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Autor: Danielle Gauthier

Why They Give: Ellen Sullivan Donor Profile

Why They Give: An Interview with IINE Donor Ellen Sullivan

Escrito por Danielle Gauthier en . Publicado en Blog, Perfil del donante.

Our donors help ensure that refugees and immigrants receive the support they need to rebuild their lives in New England, and in turn, strengthen our culture, economy, and community. In our Why They Give series, we talk with them to learn more about their connection to our mission and what inspires their support. 

In our latest installment, Ellen Sullivan shares how a career in philanthropy, her admiration for IINE’s mission, and a serendipitous raffle win led to her becoming a dedicated monthly donor.  

¿Puede hablarnos un poco de usted?

I grew up in Connecticut, and came to Boston to attend Boston College in the 1980s. After a couple of years as a volunteer teacher in Central America, I settled in Boston in the early 1990s and began a career in educational administration, first at Harvard University, then Boston College, and now Phillips Academy Andover.  

As I was just starting my career, I had the opportunity to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity in Boston, where I served as the chair of the grantwriting committee. I actually did not know a thing about grantwriting at the time, but that was what was needed, so I took a course at the Harvard Summer School and learned how to make a compelling case for support. Within a couple of years, my little committee of volunteer grantwriters raised $250,000 from modest grants of $5,000 and $10,000. It was incredibly satisfying to be able to make such a significant contribution to an organization that was poised to be of such great service to our community. 

¿Por qué es importante para usted la filantropía?

Philanthropy matters to me because it can make a profound difference in a community. There are examples on a global scale, like GAVI, the Global Vaccine Alliance, that came out of the World Economic Forum gathering at Davos in 2000. Over the last twenty-five years, GAVI has helped to vaccinate more than 1.2 billion children in 78 lower-income countries, preventing more than 20.6 million future deaths. 

And of course, there are more modest efforts, like my own early forays into grantwriting for Habitat for Humanity Boston, which enabled the organization to move from constructing one home a year in the early 1990s to constructing several homes each year by the mid-1990s. Philanthropy is a way to convey one’s investment in the local community, one’s belief in the value of human connection. 

How did you first learn about IINE?

I have known about IINE for many years, having followed with admiration the organization’s success in supporting immigrants and immigrant communities in New England. But IINE came most viscerally to mind in the summer of 2024, as we read in the Boston Globe of Haitian families sleeping on the floor of Logan Airport, as there were no shelter beds available to them. IINE was on the front lines of providing support and assistance, and I felt called to help in these efforts.    

It actually started with my winning a raffle at the Cape Cod Senior Softball League banquet – my husband is a regular player, and I remember turning to him at the banquet in the summer of 2024 and saying, “If we win this raffle, we are giving the winnings to IINE to support their work.”   

To our astonishment, we won the raffle, and I promptly donated our winnings, about $1,000, to IINE. And I should hasten to add that, as a fundraiser, I fully expected someone from IINE to contact me, not only to thank me for the donation but to ask if I would be willing to get involved further. I am delighted to say that the ace team at IINE did just that, and I immediately became a monthly donor.   

What connection do you feel to IINE’s mission of creating opportunities for refugees and immigrants in New England?

IINE has such a proud and admired history of supporting immigrants and immigrant communities in New England for over a century, and fully deserves the support of all of us in New England who believe in the power of opportunity. 

Economists have been reporting for generations that immigrants benefit the US economy by driving GDP growth, contributing billions in taxes, filling critical labor shortages in healthcare and agriculture—among other fields—fostering innovation, and creating jobs. 

Anyone involved in the medical system as a patient or advocate for a patient knows that more than 25% of doctors in America are immigrants, and about 40% of home health aides are immigrants. Without these dedicated and hardworking professionals, who would be caring for America’s seniors? 

The Catholic faith tradition that I grew up in calls us to “works of mercy” that include feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, welcoming the stranger. These are inherently Christian—as in Christ-like—things to do.

What do you wish more people understood about refugees and immigrants? 

I wish more people stopped to consider the important contributions that refugees and immigrants make every day in American communities. 

In Vermont, 94% of dairy farms hire migrant workers to jobs that are otherwise difficult to fill, and roughly half of the farm labor force in that state is Mexican and Guatemalan immigrants. Without their contributions, Vermont’s $3.6 billion dairy industry would be in grave jeopardy. 

My mother lives in a senior living community on Cape Cod, and over 70% of the health aides in her community are immigrants. Every time I take her to a medical appointment or to the hospital, we are received and cared for by medical professionals from every corner of the earth. I shudder to think who would care for the health needs of the elders in our society without these dedicated immigrants. 

El IINE sólo puede prestar los servicios que tanto necesitan los refugiados y los inmigrantes gracias al apoyo de nuestros generosos donantes. Hay muchas maneras diferentes de donar. Obtenga más información aquí: Donar fondos.

IINE Statement on Court Ruling Blocking Revocation of TPS for Haiti

IINE Statement on Court Ruling Blocking Revocation of TPS for Haiti

Escrito por Danielle Gauthier en . Publicado en Defensa, Blog, Inmigrantes haitianos, Comunicados de prensa.

We are deeply grateful to U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes for blocking the federal administration’s attempt to end Temporary Protected Status for over 350,000 Haitians living in the U.S. In doing so, Judge Reyes recognizes the rights of our Haitian community members and the life-threatening conditions they would be exposed to if forced to return.

At IINE, we see daily how essential Haitian immigrants are to our communities, our workforce, and our country’s future, especially here in Massachusetts. As Governor Maura Healey notes, not only does this ruling provide relief for Haitian families in the Commonwealth, “It also protects against a harmful disruption to the Massachusetts’ economy, as Haitian TPS holders are an integral part of…the health care sector. If President Trump had his way, thousands of nurses, home health aides, and other essential employees would not have been able to work tomorrow, and patients and families who are dependent on caregivers would have suffered.”

In recent years IINE has helped more than 13,000 Haitian immigrants to access food, healthcare, and shelter, grow their English language skills, find and advance in their jobs, and receive professional legal support. As these families have put down roots here, they have contributed immensely to our economy and culture. They deserve the safety, stability, and dignity this ruling upholds.

We will continue to join leaders at the federal, state, and city levels in advocating for our Haitian community members, because their protection must last as long as the dangers they face.

Remembering Bob Baines

Remembering Bob Baines, Former Manchester Mayor and Friend of IINE

Escrito por Danielle Gauthier en . Publicado en Blog.

Late last month, the International Institute of New England (IINE) lost one of our greatest patrons and friends, former Manchester Mayor Bob Baines, who passed away at the age of 79.  

Bob at the 2020 Bob Baines Blarney Breakfast

For many years, Bob hosted a “Bob Baines Blarney Breakfast” each March. The event raised funds for several charities, including the International Institute of New England’s Shirley Brulotte Fund. The fund, named for Bob’s late sister, helped hundreds of refugee and immigrant families make rental payments, buy food and clothing, and navigate their early days and months in Manchester. 

Bob believed deeply that new Americans are critical to the growth and vitality of Manchester and the entire country. He was proud that Manchester welcomed people of all faiths and backgrounds from around the world, and he celebrated the city’s great diversity. 

At his core, Bob was an educator. He was much beloved, both as a schoolteacher and as a principal. Countless former students of Bob have supported IINE over the years, and there is no doubt they were moved to do so because of Bob’s example.  

Bob cared about every resident of Manchester. He leaves a legacy of kindness and an example of how to lead a full and joyous life in service of others.  

The International Institute of New England is grateful to have known Bob and to have been a beneficiary of his generosity and talent. We will miss him dearly.  

Driving Empowerment: Helping Afghan Refugees Learn Manchester’s Rules of the Road 

Escrito por Danielle Gauthier en . Publicado en Refugiados afganos, Blog, Historias de clientes, Manchester, Voluntario.

Driven to Serve

“Of all the things I’ve done with the Afghan community over the last few years, the driver’s education has been the most empowering, for them, and for me,” says IINE volunteer, Ken G.  

Ken’s done quite a bit. He started volunteering with IINE in 2021 when the Taliban retook control of Afghanistan and hundreds of Afghan evacuees began resettling in Manchester, New Hampshire. Ken learned about the situation through his church and felt compelled to respond. He helped to form a community group called the New Hampshire Afghan Support Network and won a grant to fund its programming.  
 
Working with IINE, he led fellow community volunteers in helping Afghans to integrate into their new community. Efforts included a men’s social group that offers both recreation and service opportunities, like helping to set-up apartments for fellow refugees, and Sewing Seeds for Hope, an initiative to bring Afghan women together in sewing circles and help them sell their work both in-person and online. 

“Ken’s done so much,” says Mike Mailloux, the Volunteer Coordinator at IINE’s Manchester office. “He’s been a personal English tutor for four of our clients. He regularly drives women in our Sewing Seeds for Hope group to markets and craft fairs. He actually drove Roya, one of our clients, all the way to North Carolina, where she was starting college, and so much more. Whatever he does, he gives 150%.” 

Logging Miles

Transportation has long been one of the most daunting challenges facing new arrivals to the Manchester area. Housing tends to be far away from amenities, like grocery stores and shops, and from employers. Meanwhile, public transport services are limited, which means IINE’s clients often have to rely on carpooling with volunteers and fellow refugees. Recently, IINE launched a driver’s education class to help as many clients as possible get licenses. Mike tapped Ken to help students prepare for their road tests.  

“Over the past few months, my humble 2019 Toyota Yaris and I have spent almost thirty hours with twenty-eight Afghans,” says Ken, “so far, evenly divided between fourteen men and fourteen women. The car has a few small bruises to prove it! I am in fine shape.” 

The Word on the Street

Ken has enjoyed working with each of them and says that they faced different challenges. 

“Most of the men have needed mainly a few hours of practice and a tour or two around the Manchester DMV test route, and then they are golden. After all, they did virtually all the driving back in Afghanistan. I did have an amusing moment with two of the men who had studied and driven in Japan, where they drive on the left side of the road. Those two needed a little more than the usual adjustment for U.S. roads.” 

Because of the repression they faced under the Taliban, most of the women Ken drives with have had less experience, but some have spent some time in the driver’s seat. 

“The wives often have begun learning at the wheel with their husbands, but the word on the street is that ‘now you need to practice with Ken.’ As many of us know, teaching your own family member can be more than a little tense. These ladies have come along well, though, with many proudly succeeding.” 
 
Ken has helped foster a tight-knit community and says his students help to motivate each other.  

“There seems to be a little bit of competition going on between those who pass the first time and those who need multiple times to succeed. To be fair, the advantage of having time with me at this point is that I am patient and know the test route very well. I can even tell individuals to be careful not to make a certain mistake, because ‘this is how a certain friend of yours failed the test!’” 

 Some of Ken’s students have taken the wheel for the first time with Ken by their side. 

“The most challenging group is the young women who have never driven. They need a lot of time, beginning with driving circles around a parking lot at about five miles per hour. Then we go out on the street, then out in the country, then on the highway. Some are a little afraid at first of high-speed driving, as a highway in Afghanistan is probably like Union Street in Manchester. After a while, they learn that driving on a U.S. interstate is probably the easiest kind of driving. As with any group of students, some need a lot of practice, while others get the hang of it really quickly.” 

Going the Distance

A keychain of the Afghan flag, gifted by Ken to one of his students

Ken says, “The bottom line is that twenty-five of twenty-eight now have their licenses. The freedom and empowerment that this gives is huge, and I am always humbled by the gratitude they express. This has sometimes resulted in my wife and me being given gifts of food and even being invited into homes for some first-class Afghan meals.” 

Ken likes to give his students gifts as well.  
 
“Karen, one of my stellar volunteer friends, came up with the idea of ordering some key chains with Afghan flags on them. I always have one in my pocket on the day of a road test. When the person passes, and after the DMV gives them their temporary license, I hand them their keychain ‘on behalf of the volunteer group.’ It means a lot to them and warms my heart knowing that they have a better chance at starting a new life in our strange culture where driving is a necessity.” 

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Refugiados e inmigrantes emprenden largos y difíciles viajes para huir de la violencia y rehacer sus vidas en Estados Unidos. Tú puedes darles la ayuda que necesitan. 

IINE Statement on the Fatal Shootings by Federal Agents in Minneapolis

IINE Statement on the Fatal Shootings by Federal Agents in Minneapolis

Escrito por Danielle Gauthier en . Publicado en Defensa, Blog, Comunicados de prensa.

UPDATE 1/26/26:

On Saturday, January 24, another individual, acting within their constitutional rights, was killed at the hands of federal agents in Minneapolis. In spite of its claims to be doing the opposite, the administration continues to terrorize our communities, bringing new levels of danger and inhumanity to Minnesota, Maine, and beyond. IINE is committed to speaking out and fighting back. Join our efforts by signing up for our advocacy alerts. 

ORIGINAL 1/9/26:

The fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minneapolis on January 7 is a tragedy and the most dire outcome of unchecked authority.  

ICE continues to operate outside the bounds of law, and in doing so, creates immense fear and danger in our communities. We hear from our refugee and immigrant clients every week that they are afraid to go to work, take their children to school, or attend doctors’ appointments. Last year, our organization provided support to more than 12,000 new arrivals. These are brave, resilient individuals who endured difficult journeys to come to the U.S. through legal pathways. They willingly provided their information to the U.S. government and have done everything they can to both comply with our nation’s increasingly complex immigration laws and to become contributing members of our communities. Yet ICE’s actions make clear that this does not guarantee their safety or fair treatment.  

ICE’s actions also erode the very trust our organization, our communities, and our local police work to build with newcomers. As part of cultural orientation, we teach new arrivals about U.S. laws and the important role of the officials who have been sworn to uphold them. Now, these lessons ring hollow as the federal government continues to target refugees and immigrants and those who welcome and support them. Furthermore, ICE’s violent act undermines the very principles of justice and due process that define our nation. 

We call on our leaders to hold those responsible for this tragedy accountable, restore trust in our institutions, and ensure that all members of our communities are treated with dignity and fairness.  

The International Institute of New England Elects Will Krause and Yesim Richardson to its Board of Directors

The International Institute of New England Elects Will Krause and Yesim Richardson to its Board of Directors

Escrito por Danielle Gauthier en . Publicado en Blog, Nuestro equipo, Comunicados de prensa.

BOSTON – January 21, 2026 – The International Institute of New England (IINE), one of the region’s longest-established nonprofits serving refugees and immigrants, has announced the election of two new members to its Board of Directors: Will Krause, Senior Portfolio Manager and Senior Vice President at Northern Trust, and Yesim Richardson, Senior Vice President at Cornerstone Research. 

“Will and Yesim bring exceptional financial expertise and a deep commitment to our mission,” said Jeffrey Thielman, President and CEO of IINE. “Their leadership will be essential as we look to grow private and community support to navigate a changing immigration landscape.”

Will Krause

Will Krause is a Senior Portfolio Manager and Senior Vice President at Northern Trust, where he provides comprehensive wealth advice to institutions and ultra-high net worth families. He joined Northern Trust in 2018 and is a Certified Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder. Will holds a BS in Government from Harvard University. 

In addition to his professional role, Will serves as Vice Chair of CFA Society Boston, focusing on financial literacy initiatives, and sits on the boards of Kingsley Montessori School and Hill House Boston.   

Will was first elected to IINE’s Board of Directors in 2015 and served a 9-year term before being reelected in 2026. He is the founder of the Ride for Refugees and Immigrants, an annual bike ride that raises critical funds for IINE’s programs. 

“I am thrilled to rejoin IINE’s Board at such a critical time,” said Krause. “We believe that independent of the ebbs and flows of xenophobia in America, New England’s refugees and immigrants should have the necessary support to contribute culturally and economically to our communities. To that end, I look forward to doing what I can to further the IINE mission.”

Yesim Richardson

Yesim Richardson was born and raised in Turkey. As the Senior Vice President at Cornerstone Research, she specializes in applying economic and financial analysis to complex litigation involving securities, financial institutions, valuation, and real estate. Yesim has worked with clients across financial sectors and industries including energy, telecommunications, high technology, and pharmaceuticals. 

A former president of Cornerstone Research, Yesim serves on the firm’s board of directors and previously led its financial institutions practice. She has been recognized by  Consulting Magazine for excellence in leadership and innovation and by Lexology Index (formerly Who’s Who Legal) as a leading commercial litigation practitioner.  

Yesim holds a BA in Economics from Bogaziçi University in Istanbul and a PhD in Economics from Boston University. Prior to joining IINE’s Board of Directors, Yesim served on the Leadership Council. 

“I have a deep appreciation of how IINE’s programs can help transform the paths of our newest community members in ways that benefit all of us,” said Richardson. “I am proud to join an organization with a 100+-year history of providing newcomers with the resources they need to succeed.”

SOBRE EL INSTITUTO INTERNACIONAL DE NUEVA INGLATERRA

El Instituto Internacional de Nueva Inglaterra (IINE) crea oportunidades para que los refugiados y los inmigrantes tengan éxito a través del reasentamiento, la educación, la promoción profesional y las vías hacia la ciudadanía. Con sedes en Boston y Lowell (Massachusetts) y Manchester (New Hampshire), el IINE atiende anualmente a más de 10.000 personas, entre ellas desplazados por la inestabilidad política, la violencia y las crisis climáticas, niños y adultos supervivientes de la trata de seres humanos y menores no acompañados que se reúnen con familiares en Nueva Inglaterra. El IINE ofrece una amplia gama de programas y servicios para ayudar a estos recién llegados a sentirse bienvenidos, lograr estabilidad y seguridad, y acceder a recursos en sus nuevas comunidades; avanzar en sus objetivos de educación y empleo; e integrarse en sus comunidades. La experiencia del IINE se basa en más de un siglo de servicio, y con la continua colaboración de grupos comunitarios y el apoyo de filántropos de toda Nueva Inglaterra, el IINE continuará prestando este servicio durante los próximos 100 años y más allá. 

Nuestro Consejo de Administración está formado por líderes empresariales y comunitarios de toda Nueva Inglaterra. Conozca al Consejo.

From the Desk of the CEO: The Myth of the “Right Way to Immigrate”

Escrito por Danielle Gauthier en . Publicado en Blog, DESTACADO, Del escritorio del Director General.

“Why don’t immigrants just come here legally?”

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

Fairness is a defining American value. We believe that every system we navigate can and should be fair for all. This includes our immigration system. We want it to be just, orderly, humane, and mutually beneficial.  

More than two-thirds of immigrants admitted to the U.S. come to join family members already living here. Most others come for economic or education opportunities, or to seek refuge from persecution, violence, or natural disasters. All of these reasons align with long-standing U.S. values and priorities: supporting strong families, strengthening our workforce, driving innovation, and championing social mobility and freedom. Most Americans support immigration. They also believe that our system does not work the way it should.

When complaining about its flaws, many tend to direct their anger to those they believe do not follow our immigration laws and to a government that does not enforce them. This leads to discourse around the “right way vs. wrong way to immigrate” to the United States.

Here are five reasons why the “right way to immigrate” is not as clear as it may seem. 

1) For much of our nation’s history, any path was the “right path.”

The U.S. did not have a federal immigration system until the late 1800s. If your ancestors came to the U.S. during its first century, they did not have to “wait in line.” There was no visa system, no quota system, no centralized federal immigration authority, and no standardized “legal process” comparable to what exists today. If people could make it here from another country, they would likely be able to stay. Unlike today, the “right way” was simply to show up.

2) Even as immigrants helped build and strengthen the country, discriminatory laws denied many a “right way” to become American.

For as long as it’s been a country, the U.S. has received immigrants and refugees seeking opportunity and safety. Once here, they have helped build farms, factories, railroads, and cities. They have expanded the labor force, started businesses, enriched culture, and strengthened communities.

However, the federal government’s early attempts at establishing immigration laws were not designed to create a fair, orderly legal process that recognized the contributions immigrants were making, and no law was passed to allow people to enter for humanitarian reasons until after World War II. Early laws like the Page Act of 1875 and the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 excluded people based on race, ethnicity, and religion, barring entire groups from immigrating at all.

Laws like the National Origins Act of 1924 continued this approach by favoring some nationalities and religions and shutting others out. The problem was not that immigrants ignored the law; it was that the law denied them any “right way” to immigrate in the first place. It’s worth noting that the 1924 law led to an historically low immigration rate that coincided with a gradual decline in American innovation. 

3) After hard-won reforms, our system became more restrictive.

In the mid- to late 20th century, the U.S. benefited from significant immigration reform. The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 and the Refugee Act of 1980 created a more humane, orderly system focused on keeping families together and offering safety and opportunity to people fleeing persecution. In 1986, the Immigration Reform and Control Act championed by President Reagan provided a pathway to citizenship for millions of long-term undocumented residents who had been providing much-relied-upon seasonal and low-wage labor. These reforms were largely bipartisan and aligned with our values of freedom, fairness, and opportunity.

Over time, however, politics shifted, and for the past three decades, Congress has failed to pass laws needed to update and modernize our immigration system. Refugee ceilings rose and fell with political winds. Most temporary visas offered no lasting status. Many immigration applications faced decades-long backlogs. By the 21st century, many immigrants who tried to “get in line” discovered that the “line” either didn’t move or didn’t exist for them at all. 

4) As more people were forcibly displaced from their homelands, our immigration system became less efficient.

In the last decade, the number of people forcibly displaced from their homelands because of violence and persecution has doubled from 60 million to more than 120 million. On average, an additional 21 million people around the globe are forced to leave the regions where they live each year because of weather emergencies. The “right way” for even a small number of these populations to enter the United States is full of obstacles.  

The United States, which has a proud history of welcoming people fleeing persecution, is home to people from every nation facing displacement, meaning there are millions of people longing to join family living in the U.S. Morever, with a declining birth rate and a need for talent at all levels of our economy, humanitarian populations have the potential to make important contributions to America’s growth.

The failure of multiple immigration reform efforts, however, has created a system marked by visa caps that don’t match real-world needs, immigration courts with multi-year backlogs, and under-resourced refugee and asylum processing. The result is a system of chaos and delay that frustrates those who deserve a “right way” to become American. 

5) Over the past year, our federal government has targeted ALL immigrants, including those who followed the law.

 Beginning in January 2025, the federal government has restricted or suspended nearly all remaining “right ways” to immigrate: 

  • Family reunification was halted or delayed for hundreds of thousands through a new “travel ban” placed on more than 30 countries representing one-fifth of the world’s population.  
  • More than 500,000 people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela who were lawfully admitted to the U.S. for humanitarian reasons, including more than 12,000 clients served by IINE, had their statuses canceled, exposing them to sudden deportation from the United States.  
  • H-1B skilled work visa fees increased from $1,500 to $100,000, as new vetting and processing changes made them harder to renew.  
  • The refugee admissions program was suspended, stranding hundreds of thousands of extensively vetted humanitarian immigrants, and all asylum cases were paused, preventing immigrants fleeing violence and persecution from seeking protection in the U.S.
  • Temporary Protected Status for immigrants from dozens of the world’s most troubled conflict zones was terminated without cause, revoking protections for hundreds of thousands of persecuted immigrants who put down roots in our communities.
  • The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program was suspended, eliminating up to 50,000 visas made available annually for people from countries with low immigration rates. 
  • Thousands of student visas were revoked for individuals who exercised their right of free expression by participating in protests, speaking out, or publishing their views online and in print.  
  • Temporary work visas, once touted as the “legal way” for employers to hire much-needed immigrant workers, were hit with new restrictions, higher fees, and tougher enforcement. Employers began facing more risk and uncertainty, and many long-time seasonal workers lost access to legal employment. 

As immigrants already in the country lost their status, they became subject to deportation. Others who were lawfully present have been detained while attending routine appointments with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services or required immigration court dates. Unbelievably, some who passed all the tests to become U.S. citizens have been pulled out of line at their swearing-in ceremonies, unable to realize a dream they had pursued for decades.

Throughout the year, we have seen an increasing number of acts of extreme violence by immigration enforcement agents directed at American citizens and immigrants alike. Most Americans are dismayed that there appears to be no way to hold these individuals or the agency they work for accountable for well-documented extrajudicial activities.

Taken together, the policies and actions implemented in the past year send a chilling and decidedly anti-American message: even if you follow every rule, file every form, pass every background check, and wait patiently in line, the door to the U.S. can still be slammed shut in your face.  

Where do we go from here?

The good news is that the story isn’t over. Millions of Americans are disgusted and dismayed by our broken immigration system and by how law abiding, hardworking people are being treated by our government. 

As we know from IINE’s more than 100-year history, our nation’s commitment to welcome has persevered through many dark moments. Americans of every political background have come together throughout history to reform our immigration system when the law no longer reflected fairness, human dignity, or common sense. We can do so again by insisting on a system that is clear, lawful, humane, and effective: one that protects the persecuted, reunites families, rewards honest labor, respects due process, and gives people a straightforward and fair path to become an American.  

If there is any time to reform our system to enable people to immigrate to the United States the “right way,” it is right now.  

Salman Blog Post

Salman’s Story: A Young Pakistani Refugee Finds His Calling in Healthcare

Escrito por Danielle Gauthier en . Publicado en Blog, Historias de clientes, Apoyo al empleo, Formación para el empleo, Lowell, Reasentamiento de refugiados, Programación para jóvenes.

Life in Malaysia as Refugees

Born in Karachi, Pakistan, Salman and his family were forced to flee to Malaysia when he was just seven years old. “I never went back to Pakistan,” he says.

Life in Kuala Lumpur was challenging: “As refugees, you are not allowed to work, so my family had many financial issues.” Thankfully, Salman’s family found a supportive community, who helped make sure he could complete his schooling and enroll in college.

The Long, Uncertain Road to the U.S.

For years, Salman and his family hoped for resettlement in the United States, but after multiple medical exams, little communication, and fourteen years of waiting, they doubted the chance would ever come. “I had given up,” Salman reflects. “Then one day, we received a call. I was shocked.” With just two weeks to prepare, Salman, his parents, and his two younger brothers said goodbye to friends, teachers, and neighbors and boarded a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Dubai, then another to New York, before finally driving to their new home: Lowell, Massachusetts.

Coming to the U.S. was an incredible opportunity, but those early days were still tough: “When we came here, we didn’t have a car, and it was snowing. I was so down. I was not the same Salman.” He missed his community and the familiarity of his previous life. Thankfully, he didn’t have to navigate this transition on his own.

Discovering a New Career Interest

IINE was there to support Salman and his family from day one. Case workers helped them secure housing and get settled in their new home, and then introduced Salman to IINE’s Refugee Youth Program. The program provides case management and educational and career support for youth ages 16-21, ensuring young refugees succeed in school, build job skills, and connect with their peers and community.

Salman dove headfirst into every opportunity available to him. He became a regular at IINE’s youth workshops and yoga sessions, always a smiling face and active participant.

He was also eager to continue his college education, but as a refugee, he had to wait a year before becoming eligible for tuition assistance. During this period, IINE’s Youth team learned of Salman’s growing interest in healthcare. Last fall, they encouraged him to enroll in IINE’s free Certified Nursing Assistant training program. When he sought to gain more hands-on experience, IINE’s Employment team helped him find a job at a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility as a personal caregiver. By spring, Salman’s hard work had paid off. He passed the licensing exam to become a registered Certified Nursing Assistant.

Finding Sunnier Days

Salman says that if he were to take away one lesson from the obstacles and opportunities he’s encountered, it’s that “the dark clouds are not going to always be there.” These days, he finds there’s more sunshine.

With IINE’s support, Salman has secured a scholarship, enrolled at a local college, and is now pursuing a degree in biology. “I count my blessings every day. Going to school and attending lectures is a blessing to me. Working as a Certified Nursing Assistant and helping my residents is a blessing.”

Salman hopes to work in medicine one day, potentially as a general practitioner or civil surgeon. Whatever role he lands on, he knows it will be in service of others: “Serving, volunteering, and helping people—that’s my hope for the future. I wouldn’t be here, I wouldn’t even be able to speak English, if other people hadn’t helped me when I needed it the most.”

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Refugiados e inmigrantes emprenden largos y difíciles viajes para huir de la violencia y rehacer sus vidas en Estados Unidos. Tú puedes darles la ayuda que necesitan. 

The International Institute of New England Honors Alnylam CEO Dr. Yvonne Greenstreet With 2026 Golden Door Award

Escrito por Danielle Gauthier en . Publicado en Blog, Comunicados de prensa.

Annual award recognizes achievements of immigrants who have made outstanding contributions to U.S.

BOSTON, MA – January 5, 2026 – The International Institute of New England (IINE) has named Dr. Yvonne Greenstreet, Chief Executive Officer of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, as the recipient of its 44th annual Golden Door Award. The prestigious honor is given each year to a leader born outside of the United States, who has made outstanding contributions to American society. Dr. Greenstreet will be recognized at The Golden Door Award Gala held on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at the Omni Seaport Hotel in Boston. 

“Dr. Greenstreet’s decades-long commitment to delivering transformative medicines to patients across the globe is remarkable and exemplifies the ingenuity and drive so many immigrants and refugees bring to our country,” said Jeff Thielman, President and CEO of IINE. “Dr. Greenstreet’s journey, from training as a physician overseas to leading a revolutionary biopharmaceutical company here in Boston, is an inspiration that embodies the spirit of opportunity that our organization celebrates.” 

Dr. Greenstreet, MD, MBA, OBE, is an esteemed leader with more than 30 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry. Born in London and raised in Ghana and the U.K., she earned a medical degree from the University of Leeds and practiced as a clinician before earning her MBA from INSEAD and moving into the biopharmaceutical industry, driven by her ambition to have an even greater impact on patients. She moved to the United States in 2004. 

Her career includes significant senior roles at GlaxoSmithKline plc and Pfizer, where she ran a rapidly growing multi-billion-dollar medicine development division. Greenstreet joined Alnylam in 2016 as chief operating officer, rising to become president and then, in late 2021, CEO. She has guided Alnylam’s quest to turn the Nobel-Prize-winning science of RNA interference into a new class of medicines and helped to transform the company from a pioneering R&D organization into one of the top biotechnology companies in the world, with a portfolio of medicines available in more than 70 countries and an expanding pipeline of promising medicines in development for both rare and prevalent diseases. Under Greenstreet, Alnylam has consistently earned recognition as an exceptional workplace and socially responsible company. 

Greenstreet serves on the board of directors of The American Funds and the Biomedical Sciences Careers Program and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. She was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 2025 for services to the biotechnology and life sciences industry and was recognized in 2024 as the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association Woman of Year.    

“Yvonne exemplifies the extraordinary contributions immigrants make to our nation and to the life sciences—through vision, compassion, hard work and a steadfast belief in what is possible,” said Julie Kim, CEO-elect at Takeda. “Her leadership at Alnylam has driven remarkable scientific progress while remaining firmly grounded in purpose and impact for patients. This recognition is a well-deserved acknowledgment of her influence on our industry and on human health.“ 

“I am deeply honored to receive the Golden Door Award,” said Greenstreet. “My own journey—from growing up in Ghana and the U.K., to leading a company dedicated to changing lives through science—has been shaped by the support, openness, and belief of others along the way. Immigrants and refugees bring with them resilience, creativity, and a drive to contribute that strengthens the communities they join. The work IINE does to welcome and empower newcomers is vital to ensuring that these same qualities continue to enrich our society.” 

The 44th Golden Door Award Gala is chaired by senior industry leaders in Boston, including Julie Kim, CEO-elect at Takeda, Graham Robinson, Partner at Kirkland & Ellis, LLP, and Anthony Consigli, CEO, Consigli Construction Company.  

At a time of increasingly restrictive immigration policy and substantial funding cuts at the federal level, the annual gala will raise critical funds to support IINE’s programs, ensuring that refugees and immigrants continue to find welcome, support, and opportunity in our New England communities.  

SOBRE EL INSTITUTO INTERNACIONAL DE NUEVA INGLATERRA

El Instituto Internacional de Nueva Inglaterra (IINE) crea oportunidades para que los refugiados y los inmigrantes tengan éxito a través del reasentamiento, la educación, la promoción profesional y las vías hacia la ciudadanía. Con sedes en Boston y Lowell (Massachusetts) y Manchester (New Hampshire), el IINE atiende anualmente a más de 10.000 personas, entre ellas desplazados por la inestabilidad política, la violencia y las crisis climáticas, niños y adultos supervivientes de la trata de seres humanos y menores no acompañados que se reúnen con familiares en Nueva Inglaterra. El IINE ofrece una amplia gama de programas y servicios para ayudar a estos recién llegados a sentirse bienvenidos, lograr estabilidad y seguridad, y acceder a recursos en sus nuevas comunidades; avanzar en sus objetivos de educación y empleo; e integrarse en sus comunidades. La experiencia del IINE se basa en más de un siglo de servicio, y con la continua colaboración de grupos comunitarios y el apoyo de filántropos de toda Nueva Inglaterra, el IINE continuará prestando este servicio durante los próximos 100 años y más allá.

Meet Our 2025 Interns

Escrito por Danielle Gauthier en . Publicado en Blog, Boston, Lowell, Manchester, Nuestro equipo.

Every spring, summer, and fall brings a new group of bright, passionate interns to our team. In this post, hear from four of this year’s interns, who made an impact across the organization.

Elias Rodriguez, Advocacy Intern
Tufts University

What are you studying, and what drew you to those studies?
I am currently finishing my degree in Race, Colonialism, and Diaspora Studies and Civic Studies. When I knew I wanted to engage in work supporting immigrants, I saw two paths of study to be paramount for providing a good context for my work. I wanted to study why refugees are coming to the United States and understand in greater depth how colonialism has shaped paths of migration through displacement, and I have focused specifically on studying displacement in Latin America. I also wanted Civic Studies so my major would be based on both studies and practice. Civic Studies is geared towards studying how to make social change, and I have been able to participate in experiences that have informed how I understand my role in social change and have allowed me to gain skills through both study and direct practice.  

What led you to an internship at IINE?
I had heard about IINE both through friends who worked there and from some family members. My friend was an intern at IINE this past summer and really enjoyed it. As I entered my capstone internship for my Civics Studies major, I wanted to continue my work in supporting immigrants in the area, both at the Center to Support Immigrant Organizing and Enroot Education. The advocacy branch at IINE felt like a good fit, both because of my prior experience and the growing need for advocacy on all levels for pro-refugee policy after the suspension of the refugee program.  

What did you do as an IINE intern, and how did it help prepare you for future work?
I had a few main tasks. One was helping to facilitate meetings with our volunteers. Another was attending meetings for related advocacy organizations to take notes, which I shared with the advocacy team as we coordinated calls to action and policy updates for the week.  

My biggest project was a policy-tracking sheet that shows legislation co-sponsored by Massachusetts and New Hampshire representatives that affects refugees. I focused on representatives from the areas that IINE volunteers live in so that they’ll have an easy tool for understanding how their representatives are acting and which politicians they must put pressure on to make meaningful changes in policy. This specific project enriched my understanding of local politics and attitudes towards refugees. I also feel that it has prepared me for more long-term research work that can help spur action for my colleagues now and in the future.  

What was the work environment like at IINE?
IINE provides a vast amount of services and has a large variety of departments. I did not understand the full extent of this until I started working at the office. From the moment you walk in, folks in the resettlement branch are sitting and speaking with clients. Meetings are happening around policy and advancement in conference rooms. People are typing away at their desks and making signs for future IINE events. The office is clearly filled with highly mobilized individuals who are passionate about making refugees feel at home in our shared community, and the determination and passion are infectious to work alongside.   

Would you recommend this internship to other students?
100%! IINE is an organization doing incredibly important work to resettle refugees, and the opportunities to collaborate with people to support the mission are diverse and plentiful. There is so much to learn from everyone, and the work environment is friendly and productive.  

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Zhuo (Claire) Pang, Lowell Community Services Intern
University of Sheffield (UK)

What are you studying, and what drew you to those studies?
I am currently a Ph.D. student in Urban Studies and Planning. My research focuses on how newly arrived immigrants experience and navigate urban spaces. I have a background in architecture and urban design, and I previously studied and worked in the Boston area. 

Outside of academia, I’ve volunteered in different roles that exposed me to the everyday experiences of refugees and immigrants in general, which deeply shaped my interests. This Ph.D. brings together my academic training in urban space with my passion for working with immigrant communities. It is also personal for me, as I am an immigrant from China myself. 

What led you to an internship at IINE?
My research led me to seek out organizations that support immigrants in the Greater Boston area, and IINE stood out as one of the refugee resettlement agencies in New England.  

I initially planned to volunteer, but then I discovered IINE’s internship program, which aligned well with my fieldwork schedule. I applied and was very happy to be accepted. Through this internship, I hoped to gain hands-on insight into how newly arrived immigrants are welcomed and supported, and to better understand the everyday challenges they face as they navigate life in a new city. 

What did you do as an IINE intern, and how did it help prepare you for future work?
As an intern, I worked closely with the Community Services team, primarily supporting resettlement and placement work. My responsibilities included welcoming new families, assisting with intakes and cultural orientation sessions, organizing case binders, and helping with case notes. I also worked with the volunteer team, joining bus tours and walking tours with clients. The work was varied, and I often stepped in as a helping hand wherever support was needed. 

This internship gave me a rare, first-hand window into the refugee resettlement process and the support needed by newly arrived immigrants. For someone with a background in urban design and an interest in welcoming and inclusive cities, this perspective is quite unique. It deepened my understanding of this specific population group and their everyday needs. 

Beyond that, the experience strengthened my ability to work across cultural and language differences and to collaborate with people from very different backgrounds than my own. These experiences have been valuable for my future research and practice. 

Any highlights?
One of the highlights for me was working in-person with clients—whether on bus tours, walking tours, or accompanying people to everyday places like laundromats and grocery stores. As someone who is deeply interested in how people relate to urban spaces, it felt like a real privilege to help introduce newcomers to the city. 

At the same time, because I was also new to Lowell, many clients showed me which places mattered most to them. In those moments, they became the guides. Walking through the city together and learning from each other made these experiences especially meaningful. 

What was the work environment like at IINE?
IINE has an inclusive and friendly work environment. I am happy to see former clients now working at IINE and actively championing efforts to support newly arrived immigrants. Their lived experiences bring a strong sense of empathy and commitment to the work. 

Like many social service organizations, the work often involves navigating uncertainty—whether due to funding cycles, policy changes, or shifting waves of migration. Even so, I found the team to be very supportive and kind toward one another, with a strong ethic of care that helps prevent burnout. 

Would you recommend this internship to other students?
I would recommend this internship to students who are interested in working with immigrant communities or who have projects or career goals related to this field. It is also a great opportunity for those who are curious and want to explore whether this kind of work is something they want to commit to in the long run. 

Through my outreach work, I’ve met people at other organizations who were once interns at IINE and have since continued along similar career paths, which speaks to the lasting impact of the program. A three-month internship offers experience and can be a valuable way to clarify interests and shape future professional directions. 

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Lilly Medeiros, Lowell Benefits Administration Intern
William & Mary Law School

What are you studying, and what drew you to those studies?
I’m studying international law. I was drawn to this field because of the potential of working with clients from across the globe, expanding my worldview, and creating diverse opportunities to advance justice both in the United States and worldwide. 

What led you to an internship at IINE?
I was excited to get early opportunities to work in immigration and with a diverse client base even before starting law school. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do at IINE, I just knew I wanted to work in immigration. So, I applied to nearly every internship IINE offered and was fortunate enough to be offered one! 

What did you do as an IINE intern, and how did it help prepare you for future work?
Much of my time was spent working directly with clients’ government benefits, such as the Refugee Cash Assistance Program and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families received through IINE. I was able to get a view into the everyday lives of the clients we served and see how agencies like IINE make a positive difference in the lives of immigrants. Plus, I gained office and database administration experience that is transferable to many different careers. 

Any highlights?
I loved sitting in on biweekly “dispo” meetings and hearing my fellow staff members share updates on the progress they had made with various clients and operational goals throughout the summer. It was so engaging to hear them problem-solve and come up with solutions for specific client goals, working around unexpected hurdles as a team. It was clear how well the staff knew each client and family, and how many were willing to take on challenges even outside their specific line of work to ensure their clients were successful.  

What was the work environment like at IINE?
Collaborative and supportive. Most people work with their office doors open and are super responsive to Teams messages if you need help. I was never afraid to ask my coworkers questions or to ask for translation help. Also, they train you well—I was always walked through with a demo before being assigned a task to complete. 

Would you recommend this internship to other students?
I would! I had great opportunities to work with a diverse and collaborative client base and staff, coming away with excellent cross-cultural communication skills and administration and organization skills. I was given great opportunities to take on real responsibility, even as an intern. If you’ve never worked in a professional office or nonprofit setting, this is a great way to gain exposure and experience in a supportive environment. 

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Emily Bisson, Manchester Employment Intern
Mount Holyoke College

What are you studying, and what drew you to those studies?
I am currently a junior double-majoring in International Relations and Economics. I also have a specialized minor in Law, Public Policy, and Human Rights. I have always known that I want to pursue a career where I can work with people and help those in need. I was drawn to these studies because of my interest in politics and learning about the world around me. After choosing my international relations major, I took a few economics courses and really enjoyed how these classes were able to explain how our current system has created a world full of so many inequalities. I hope to use my education to eventually pursue a career in law, specifically immigration law.  

What led you to an internship at IINE?
I am a lifelong resident of Manchester, and I was really excited about the opportunity to work with my own local community and make a positive impact. Additionally, I wanted to learn more about immigration law, and I also wanted the chance to work directly with clients rather than just in the office. IINE gave me the opportunity to learn more about my interests, engage directly with clients, and become more involved in my local community.  

What did you do as an IINE intern, and how did it help prepare you for future work?
I worked with the team of career specialists on tasks like meeting with clients to complete intakes, searching and applying for jobs, and helping out at various IINE events.  

My main project for the summer was designing and teaching a driver’s education course for clients who are working towards earning their driver’s license in New Hampshire. I worked with Career Services Manager Andrew Cullen to outline what content needed to be included in the course. I made slideshows for each class, along with quizzes and homework assignments for clients. I then worked with the Career Services team to conduct outreach and find interested clients, and then I had the amazing opportunity to teach the class to the first cohort of students!  

This entire process helped prepare me for future work, as it gave me an opportunity to build confidence in working independently. While the Career Services team was always there to support me and check in, I had a lot of autonomy in coming up with the structure of the course materials. I gained a lot of confidence in being able to figure things out on my own, as well as teaching the course and being able to work with clients individually.  

Any highlights?
A highlight for me was the graduation of the first cohort of driver’s education students. One client came over and asked if I would take a photo with her and her diploma. It made me feel really good about the work I had done to see how proud and excited the clients were after completing the course. Another highlight for me was attending the ESOL graduation ceremony.  I really enjoyed getting to hear client stories and celebrate their achievements in learning English.  

Another experience I really enjoyed was getting to do a client home visit with one of the career specialists. It was nice to get to talk with the clients at a more personal level and see how much of a positive impact the work of the amazing people at IINE has on clients and their families.  

What was the work environment like at IINE?
The work environment at IINE was welcoming and exciting. Everyone in the office was so friendly and was always willing to lend a helping hand. I enjoyed that no day was exactly the same, and there were always new things to learn and take part in around the office. I completed office tasks, helped out at community events, visited clients, and met with clients in the office. I really enjoyed the fast-paced and exciting environment!  

Would you recommend this internship to other students?
I would highly recommend this internship to other students. I felt extremely welcome during my time at IINE, and I really appreciated that all my thoughts and ideas were valued even as an intern. I also appreciated the opportunity to have a project to work on throughout the summer, and it made me feel like I had a specific goal and purpose throughout my entire experience, culminating in my final two weeks teaching the driver’s education program. Even though I was an intern for the Employment Services team, I also loved that other departments would always invite me to join events or complete tasks with their interns, so we all had an opportunity to learn about all the different facets of IINE.  

Ama lo que haces. En cada paso del camino. Explore las oportunidades de prácticas en IINE para adquirir experiencia práctica apoyando a refugiados e inmigrantes en Nueva Inglaterra. 

Remembering Anne Sanderson, Former Director of the International Institute of New Hampshire

Remembering Anne Sanderson, Former Director of the International Institute of New Hampshire

Escrito por Danielle Gauthier en . Publicado en Blog.

Anne at an International Institute event

Anne Sanderson, who established the first refugee resettlement program in New Hampshire that continues to this day, passed away earlier this month at the age of 89. Anne started resettling refugees from Southeast Asia in the early 1980s as a member of Brookside Church in Manchester. In time, Anne established the International Institute of New Hampshire (IINH), which eventually became part of the International Institute of New England. 

Over a more than 25-year career, Anne personally greeted hundreds of refugees at the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport and helped them to settle into new homes, find jobs, and learn English. She enrolled their children in the Manchester public schools and built strong ties with community leaders. The refugees she resettled became her friends, and she watched with enormous pride as they built families, businesses, and new lives in the Granite State. She taught others that resettling refugees was not only humane but good for everyone in New Hampshire.  

Anne worked with hundreds of community volunteers over her lifetime of service, including Shirley Brulotte, the late sister of former Manchester Mayor Bob Baines. Anne and Mayor Baines established the Shirley Brulotte Fund to provide emergency support to refugees in New Hampshire, and the fund became a beneficiary of the legendary Bob Baines Blarney Breakfasts.  

After retirement, Anne became an advisor to the current leadership of the International Institute of New England. She passed along materials from her days leading IINH, insights on anything she learned that might impact refugees in New Hampshire, and much wisdom about how to care for and support the refugee community.  

Westy Egmont, the former Executive Director of IINE, shared this remembrance of Anne: “Anne Sanderson led from her heart. With the refugee work of IINH growing from her church, she brought her deep compassion and boundless commitment to any and all needs that arose. As we built a larger IINE, Anne participated in our management team. Ever loving the immediacy of being at the airport, Anne was an internal voice for refugee needs and keeping the personal touch with our professional services. She did not resist being a mother figure to many. 

Mayors found her passion the most persuasive advocacy. When one mayor tried to get a ban on arrivals, we went to his office, and Anne confronted him with how his mother (an immigrant) would feel about this. He backed down. Another mayor made IINH’s work his own philanthropic cause.  

Anne’s legacy is seen in the stores and streets and workplaces of NH. Her work brought rich new diversity to the old mill cities and demonstrated the best of American patriotism, making ‘E pluibus unum’ real with warm welcome for newcomers and integration into the community life of their adopted nation.” 

The International Institute of New England is grateful to have had Anne Sanderson as a founder of our work in New Hampshire, and she will remain an inspiration as we strive to continue her legacy of service to the world’s most vulnerable.  

Digital Literacy Blog Post

For Refugees, Digital Literacy is Key to Success in the Workforce

Escrito por Danielle Gauthier en . Publicado en Blog, Historias de clientes, Manchester, Reasentamiento de refugiados, Programación para jóvenes.

When COVID-19 began, IINE had no choice but to close its classroom doors—but with the pandemic hitting immigrant communities the hardest of anyone, it was critical that the IINE team found a way to continue to support, educate, and prepare clients for success in the U.S 

So, if IINE could not welcome clients into its offices, it would have to bring its offices to its clients. Staff began delivering laptops to clients’ homes and learning how to offer all services and classes remotely. As if this were not challenging enough, many clients had little to no experience with computers or smartphones. Before they could learn how to access services remotely, they would have to learn basic digital literacy. 

Five years later, almost all IINE services and classes include hybrid options or components, and all education programs make digital literacy instruction available to those who need it. This is not only a revolution in accessibility, but also key to preparing clients for the workforce. It’s estimated that while roughly 92% of jobs now require some degree of digital literacy, 40% of workers with limited English skills have low digital literacy. 

Lowell’s Approach: Bridging ESOL and Technology

IINE’s Lowell Education team has addressed the challenge by supplementing each of its in-person English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes with an additional hour of instruction each week, and monthly in-person drop-in hours for remote students. In 2025, 80 students received free Chromebooks and instruction on how to use them.  
 
“The classes are helping students with typing. They’re learning about the parts of a keyboard and computer icons, relevant vocabulary, and how to use Zoom features like chat, emojis, and breakout rooms,” says ESOL & Job Readiness Instructor Dedra Carpenter. “These skills are valuable to their ability to fully engage in education, employment, and everyday life. We’re seeing students build confidence and autonomy.” 

Manchester’s Approach: Workforce Training Goes Digital

In IINE’s Manchester office, digital literacy is not only incorporated into ESOL instruction, but has also been introduced into workforce orientation trainings. At a new office computer lab, clients learn how to navigate the internet, use GPS and Google Translate, set up and use email accounts, and search and apply for jobs. 

“Historically speaking, learning English has been the major form of literacy that has empowered our clients to move beyond surviving to thriving,” says Career Services Manager Andrew Cullen.  

"The world we live in today means that digital literacy is becoming as important as English literacy."

“However, the world we live in today means that digital literacy is becoming as important as English literacy. Many employers conduct their hiring process virtually, from application through interviews, and job offer letters and onboarding paperwork are often completed digitally. They need to learn a suite of programs to get through the job application process, and there are often further digital literacy requirements to complete the job.” 

Boston’s Approach: New Digital Programs Open New Doors

IINE’s Boston Skills Training Department recently launched two new digital initiatives. 

Funded by a grant from the City of Boston, Bridge to IT Proficiency is a three-month digital literacy course that includes lectures, self-study, and group work. Students receive individual tutoring from IINE volunteers who help them to understand instructions and review their mistakes—and sometimes provide on-site childcare. All graduates of the program receive follow-up support, whether it’s additional literacy training, help with job applications, or, in the case of those pursuing work in the growing IT field, advanced training.  

Bridge to IT Class

“One of our Afghan clients, Samima, has a background in computer science and wants to continue her career in the field,” says Lead Career Navigator Gordon Parris. “We purchased her an online self-study course and have been providing tutoring while she completes the course.” 

Gordon says that this approach can help address many clients’ particular challenges. “Samima has a one-year-old, and with her husband working full-time, she wouldn’t be able to attend an in-person class given her child-care responsibilities. She’s now received a certificate in Web Development, including certification in CSS and JavaScript!” 

After the success of the first cohort of Bridge to IT Proficiency, with support from Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley’s Dig.Lit 2.0 initiative, IINE’s Boston Skills training team launched their latest digital literacy effort—a drop-in class, created in collaboration with the Volunteer, ESOL, and Employment teams. 

“To date, we have served 55 unique clients, and at least 38 have received course completion certificates. Clients who otherwise hadn’t been able to open and check their own email accounts are now able to do so – thereby removing a significant hurdle in the job application and interviewing procedure.” 

Like Bridge to IT, the drop-in class relies on volunteer tutors to help students through the material. IINE Career Navigator Luqman Alkhaneqeeni, who helps teach the class, says that one volunteer in particular brought him particular joy this past cohort. 

“Yvener came to the U.S. from Haiti with his family under a humanitarian parole program. He showed interest in the IT industry and got an IT tuition-based scholarship while receiving services from our Refugee Career Pathways program. He successfully graduated from Bridge to IT and was top in the class in terms of performance, attendance, and score, and even assisted his classmates. After he graduated, he began volunteering in multiple computer skills classes at IINE to help anyone he could.” 

Gordon and Luqman say that their volunteer tutors are not only helpful but also tend to have great experiences in the classes. Gordon adds that one volunteer recently told him, “It’s a really gratifying opportunity because I know how much fear and uncertainty these folks are experiencing, I see how hard they work to move forward, and I know that the skills I’ve just helped them acquire will serve them no matter what happens next. Knowledge and skills are always an incredible gift. No one can take them away from you.” 

Knowledge and skills are always an incredible gift. No one can take them away from you.

IINE recently hosted a celebration for graduates of both programs in the Boston office. Several graduates made speeches to thank their classmates, instructors, and everyone who supported them in pursuing their certificates.  

One student, Wilben, who had been a house painter in Haiti and now seeks an office administrative role in Boston, recruited several friends he made while living in an emergency shelter to join him in the Dig.Lit 2.0 class. He spoke to them in his graduation speech, “Today is our graduation day, and it is a very special moment for all of us. We have worked hard for many months to reach this point. We faced many challenges, but we never gave up. Our teachers supported us and helped us learn new things every day. Our families stood by us and encouraged us to keep going. Today, we feel proud because we can see how much we have grown. This is not the end, but the beginning of a new journey for our future. Let us thank everyone who helped us come this far and step into the next chapter with hope and confidence.” 

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Refugees and immigrants make long, dangerous journeys to the U.S. You can give them the help they need to find safety and opportunity in our communities.