FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 18, 2021
Contacts:
Clare Gunther, Lowell Community Health Center, ClareGu@lchealth.org, 978-746-7891
International Institute of New England (IINE) to be Housed at Lowell Community Health Center
Move will enhance organizations’ ability to provide comprehensive social services, education and healthcare to Lowell’s refugee and immigrant communities
LOWELL, MA — The International Institute of New England (IINE) Lowell operations will relocate to Lowell Community Health Center (Lowell CHC) at 101 Jackson Street location in downtown Lowell. The move further strengthens a long-standing partnership between the two organizations to provide social services, education, and physical and behavioral healthcare to Lowell’s refugee and immigrant communities.
IINE was founded in Lowell in 1918 and has operated continuously for 102 years. By located its Lowell offices within Lowell CHC, IINE seeks to create a “one stop shop,” where refugee and immigrant community members can meet with their primary care provider, case manager, and immigration attorney, enroll in MassHealth, attend English classes, prepare for careers in healthcare, and more – all in one welcoming, accessible environment.
Lowell CHC has served as the “family doctor” for Greater Lowell for more than 50 years by providing primary, specialty and behavioral health care to anyone who needs it, regardless of ability to pay. The health center also serves as the region’s Refugee Health Assessment Center, providing a first point of contact for health care to refugees arriving here from around the Globe. It’s unique Metta Health Center has been providing culturally sensitive, bi-lingual health care to refugees and immigrants for more than 20 years.
Architectural firm Dyer Brown and construction management firm Pidgeon & Co. have been hired to design IINE’s new offices on the second floor of Lowell Community Health Center. IINE’s new offices are expected to be open to the public in June 2021.
“We are thrilled to have IINE co-located in our building,” said Susan West Levine, CEO of Lowell CHC. “Among our goals when we expanded into 101 Jackson Street in 2018 was to build on our ability to provide multiple services to our patients under one roof. This partnership certainly enhances that. Lowell CHC and IINE have long worked together to serve the region’s immigrant and refugee populations. This will make that work more seamless and accessible.”
Jeff Thielman, President and CEO of International Institute of New England said, “Lowell Community Health Center has been an incredible ally in serving Lowell’s refugee and immigrant population. We couldn’t think of a better location or partnership in the City of Lowell.”
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The International Institute of New England creates opportunities for refugees and immigrants to succeed through resettlement, education, career advancement and pathways to citizenship. Learn more at IINE.org.
Lowell Community Health Center provides caring, quality, and culturally competent health services to the people of Greater Lowell, regardless of their financial status; to reduce health disparities and enhance the health of the Greater Lowell community; and to empower each individual to maximize their overall well-being. Learn more at lchealth.org
