessities. In a lot of the neighborhoods where our clients live, there are no jobs nearby and it can be hard to even get to the grocery store. We have a bus system, but it essentially goes around in a big circle without reaching anywhere you want it to go.”
To help mitigate this challenge, IINE encourages carpooling and offers volunteer-led driver’s education classes. Eligible clients are enrolled in the Individual Development Account (IDA) program, which teaches financial literacy, helps clients set up savings accounts, and provides matching funds for major purchases (like cars). But all of these opportunities are limited, and frustratingly, several new state laws have recently been proposed that would make it more challenging or even prohibitive for refugees and immigrants to get licenses.
Henry sees these laws as incredibly self-defeating for New Hampshire, as employers want new arrivals to be able to reach them for work, retailers want new consumers, and the DMV wants to make sure that anyone on the road has been properly trained.
“We do work hard to try and make sure legislators understand the harm of these proposed changes,” says Henry. “Right now I think New Hampshire is just sort of caught up in the whirlwind.”
In the meantime, Queen City Bicycle Collective has been a lifeline for many of IINE’s Manchester clients, and many other locals who would not otherwise be able to afford and maintain quality bicycles.
“About one hundred of our clients have gotten bikes from there,” says Henry, “and a lot more will. Every bike you see in our community, if someone’s riding it, it probably came from there.”
To engage the city in helping more residents to get pedaling, they collect donations of high-quality bicycles from residents; refurbish them; offer open garage time, tools, and guidance to help others get tuned up; and sell packages of affordable bicycles, helmets, locks, and ongoing maintenance services for extremely affordable rates.
Henry says that the benefits have been huge for IINE clients and have even offered some unexpected positive results. “We had one client with persistent health challenges who at first, was just grateful to be able to get around and then told us that his diabetes symptoms had dramatically improved because he was biking everywhere. That one was cool.”
Abby Easterly of Queen City Bicycle Collective
Abby Easterly, a retired Business Management Consultant who is QCB’s founder and board treasurer, explains that the idea for the collective actually came from her previous work as a volunteer at IINE, where she first supported a wave of Somali refugees, and then years later, a large group of Afghans who were suddenly evacuated from their country after the resurgence of the Taliban in 2021. Abby had since learned about bicycle collectives in other cities and saw the model as ideal for refugees.
“Refugees often arrive without the ability to drive, and do need to get to work, and New Hampshire’s painfully bad at public transportation,” she explains. “Bikes provide not just that for work. They also allow you to get to the grocery store, to get to friends’ houses, to meet up after work, or go wherever you need.”
Abby says that one of her proudest moments with QCB has been hiring one of IINE’s Afghan clients. “We hired Isatullah as a young mechanic and trained him. He was great mechanic for us. It was actually very helpful also because he could help with interpreting.”
Creating a space for community engagement between newcomers and their neighbors is a crucial part of the mission.
“I wish there were more ways people got to know immigrants,” Abby says. “Really that’s the point of the collective even more than putting people on bikes. Bikes are a common thread, and if you can find more common threads that get people to naturally work and be together, I think you don’t have to teach people about refugees, you can just create great situations.”
Rozzie Bikes, Roslindale, MA
In Greater Boston, everything seems to come back to affordable housing challenges—including access to reliable transportation.
“We tend to resettle refugees within a pretty wide radius around Boston because obviously rents are cheaper further out,” explains IINE Community Services Manager Leslie Schick, “but then that comes with the downside that public transportation is not as good or as available. I have one client who works in the public school system in Sharon. The school system is closed in the summer, so she needs another job, but that requires transportation, and Sharon just does not have good public transportation. I have another client who takes the bus to work, but the bus does not go all the way to her house. It’s times like these when I send out a distress call to Ron and Alan.”
Who is this dynamic duo? It’s Ron Beland and Alan Wright of Rozzie Bikes (short for Roslindale Bicycle Collective).
Leslie connected with Alan back in 2021 through their mutual involvement with local non-profit, Bikes Not Bombs. At the time, Leslie was posting on social media about IINE’s need for donated bicycles, particularly for newly arriving Afghan refugees, and she was collecting them without a great place to store them. Many of the donated bikes also arrived badly in need of a tune-up. Leslie was introduced to Alan as a crack mechanic who was willing to donate his services. What she didn’t know was that his connection to IINE’s mission runs deep. Earlier in his life, Alan had spent a significant amount of time at a refugee camp in Thailand. There he had worked with Hmung refugees who had fled Laos after being targeted for aiding the U.S. military during the Vietnam War. Helping refugees access quality bicycles combines two of his passions.
“In my life I’ve always been fixing up bikes for people and giving bikes away when I’ve had the opportunity,” he says. “But once the introduction to Leslie started, then it really took off. Those first two years we were giving away at least a bicycle a month, maybe two or three.”
Rozzie Bikes is a collective of about thirty (mostly retired) bicycle enthusiasts dedicated to promoting cycling as an environmentally and economically friendly solution for urbanites, which, they note, is underutilized in our culture compared to many others around the world. They collect used bikes, repair and tune them, deliver them to IINE’s refugee clients—and others in need—and help them learn to ride safely.
Thanks to the generosity of Alan and Rozzie Bikes, IINE clients Maryam, Jesus, and their nephew Roger each received their own bikes! They recently enjoyed an afternoon exploring their new home of Quincy and the nearby beach.
For Leslie, personal delivery to clients is particularly important: “I think it means the world to them that here comes someone delivering everything, the bike and the helmet and the lock and the light, showing them how to use it etc., and they form a connection as well.”
These connections also mean a lot to Alan. He remembers one in particular.
“There was this one group—three guys living in Mattapan who had arrived only a few weeks earlier, and were eager to get out into the city, so I brought all three of them bicycles. They didn’t have any sense of where in Boston they were. So I said, well, let’s go for a bike ride. They were just blocks away from the Neponset River bike trail that runs from Mattapan Square all the way to South Dorchester. So off we go, and they were just so happy to be out and to see the ocean and harbor, to see a park, to see the trolley line that runs along the river, to see that they could go out into the city on bicycles. It was just the unlocking key, if you will. That was a very special moment.”
The Bike Connector, Lowell, MA
Wade Rubenstein had run an innovative afterschool bike program in Lowell that included an “Earn-A-Bike” system; if students learned how to refurbish used bicycles, they could keep a bike they fixed for free. The program was so successful and satisfying that he decided to upscale it into a bicycle shop, repair studio, and riding collective that could serve the whole city: The Bike Connector.
Around the same time, Wade was volunteering in IINE’s ESOL classrooms when something struck him.
Bike Connector staff regularly host IINE youth clients for bike safety and riding lessons
“I noticed that many of IINE’s clients rode bikes. There was a clear need: bikes are an inexpensive means of transportation, don’t require a license, and are faster than walking. But often, the bikes the immigrants were riding were unsafe; they were broken, mis-sized, and at times, literally pulled out of the city’s canals.”
In one such case, he learned of Ungaye, a remarkably driven student from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in IINE’s Refugee Youth Mentoring program who was working to qualify as a medical interpreter and enroll in college. Ungaye had been getting around on a bicycle he had recovered from a canal only to lose it to a bike thief because he hadn’t had a lock.
Wade decided to donate a bike to Ungaye. It would mark the beginning of something special.
“I began donating bikes to the ESOL students, and over time, the relationship between our organization and IINE grew. We’ve given bikes to Haitian and Central and South American immigrants, Ukrainian refugees, and Afghan refugees. IINE’s Case Managers bring their clients to us, and we get to be some of the first folks they meet in this country. In addition to providing bikes, we provide maintenance support so people can stay on their bikes. We also work closely with IINE’s refugee youth clients to teach them bike safety and the rules of the road.”
As Wade’s bond with Ungaye deepened, he hired him to work part-time at Bicycle Connector. Last year, Wade was introduced by Ungaye when he was honored by IINE at a celebration of World Refugee Day. In Wade’s remarks, he reflected,“Ungaye was the first bike I awarded to someone here in Lowell. Last week we just gave away our 5,000th bike.”
Later last year, Wade joined IINE’s Board of Directors. His connection to IINE’s mission runs deep. He is himself the son of refugees and has said that his parents’ journeys have “shaped me in a foundational way.”
As his support for IINE’s clients has expanded, Wade is still connecting refugees, immigrants, and other Lowellians in need to bicycles—and through them, to independence, community access and freedom.
Gala to feature performances, interactive exhibits, and recognition of immigrant and refugee contributions across the region
BOSTON – April 11, 2025– In honor of the 100th anniversary of the opening of its Boston-area headquarters, the International Institute of New England (IINE) proudly announces the Centennial Golden Door Award Gala, a time-honored celebration that will, for the first time, honor the entire IINE community for its contributions to American society and role in shaping Boston’s vibrant culture.
The gala will take place on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at the Omni Seaport Hotel Boston and will bring together past honorees, community leaders, and supporters to celebrate IINE’s century-long legacy and reaffirm the region’s commitment to welcoming, supporting, and celebrating the diverse communities that give Boston its strength.
The IINE Boston office first opened in 1924 during a period of restrictive immigration policies. Its founders, a group of compassionate women at a local YWCA who were undeterred by public sentiment, were dedicated to providing critical support to immigrant women and girls. Over the past century, IINE has endured and evolved, never wavering from its role as a steadfast champion for immigrants and refugees. Today, the organization serves more than 10,000 individuals through resettlement, education, employment support, and pathways to citizenship—helping to ensure that the immigrants who come to our shores have the tools to build stable, successful lives.
“As we celebrate this milestone anniversary, we recognize that IINE was founded in a time not unlike today—when immigration was at the center of national debate, and many sought to close doors rather than open them,” said Jeff Thielman, president and CEO of IINE. “But history has shown us that Boston will always emerge as a city of resilience and welcome. For 100 years, our communities have embraced newcomers, recognizing that immigration strengthens our economy and enriches our culture. Now, as we look ahead, and with the valued partnership of Boston’s leaders and citizens, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting newcomers for the next century and beyond.”
For more than 50 years, IINE has presented the Golden Door Award to an individual born outside of the United States who has made outstanding contributions to American society. In recognition of the centennial anniversary of IINE’s Boston program, this year the organization will honor all who have bravely journeyed to the city, bringing resilience and determination, and all who have joined IINE in helping them find a brighter future in Boston.
The Centennial gala is chaired by distinguished leaders in business and philanthropy, including Golden Door Award honorees Noubar Afeyan, founder & CEO of Flagship Pioneering and chairman of Moderna; Stéphane Bancel, CEO of Moderna; and Reshma Kewalramani, CEO of Vertex Pharmaceuticals; as well as Belinda Termeer, president of the Termeer Foundation and widow of Henri Termeer who received the Golden Door Award in 1999.
Highlights of the evening will include:
A retrospective of the prestigious past honorees
Personal stories of migration
A special performance by the Afghanistan Freeharmonic Orchestra
The Centennial Walk, an art exhibition chronicling IINE’s 100-year history in Boston and the city’s immigrant roots
An interactive photo installation and postcard-writing station to display our shared commitment to celebrating our city’s diversity and embracing newcomers
Funds raised for the Centennial Golden Door Award Gala will directly support IINE’s programs, ensuring that immigrants and refugees in our communities have the resources and opportunities needed to rebuild their lives, realize their dreams, and strengthen our city and state.
Event Details: Date: Wednesday, June 4, 2025 Location: Omni Seaport Hotel Boston, 450 Summer Street, Boston, MA
ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEW ENGLAND The International Institute of New England (IINE) creates opportunities for refugees and immigrants to succeed through resettlement, education, career advancement and pathways to citizenship. With locations in Boston and Lowell, Massachusetts and Manchester, New Hampshire, IINE serves thousands of individuals annually, including people displaced by political instability, violence, and climate crises, child and adult survivors of human trafficking, and unaccompanied children joining family members in New England. IINE offers a comprehensive range of programs and services to help newcomers feel welcome; achieve stability and security; access resources in their new communities; advance their education and employment goals; and integrate into their communities. IINE’s expertise builds on more than a century of service and accomplishes its mission in partnership with community groups, stakeholders, and supporters throughout New England.
Hearing the pop of nearby gunshots was once a part of daily life for Nininahazwe and her daughters in their home country of Burundi. After escaping to Kenya, they spent ten long years in a refugee camp, waiting for a chance at a better life. It finally came in 2021 when Nininahazwe and two of her three children, Teta and Umyhoza, were admitted to the U.S. through the refugee program and resettled in Nashua, New Hampshire by the International Institute of New England.
“It’s something like you never dreamt of,” Teta told a reporter when she first arrived, “it was way too high.”
As they began to put down roots in New Hampshire, Teta and Umyhoza were eager to get to work, so they were thrilled to learn about a new opportunity available through IINE—a free job skills training program called LNA for Success, which prepares clients for the much-in-demand position of Licensed Nursing Assistant.
“The LNA program provides a pathway into healthcare for English language learners who were either in healthcare in their home country and want to return to the field or who want to be in the healthcare field now that they’ve come to the U.S.,” explains IINE Education Manager Hannah Granock.
“The program is designed to both help students find gainful employment in a meaningful and growing field and also to help ease the healthcare workforce shortage caused by New Hampshire’s aging workforce. We do this by providing English language classes tailored to their LNA training, partnering with Manchester Community College to provide hands-on training, and offering wrap-around support services, which helps to remove barriers to student participation.”
Both sisters enrolled less than a month after their arrival and were exemplary students.
“Being an LNA for me is not only a dream or passion, it is a commitment,” Teta wrote in an essay on why she was seeking a career in healthcare. “They say everyone has their life calling and I am sure this is mine. At a young age I used to see my grandma struggling to get to her feet when my parents were busy. The young me used to help her the little I could. I found joy in seeing a smile on her face after helping her. I made it my life commitment to continue pursuing a course that would help me see more of the same smiles.”
In Umyhoza’s essay, she wrote of a desire to help the elderly and disabled, and of drawing on her memories of overcoming a bad burn she suffered as a child to empathize with her clients. “Sincerely speaking I can’t think of anything else more important than being an LNA. I really feel I will do it with all my heart. I would love to challenge myself by being and giving the best to the world.”
After completing the course, Teta and Umyhoza quickly passed their licensure exams. With the help of IINE’s Employment team, both secured entry-level healthcare jobs, and Teta enrolled in nursing school to further her career and pursue a role as a Licensed Practical Nurse.
Nininahazwe was deeply inspired by her daughters’ drive and success. Even though she had less formal education, she decided to work her way up to entering the LNA program to follow in their footsteps. She enrolled in English and workforce preparation classes, studied chapters from the LNA textbook, and started a job as a home health aide. Meanwhile, Nininahazwe’s third daughter, Mushimiyamana, was admitted to the U.S. through the refugee program, and, with her own daughter in tow, joyously reunited with her family in New Hampshire. An IINE Career Navigator helped Mushimiyamana find childcare so that she and her mother could enroll in LNA together.
The family of LNA for Success graduates: Teta (top L), Umyhoza (top r), Nininahazwe (bottom L), and Mushimiyamana (bottom R)
“I want to be an LNA, because I like to help people!” Nininahazwe wrote in her application essay. She had dreamed of being a doctor as a child—a wish that grew each time she saw a family member fall sick and struggle to get the care they needed. By the time she would have been old enough to begin her studies, she had lost her whole family to the war and become a single parent. Still, her dream never died.
“I was not able to become a doctor at that time,” she wrote. “Now [I’ve] got the chance. I’m planning to finish high school [and] go to college. I did not give up my dreams. I need proper training and experience to help others in the right way, because I feel happy helping another person who needs it.”
In their LNA cohort, Nininahazwe and Mushimiyamana were known to help their fellow students with coursework. Both are now LNA for Success grads employed as Licensed Nursing Assistants in New Hampshire.
“I think Nininahazwe and her daughters’ successes have shown what hope, hard work, dedication, and family can accomplish,” says Hannah. “They were forced to flee from their home in Burundi through no fault of their own, but they chose not to let that define them and to do their best to keep living. Now they’re in the U.S. having rebuilt their lives and working in a career path they love. Their family is a great example of how circumstances do not have to define you.”
While it’s unique to have four women from two generations of one family enter the nursing field thanks to LNA For Success, Hannah says that much of this story is familiar.
“I love working on this program because I’ve seen how it’s not only made a huge difference to our students, but it has opened up so many doors for their families as well! It helps them overcome barriers, from financial costs of training to navigating an admissions process, to transportation, and many of these students are mothers, so the program empowers not only the student but also their children. Having a stable job in a field where they have room to grow sets their kids up for a better life. The program also teaches our clients how to navigate the U.S. education system, which is so important as they are trying to help their own children.”
With need in its healthcare field only growing, New Hampshire is lucky to have Nininahazwe and her driven and compassionate daughters building their careers there.
IINE is committed to improving the resettlement experience for refugee women and girls by removing barriers that impede their access to health education, safety, and employment. Learn more about this work and our WILLOW Fund.
Tuan Ha-Ngoc brings over 40 years of senior leadership experience in the healthcare and biotech industry to his role on the International Institute of New England’s Board of Directors. The retired President and CEO of AVEO Oncology, Tuan received the 2007 Ernst & Young New England Entrepreneur of the Year award in recognition of his “visionary leadership [in] develop[ing] a pipeline of very promising cancer medicines.” Tuanhas served on the boards of various academic and nonprofit organizations and currently serves on the board of Harvard Medical School’s Biomedical Science Careers Program. He was born and grew up in Vietnam, became a refugee when Vietnam fell to the Communists, and immigrated to the U.S. in 1978. He is now happily retired so he can spend time with his family, includingsevengrandchildren.
In addition to his role on IINE’s Board, Tuan is the Co-Chair of IINE’s Centennial Working Committee, formed to honor the 100th anniversary of our Boston office. We spoke with Tuan to learn more about his journey to the U.S., how being a refugee has shaped his career, and what excites him about IINE’s milestone anniversary and future.
Can you share your journey to the U.S.?
I was born and grew up in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. In 1969, I had the opportunity to leave the country to pursue higher education with the condition that after graduation, I would return to Vietnam to help build the country despite the war. I landed at Paris University, where I obtained a pharmacy degree. I had been planning to return home in the summer of 1975, when the country fell to Communist rule that April. I had two options: return and live under a Communist government or stay in Paris and seek asylum, which is what I did. I still have the document issued by UNHCR, which deemed me “stateless.” It’s a word that has stayed with me to this day. It felt like I belonged nowhere, that I was on a boat in a vast ocean by myself – not literally, of course, though many of my compatriots experienced exactly that.
Thankfully, my parents and siblings were able to leave Vietnam and join me in France. I stayed there for two years during which I obtained a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from INSEAD. In 1976, I joined a U.S. company called Baxter Healthcare, at their European HQ in Brussels. Then in 1978 two things happened – I got married to my beautiful wife, and my company decided to transfer me to its U.S. headquarters in Chicago.
We arrived there in November with very little money, no family or friends to rely upon, and with my wife speaking very little English. That’s how we started our lives in the U.S. In 1984, I was recruited by one of the first biotech companies, which brought us to Boston, where we have been ever since.
How did coming to the U.S. as a refugee shape your career path?
When I joined Genetics Institute, I didn’t fully understand what biotech was. That’s a similar tune you will hear about much of my career! I think, in general, because refugees have been forced to leave their homes and face an unknown future, we are much more willing to take a risk and learn as we go. There was a period in my career where I was being promoted about every six months, and with each promotion, I would come home and tell my wife, “I have no idea how to do this new job, but I’ll try my best!” And I did – I embraced the risk and that helped me grow.
I think refugees also have a unique adaptability. When my three children graduated from college and were looking for jobs, they all wanted to find jobs that aligned with their passions. I told them that while it’s nice to have the opportunity to do that, for most of my career, I had to find a job first and then develop a passion for it. I think this ability to find happiness wherever I go has helped me be successful.
As a refugee, you don’t know what the future will bring, so you try to focus on the present and make the best of it. If you are always trying to see your next step, you might trip or be disappointed. But if you stay focused on the now, you can build a strong foundation for your future.
You first became a member of IINE’s Board of Directors in 2002. How did you initially become involved and what inspires your continuedsupport?
I retired in the spring of 1999 after the acquisition of Genetics Institute by a multinational corporation, American Home Products, merging GI with their pharmaceutical division Wyeth, and I began searching for opportunities to give back. I felt I had been greatly privileged in two major ways: I had the chance to be financially independent thanks to the emerging biotech industry, and I had received support as a refugee, so I wanted to focus on those two areas in particular.
I joined the boards of Harvard Medical School and Tufts Medical School, where I was able to contribute my expertise as a trained pharmacist and business executive.
Then, in 2001, I was approached by IINE’s executive director at the time, who said the organization was looking for professionals who had been refugees to join the board. I listened to the mission, and I subscribed to it immediately. It was clear that IINE believed (and continues to believe) in providing support to clients in a respectful manner. Refugees can come with a variety of socioeconomic and educational backgrounds. I think of the businessmen who were forced to flee their home countries in the Middle East during the Gulf War. For many of them, their biggest goal and challenge was securing a job in the U.S. so they could continue to provide for their families. IINE understands the dignity in achieving self-sufficiency and being able to pursue one’s goals, and so our support extends beyond the initial resettlement to ensure refugees and immigrants have a chance to learn English, gain new skills, pursue careers, and gain citizenship. I think this focus on both immediate needs and long-term success is really critical.
This year, IINE is celebrating 100 years of life-changing services in Boston during our annual Golden Door Award gala. Can you talk about the significance of this Centennial celebration?
When I first became involved with chairing the Centennial Working Committee, I was of course excited by the significance of the anniversary. Today, with the new presidential administration, I feel like recognizing and celebrating 100 years of impact in the immigrant community is even more critical.
If you look at the International Institute’s history, you’ll see we were born in a similarly hostile environment to what we are experiencing today. In 1917, a year before our Lowell office opened, and then again in 1924, when our Boston office opened, the government passed distinctly anti-immigrant legislation. In the face of this adversity, our founders—a group of women at a local YWCA—came together and created programs to promote cultural pluralism. I keep returning to the words of Marion Blackwell, the International Institute of Boston’s second Executive Secretary: “Don’t condemn—understand!” It’s such a powerful exhortation. I would parallel that statement with a new one, “Don’t reject—respect!”
We know that when faced with difficult times, humans often seek someone to blame, and the easiest target is the people you don’t understand, the ones who are different from you. We have seen that throughout history – whether it was the Japanese, the Jewish, the Chinese, the list goes on. President Trump is capitalizing on this, and painting recent immigrants as criminals and a threat, instead of using his power to address actual issues in society, such as economic disparity, a lack of affordable housing, overcrowded schools, etc. IINE’s Boston Centennial offers us a chance to correct this narrative – to reset the clock and remind ourselves that our society has always been composed of all different waves of immigrants. Immigrants are an integral part of our society and families as our parents, our grandparents, our great grandparents.
That’s why I’m so excited to be celebrating our Centennial. I want to continue to remind people not just to focus on what’s happening with immigration today, let’s also talk about the success of the past – how we were able to welcome and integrate immigrants, and overcome any initial challenges not just barely but beautifully, to become a flourishing city, region, and country.
What excites you most when you think of IINE’s future?
From the very beginning, our founders saw value in celebrating the diverse cultures and customs of the immigrants they were supporting. The famous poem inscribed on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty calls for “your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” I’ve always thought there was a missing element in that statement – let’s call for the cultural richness immigrants bring with them, too. When we learn about and embrace new cultures and customs, we become more unified and stronger.
That’s my hope for IINE’s future – that we can remain true to our founders’ legacy of cultural pluralism. This year’s Golden Door Award gala will be a celebration – of 100 years of lasting impact and cultural exchange, and of the 100 that is to come.
What do you want people to better understand about IINE’s work and the refugees and immigrants we serve?
Take a moment and imagine what our nation would look like if we hadn’t allowed immigrants over the past century. Would you be here? And what kind of society would we be?
We need immigrants. We have negative demographic growth and an aging population. Without newcomers, we will enter a recession. So not only should we welcome and support immigrants because it is the right thing to do, they are critical to maintaining the strength of our culture and our economy.
The International Institute of New England condemns the Trump administration’s plan to end the CHNV humanitarian parole program that has provided safety and stability for over half a million people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. The decision is politically motivated and inhumane. Families finding safety through CHNV are hardworking, tax-paying, law-abiding people who followed the rules of the U.S. government to legally enter the country and will face life-threatening conditions upon their forced return.
Since 1952, humanitarian parole has provided a legal pathway for those fleeing political instability, violence, and climate disasters. Continuing attacks on programs that admit people to the U.S. lawfully will destabilize and harm entire communities and disrupt our economy. An end to humanitarian parole means putting endangered and legally admitted families at risk through separation and deportation. Moreover, transporting this population back to unsafe and unstable countries endangers the lives of U.S. personnel and is an inappropriate use of U.S. taxpayers’ money.
Over the past two years, IINE has provided services to immigrants with humanitarian parole who are now living in dozens of communities across the region. Many have become critical players in the economies of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, working in a variety of industries including much-needed roles in hospitality and healthcare, all while they are learning English, parenting children who are in school and playing on local sports teams, and taking steps to permanently settle in the U.S.
Our staff is working diligently to ensure our clients with humanitarian parole status receive up-to-date information, support filing for alternative immigration statuses, and training on their rights. IINE will continue to fight for the protection of these families and to ensure we can still call the United States a nation of welcome and opportunity.
Forty visionary coders from colleges and universities throughout Greater Boston converged at Harvard University in early March for Hacking Injustice, “a weekend of collaboration between students and community organizers to create innovative public interest technology solutions.” The two-day “hack-a-thon” was organized by Engineering Hope.
Together they chose three “challenge areas,” ripe for creative tech solutions: Community Health, Forced Displacement, and Urban Sanitation. After creating their own research briefs on each topic, they invited local experts to present on challenges within their fields, and judge the hackers’ proposed solutions. IINE was invited to serve as an expert and judge for the Forced Displacement challenge area.
Ayah Basmeh
Ayah Basmeh, an MA candidate in Innovation and Management at Tufts University with a passion for “using design technology not just for people’s convenience, but for things that they actually need,” served as the event’s Outreach Coordinator, and discovered IINE through its ongoing research and education partnership with Boston University’s Center For Forced Displacement. Ayah was excited that IINE could help bring immigration issues to life for enterprising app developers.
“We know there are problems with the image that immigrants and refugees have,” says Ayah, “but nobody really knows the full scalable impacts because it’s not something that people talk about on a daily basis. So this was the chance for them to really understand from an expert what problems they’re facing and the genuine scale of this issue.”
Day 1: The Build
Hackers split into small teams based on interests identified in their applications, and then went into break-out groups to “meet the protagonists”—the experts from each challenge area.
In IINE’s challenge session, Senior Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer Xan Weber provided an overview of the current displacement crises and IINE’s history and services. She outlined persistent obstacles faced by new arrivals, including language barriers, lack of transportation, affordable housing scarcity, and limited access to physical and mental healthcare. Then she moved through the challenges of this moment: the slashing of federal funding and support, roll-back of rights, and threat of mass deportation.
Once the challenges were described, hackers had an hour-long “ideation” session to plan their solutions. Ayah explained that this included “office hours,” an opportunity to “meet with a representative from one of those organizations to show them their product and ask, Is this a good idea?Is the tech feasible?Do you think that this is something that would have genuine impact? And then from that feedback, they could go and reiterate.”
After a break for lunch, it was time to hunker down for a long night of hacking! Simulating the intensity of a Silicon Valley workday, the “Build” phase, in which they coded their draft prototypes, lasted from 2:00 pm to 9:30 pm with one formal break for dinner and a nightcap of late-night snacks.
Day 2: The Pitch
On Day 2, the hackers returned to pitch their solutions. Each team had five-seven minutes to present and then five-seven minutes to answer questions from their judges. Winning teams would be awarded a stipend and encouraged to continue working on their projects.
All three pitches were thoughtful and creative, incorporating elements like AI translators and chatbots—but the winner would have to be clearly achievable and practical.
The winning pitch, offered by a team comprised of students from Harvard, Wellesley, and Tufts, was a matchmaker app to connect refugee resettlement and immigration service agencies with community volunteers and in-kind donations. Using their app, organizations would be able to create posts explaining needs, and volunteers could respond with bids to help.
IINE Board Liaison and Advancement Administrator Lindsay Boudreau, who worked with Xan to judge the pitches, left feeling inspired, “It was really heartening to see that students from diverse academic backgrounds are interested in using their expertise for good, for social change, and to support organizations like IINE.”
Xan agreed.
“I was really impressed by the enthusiasm behind the hack-a-thon from both the organizers and participants. So many students today have developed solid computer science skills, and the opportunity to apply them to support solutions that advance non-profit work is rare and special. Students from some of Boston’s best universities displayed their expertise and creativity, and the winning student group’s app has awesome potential.”
IINE has remained in touch with the winning hackers and hopes to collaborate on moving forward with the project.
For her part, Ayah hopes that this inaugural “Hacking Injustice” event will be the first of many and will encourage participants to use their powers for good.
“I was observing the participants and could tell they have genuine intentions, pure hearts, just from the way they interact with each other and the level of respect that they give to each other. It makes me really happy and proud. We’ve got to make sure that they’re getting all the support that they need to be at the level where they can make the impact that they want to make.”
By Jeff Thielman, President and CEO at the International Institute of New England
Often when we think about a refugee’s experience in the U.S., we think of their earliest days here—the joy and fear of arriving in a new country after years of uncertainty, the culture shock that might occur their first time navigating an American grocery store or using public transportation, and the challenges of adjusting to an entirely new language and unfamiliar customs. But what happens after those initial days and weeks pass? What does life look like for a refugee six months or a year in?
That depends on the resources that newly arrived families and individuals receive. Without the right support, refugees can become vulnerable to housing insecurity, financial instability, and isolation. That’s why at the International Institute of New England our work has always extended beyond those initial days of resettlement.
Since our founding in 1918, when a group of compassionate women at a local YWCA began providing services toimmigrant women and girls, IINE has been guided by the belief that investing in newcomers is not only the right thing to do, but also creates a richer culture, social fabric, and economy.When we support new arrivals throughout their first months and years here, we ensure that they not only stabilize but also thrive – and that their memories of those early, overwhelming moments give way to a series of proud milestones, such asbecoming proficient enough in English to pursue a dream job in healthcare, purchasing their first car in the U.S., or as so many of our clients hope to do one day, becoming a U.S. citizen.
Supporting refugees and immigrants as they put down roots, integrate into their new communities, and achieve their dreams—our Theory of Change—is what I find most inspiring about our work.
Our Theory of Change
Career Advancement
Job placement and the development of hard and soft skills through targeted training enables refugees and immigrants to earn a steady income while building pathways to careers.
Welcome
Newly arrived refugees fleeing conflict and persecution are offered housing, basic services, and a warm welcome to help them adjust to their new community. Education
English language classes and financial literacy courses create a foundation for future social, civic, and economic success.
Civic Engagement
Immigration legal assistance empowers refugees and immigrants to build roots, contribute to their communities, and support their families.
Vision
Refugees and immigrants start strong so that over time they can thrive, fulfill their dreams, and contribute to New England’s growth and prosperity.
Earlier this month, IINE hosted a Suitcase Stories® showcase at the Somerville Theatre. The afternoon featured powerful stories of migration and belonging, capped off by a performance from Zainab Abdo, a refugee from Syria.
Zainab shares her journey with an audience in Somerville
In 2013, Zainab, her siblings, and her parents were forced to flee their home in Aleppo after their apartment building was hit by a bomb. They would spend four years as refugees before being approved to resettle in the U.S. When they finally arrived in Massachusetts in 2017, IINE was here to welcome them. Our staff brought the family to their new apartment in Lowell, and in the following days, enrolled them in our English classes and connected them with employment support.
Starting over wasn’t easy, but Zainab was determined. She balanced two jobs—working mornings at Dunkin’ Donuts and nights at Walmart—while studying English in between shifts.
Eight years later, Zainab’s hard work—and IINE’s support—has clearly paid off. Zainab graduated from Middlesex Community College and is currently studying computer engineering at UMASS-Lowell. When she took the stage in Somerville, she reflected on her journey in the U.S. that recently led to an especially eventful and joyous weekend: on a Saturday she became a U.S. citizen, and then married her husband, a man she had met in the U.S. during the Covid pandemic, on the following Sunday.
Zainab’s story is one of hundreds I have had the honor of witnessing since becoming CEO of IINE, and one of tens of thousands our organization has been a part of in the past century. Each of our clients’ stories, while unique, share common threads of resilience and hope. By supporting them beyond those first days in the U.S., we help refugees and immigrants heal, rebuild their lives, and work toward a brighter future for themselves, their future generations, and for New England.
The administration has closed our nation’s doors to refugees, but our work does not and cannot stop. We are focused on protecting our clients and educating them on their rights; providing more intensive support to refugees and immigrants who are already in our communities; and advocating for more humane immigration policies at the city, state, and federal levels. Please consider supporting this critical work today.
From its first day in office, the Trump Administration has taken aggressive and illegal actions to severely limit – and in many cases, entirely revoke – legal immigration pathways for people fleeing persecution and violence in their home countries. Last week, President Trump moved to extinguish the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program entirely by canceling contracts with the nation’s resettlement agencies. The Administration took this action one day after a federal judge ordered the government to restore the refugee program and funding to resettlement organizations like the International Institute of New England (IINE).
The U.S. resettlement program has helped more than 3.5 million refugees settle and thrive in communities throughout the United States since 1980, and has routinely been praised by members of both major political parties. It’s no surprise that a growing majority of voters strongly support the program.
The Trump Administration’s cruel and destructive actions are currently facing legal challenges. IINE is lobbying members of Congress and their staff in partnership with groups around the country. We will join every effort we can to fight for justice.
The International Institute of New England is not going anywhere. We will never turn our backs on newcomers in need, and we will never close the door to a brighter future. With the support of our community, we will continue to provide life-saving services to people from around the world. We are prepared to adjust our focus and services based on what’s possible in the moment, while always advocating for positive change.
Historically, our work has been a public-private partnership. Support from the federal government has enabled us to achieve incredible outcomes for people in need and the communities they join. Now that the federal government is shamefully failing to meet its obligations, our newest neighbors will need local communities to step up and meet the most urgent needs. We are incredibly fortunate to work in a region where our friends and supporters make this possible.
IINE has been welcoming and supporting newcomers for more than a century—long before the creation of the refugee program and during many periods of severe restrictions on immigration. As we navigate today’s formidable challenges, pushing past our frustration and grief at hearing the good people we serve demonized, we are filled with energy and hope as we plan for our next 100 years of service.
On a Thursday in late November, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of the Congo carefully folds an orange turkey that she’s made out of construction paper using the time-honored trace-your-hand technique. She’s seated at a conference table, and around her, eleven fellow Congolese women are either watching her with rapt attention, tracing their own hands, or writing reflections on what brings them gratitude during this season of Thanksgiving in Manchester, New Hampshire.
The women have gathered for the monthly meeting of an IINE wellness group for speakers of Swahili and Kinyarwanda. Run by IINE Volunteer Manager Wendy Brooks, it was started by IINE Health Promotion Case Specialist Furaha Nyirarukundo, herself a Congolese refugee, who helps out with interpretation and keeps conversations going between sessions via WhatsApp.
Volunteer Corrine Pryor (second from left) and IINE Health Promotion Case Specialist Furaha Nyirarukundo (center) with members of the Wellness Group
“It started as a group to learn how to cook healthy food that makes you happy,” Furaha explains, but the group evolved with the addition of volunteer Corrine Pryor, who worked for many years as a nurse, including in a natal intensive care unit, and as a pediatric home health care aid. “Corrine has been very helpful,” Furaha says. “We’ve learned so much from having her in our group.”
Corrine says that she gained experience in teaching women’s health through years of working with teenage mothers. She discusses a range of women’s health issues with the IINE group members, from the importance of breast cancer screenings to maintaining healthy blood pressure, and breaks things down into simple language and concepts accessible to beginner English language learners who have lived their lives in a very different care environment. When she first met the group, she said it became clear that maternity issues would be a good place to start with them.
Wellness Group members attend a training session to become licensed childcare providers.
“They are all mothers, and sometimes mothers of mothers. Most have upwards of six kids, and there are several who have brought their kids with them,” says Corrine. In one of her first sessions, she asked participants to share their stories of giving birth, and then talked about how their experience may differ in a New Hampshire hospital. In a lively discussion, many women spoke emotionally about their desire to protect their infants, and the real danger many faced in their home country.
“It’s a whole different world [in the Congo],” reflects Corrine, “I mean, they would tell me things like that they had to pay their doctors under the table, even though they’re supposed to be state employees. [The mothers] had to bring somebody with them to help with the delivery—sometimes one of their kids, because there wasn’t really anybody there to help…Maybe five or six women out of ten would come back out with a baby….If they said they wanted to have a home birth, then they would have to pay the doctors to give them the paperwork. They still had to have money, and most of them didn’t. So they couldn’t win.”
Corrine believes that most people in the U.S. have very little concept of the conditions that refugees have fled. “Americans think they understand poverty and homelessness, but they don’t understand this kind of reality,” she says. “You’ll hear people say, ‘can’t we help our own poor first?’ and it’s like, yes, we can, and we do, but we should also help people who have it even worse. People are people.”
For her, volunteering with IINE is a gratifying way to help. In addition to being able to lend her expertise, she enjoys the cultural exchange—like conversations they shared during the winter holidays. “We talked about different traditions for Christmas, food, family and taking care of themselves. It’s cool to talk about the different customs that they had.”
Furaha says she’s getting great feedback from clients as well. “The mothers say it helps a lot—helps them get to know each other and learn about many useful things for their lives.”
IINE is committed to improving the resettlement experience for refugee women and girls by removing barriers that impede their access to health education, safety, and employment. Learn more about this work and our WILLOW Fund.
Somali culture is based on hospitality. They are a joined community—a community connecting each other. They live as a family. Somali culture is based on loving each other, on welcoming people.”
I was born and grew up in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. In 1969, I had the opportunity to leave the country to pursue higher education with the condition that after graduation, I would return to Vietnam to help build the country despite the war. I landed at Paris University, where I obtained a pharmacy degree. I had been planning to return home in the summer of 1975, when the country fell to Communist rule that April. I had two options: return and live under a Communist government or stay in Paris and seek asylum, which is what I did. I still have the document issued by UNHCR, which deemed me “stateless.” It’s a word that has stayed with me to this day. It felt like I belonged nowhere, that I was on a boat in a vast ocean by myself – not literally, of course, though many of my compatriots experienced exactly that. 
When I first became involved with chairing the Centennial Working Committee, I was of course excited by the significance of the anniversary. Today, with the new presidential administration, I feel like recognizing and celebrating 100 years of impact in the immigrant community is even more critical. 
In IINE’s challenge session, Senior Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer Xan Weber provided an overview of the current displacement crises and IINE’s history and services. She outlined persistent obstacles faced by new arrivals, including language barriers, lack of transportation, affordable housing scarcity, and limited access to physical and mental healthcare. Then she moved through the challenges of this moment: the slashing of federal funding and support, roll-back of rights, and threat of mass deportation. 
The winning pitch, offered by a team comprised of students from Harvard, Wellesley, and Tufts, was a matchmaker app to connect refugee resettlement and immigration service agencies with community volunteers and in-kind donations. Using their app, organizations would be able to create posts explaining needs, and volunteers could respond with bids to help. 
