Brockton Public Library Makes Space for “Priceless” Services to its Haitian Community
Twice a month, 200 or more recent immigrants from Haiti are eager to get to Brockton Public Library. It’s time to see Sabyne Denaud and her team from the International Institute of New England. These new community members have escaped life-threatening [...]
Cyclists Raise Awareness and Funds at Annual Ride for Refugees and Immigrants
On September 24th, International Institute of New England Board members, volunteers, staff, friends, and local community members suited up and hopped on their bikes to participate in IINE’s 5th annual Ride for Refugees and Immigrants. Created by IINE Board member Will Krause, [...]
From the Desk of the CEO: Thank You for Rising to the Challenge in 2023
By Jeff Thielman, President and CEO at the International Institute of New England As our 2023 fiscal year comes to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect on a year that was unlike any other – and to [...]
Employee Profile: Meet Joe Gilbert, Education Program Manager
After spending the majority of his career in higher education, Joe Gilbert joined the International Institute of New England as the Education Program Manager in our Manchester office last year. In our latest employee profile, Joe shares how the ESOL program [...]
Migrants, Immigrants, Refugees, Asylum-Seekers, Parolees: Understanding the Key Differences
Migrants. Immigrants. Refugees. Asylum seekers. Parolees. They all leave their homes seeking a better life. Some leave by choice, others by dire necessity. The terms used to describe people who make these difficult decisions and journeys are determined by why they [...]
IINE Statement on Biden Administration Extending and Redesignating TPS for Ukraine
The International Institute of New England (IINE) commends the Biden administration’s decision to extend and redesignate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ukraine until April 2025. As Russia continues its relentless attacks on Ukraine—which have caused more than 5.1 million Ukrainians to [...]
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 [...]