Refugee Youth Spend Summer Exploring, Learning, and Bonding
This summer, refugee youth in Lowell, Massachusetts and Manchester, New Hampshire who participated in IINE programs throughout the year had the opportunity to stay engaged during the school break. With staff and volunteers, they explored their local communities, practiced their English [...]
Suitcase Stories: How a Cup of Coffee Transports Maryna to Happier Days in Ukraine
Maryna, a Ukrainian refugee, was living in Kyiv with her daughter when Russia invaded the country in 2022. In her recent Suitcase Stories performance she shared the story of her difficult and brave decision to say goodbye to family and friends [...]
2 Years After the Afghan Evacuation, Afghans Deserve Permission to Stay in Their New Home
By Alexandra Weber, Chief Advancement Officer and Senior Vice President Two years ago, on Sunday, August 15, 2021, the Taliban took control of Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul. More than 76,000 Afghans were evacuated to the U.S. Families arrived exhausted, fearful, and unsure [...]
Employee Profile: Meet Julian D’Andre, Case Specialist
Julian D’Andre joined the International Institute of New England earlier this year as a Case Specialist. Driven by a desire to help fellow Ukrainian refugees, Julian spends his days helping our clients to access the resources they need to achieve security [...]
Suitcase Stories: Mapendo Reflects on Her Family’s Journey From the Democratic Republic of Congo and Starting Over
"This is when we knew we had to start life all over." Mapendo Mutingamo, a refugee youth client at IINE, is originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo; however, she and her family have not been there in over a decade. [...]
Employee Profile: Meet Kubana Alexis, Associate Director, Workforce Initiatives
Kubana Alexis joined the International Institute of New England in 2018 as a Skills Training Specialist. Today, he is the Associate Director, Workforce Initiatives, managing and innovating our job skills training programs. Kubana discussed his journey from client to employee at [...]
Major League Opportunity for Refugees at Fenway Park
Getting a call from the Red Sox to come on down to Fenway Park is the dream of many a New Englander. Even though he wasn’t being asked to suit up, IINE Career Service Manager Nico Britt was thrilled when it [...]
Volunteer Spotlight: Phoebe Park Finds a Connection That Transcends Language Barriers
In our Volunteer Spotlight series, we catch up with cherished IINE volunteers to hear more about their passion and experiences. Our latest edition features Phoebe Park, a recent college graduate who has been tutoring the children of a refugee family in Boston. [...]
IINE Celebrates World Refugee Day 2023
The United Nations General Assembly established the first World Refugee Day on June 20, 2000. The international holiday honors the courage and resilience of refugees worldwide, celebrates the significant contributions they make to every community they join, and calls for expanded [...]
5 Things to Know About the Crisis in Haiti
Why Haitians Are Fleeing Their Home and the Challenges They Face in the U.S. Declaring independence in 1804, Haiti became the first free Black republic in the world. Two centuries later, it is a country of resilient people and exceptional island [...]
Pride Month: Celebrating LGBTQIA+ Refugees and Immigrants in the Media
June is Pride Month in the United States, a time to celebrate and affirm the impact of the LGBTQIA+ community on our society. As we honor Pride, the country and many parts of the world experience a disconcerting wave of discrimination [...]
IINE Hosts 41st Annual Golden Door Award Gala, Honoring Srikant M. Datar
It was a night to remember! On Monday, May 15, over 450 of our community members and supporters gathered at the Fairmont Copley Plaza for our 41st annual Golden Door Award Gala. The Golden Door Award is presented each year to an [...]
