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2 Boylston Street, 3rd Floor
Boston, MA 02116
617.695.9990
Лоуелл
101 Jackson Street, Suite 2
Lowell, MA 01852
978.459.9031
Манчестер
470 Pine Street, Lower Level
Manchester, NH 03104
603.647.1500
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The Spotlight Report is a quarterly report to bring you a deeper understanding of our work. This Spotlight Report covers why so many immigrant families have entered Massachusetts’ emergency shelter system in recent months, and how IINE is working with the state and federal governments and partner organizations to provide immediate support as well as advocate for long-term solutions.
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, The Ride brings together both seasoned cyclists and casual riders to bike a 50- or 12-mile route to raise funds and awareness for refugees and immigrants in our communities.
Riders departed from Arlington, MA, stopping in Lowell to take a tour of our new office space and learn more about IINE’s work before meeting up with additional riders on the route back to Arlington. A big thank you to the 21 riders who participated and made the day such a success!
IINE supporters, friends, and staff members collectively raised nearly $32,000 to provide resettlement services, intensive case management, adult ESOL, career advancement, youth programming, and immigration legal services to refugees and immigrants in need. Several shared the reasons they were inspired to ride:
A special thank you to owner Emily Shea and her staff at the Kickstand Café in Arlington, who, for the third year in a row, graciously hosted a post-ride reception. Riders and supporters enjoyed delicious food and drinks as they reflected on the event’s impact (and tried to stay dry in the drizzly fall weather!).
Special thanks to the Starbucks Corporation for their generosity as our very first corporate sponsor of the annual Ride. The company’s ongoing partnership with our organization – from offering employment opportunities to our clients, to providing grant awards and event sponsorship, to volunteering at our World Refugee Day celebration – exemplifies how the mobilization of our corporate community can make life-changing impact on refugees and immigrants seeking a new start in New England.
Thank you again to everyone who supported The Ride! By donating to IINE, you make a direct difference in the lives of refugees and immigrants in our communities.
Джефф Тільман, президент і головний виконавчий директор Міжнародного інституту Нової Англії
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 thank you, our supporters, for rising to meet a level of need none of us could have anticipated a year ago.
This past year was remarkable in many ways:
The vast majority of those entering services have come here from Haiti, where political turmoil, natural disasters, water scarcity and famine, and widespread gang violence have displaced millions. Many put their hopes in the U.S. and set off on a long and perilous journey, and for tens of thousands, Massachusetts is their final stop and their new beginning. Here they join a rich community and the 3rd largest Haitian diaspora in the U.S. For Haitian immigrants—and for the thousands of clients we serve each year from more than 60 countries of origin—IINE provides life-saving support by unlocking and delivering federal and state benefits (including food, healthcare, and housing support) they are eligible for and cannot receive without the help of an organization like ours.
The challenges immigrants face when entering the U.S. are immense. Their journeys to self-sufficiency are often hampered by inadequate funding in Massachusetts for adult ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes, which have extremely long wait lists. Some immigrants also experience delays in the approval of the federal work authorization documents needed to secure jobs. IINE has advocated for increased state and federal funding to expedite immigrant entry into our workforces, lobbying regularly to improve and expand services that support the stabilization and integration of families with so much to offer our community and economy.
Core to all our programming is IINE’s long-term vision that refugees and immigrants are able to realize their dreams and contribute to New England’s growth and prosperity. In support of this, this year IINE launched a new Financial Literacy class. Taught at our Boston and Lowell offices and free for all students, the class covers a range of topics from the basics of banking to financial planning, buying a home, and understanding credit scores and reports. We also piloted a new job skills training program focused on professional development. Designed for a range of English language levels, the course focuses on workplace norms in the U.S. Topics include professionalism and social skills, customer service, email etiquette, transferable skills, teamwork/collaboration, resume and cover letter writing, job search strategies, mock interviews, and salary negotiations. Learn more about the program in our interview with Associate Director of Workforce Initiatives Kubana Alexis.
This Spring, in partnership with Stellar Story Company and Global Arts Live, seven storytellers took to the Somerville Theatre stage to share their own stories of migration and cross-cultural exchange. Recounting hardship, triumph, and self-discovery, the storytellers brought audience members to their feet. Four additional storytellers, including our youth client Mapendo Mutingamo, shared their personal journeys at IINE’s World Refugee Day celebration at Middlesex Community College in Lowell. Experience our youth client Mapendo’s Suitcase Stories® performance on our blog.
Launched in the summer of 2022, Resettle Together is a new kind of community sponsorship model through which volunteers enter into a formal partnership with IINE to raise resources for, welcome, and resettle a family of refugees. The partnership expands capacity while drawing on our staff’s expertise and each volunteer group’s community roots. The result? Refugees feel more deeply supported, welcomed, and integrated into their new communities. Over the past year, ten new Resettle Together groups have formed, successfully completed orientation, and have been matched with an IINE refugee family. Tom Barrington, a member of the group “Team Together,” shared his experience. “Accompanying a refugee family is an immense privilege,” he said. “We are able to get to know courageous people who have all kinds of hope and dreams for their future. They have all kinds of opportunities along a crooked road. We cannot travel that road for them but can be with them.” Hear more about his group’s experience supporting an Afghan family of nine in our Town Hall webinar.
Ще раз дякуємо за вашу постійну підтримку. Завдяки вам біженці та іммігранти знаходять безпеку та надію в нашому регіоні.
Провівши більшу частину своєї кар'єри у вищій освіті, Джо Гілберт приєднався до Міжнародного інституту Нової Англії в якості менеджера освітніх програм внашому офісі в Манчестері минулого року. У нашому останньому профілі співробітника Джо розповідає, як розвивалася програма ESOL та його команда, скільки капелюхів йому доводиться носити на своїй посаді, а також про те, де ви, швидше за все, знайдете корінного нью-гемпширця у вихідний день .
Що привело вас до Міжнародного інституту Нової Англії?
I had been teaching at the University of New Hampshire in their ESOL Program for a couple of years and was preparing to wrap up my time there. Then, during my last semester, the pandemic hit. So, that changed my plans entirely. I became a stay-at-home dad for the next two years. Once the world started to become a little safer and my kids returned to school in person, I started the job hunt.
I wasn’t sure where I wanted to be. I knew that staying in higher education might require moving, which wasn’t appealing, and I was also eager to work with a different population. Many of the students in higher education ESOL programs tend to come from wealthy international families who can afford to pay full tuition out of pocket. While there were enjoyable aspects of teaching in that environment, I wanted to help people who were more vulnerable and people who were coming to New Hampshire with the intent of staying and building a life here. I started researching opportunities to work with immigrants and refugees and that put the International Institute of New England on the map for me.
Initially, I had been looking for a teaching job since that was the majority of my prior experience, but then the Education Program Manager position in Manchester opened up. It felt like a bit of a stretch because of the administrative and management aspects, but it was an exciting opportunity to join an organization whose mission I really connected with.
Yesterday marked your one-year workiversary! How has your role and team grown since you started?
We have welcomed quite a few new faces! We have also been able to expand our team’s capacity by making a number of part-time positions full-time. We are currently hiring additional teachers, too (you can view job openings here).
When I first joined, the program had recently grown from four ESOL classes to six. We have three levels, and morning and evening sessions for each. We have also expanded our community partnerships. Through a contract with Network for Health, we now teach a healthcare-focused English class onsite for employees at two hospitals in Manchester.
We are working on starting up afternoon English classes next month in a partnership with the new Meelia Center for Community Engagement. Those will be onsite at St. Raphael’s Parish on the West Side of Manchester, where many clients live who have a harder time getting across town to our Brookside Church classrooms. We are also exploring a partnership with Manchester Community Schools, where our teachers would teach our curriculum to parents and students onsite at schools after hours
So, our program has grown quite a bit. At the same time, my role has shifted too. When I started, I was teaching a class myself, and all of our classes were held virtually on Zoom. Then, as our classes and partnerships began to grow, and as we looked to transition to in-person and hybrid classes, I shifted my focus to oversee those initiatives. A big part of my job has been getting our classes and technology up and running, training teachers and students on how to have hybrid classes, and strategizing on how to get students to our classes when they don’t have reliable transportation as our new in-person location, the Brookside Church, is not directly downtown.
What does your day to day look like?
It could be 20 different things! This week, in particular, is our first week of classes for the fall semester, so I have been attending orientations for all of our students. I want to be present so students know who I am and recognize me as a familiar face.
To give you a broader sense though, on any given day, I might be:
What do you enjoy most about your role?
Seeing the impact that we make in people’s lives is by far the most rewarding aspect. By learning English, our students are learning self-sufficiency: how to fill out forms to access services, how to communicate during a doctor’s appointment or with their children’s teacher, and how to navigate a grocery store. We’re able to help people gain the skills and confidence to take charge of their own education and career goals. Some of our students come to us with no formal education in any language, at all – to see them gain survival English is huge. And then we have our more advanced students who have gone on to enroll in community colleges or UNH!
Being at a nonprofit and being able to deliver direct humanitarian aid, it’s something I really value. I can give our students dignity; for example, by providing shopping vouchers for the thrift shop onsite at Brookside so they can get a bag of winter clothing for their kids.
What advice would you share with someone who is interested in joining IINE?
Be prepared for the unexpected. It’s often an all-hands-on-deck effort here. If you have a skill or interest that you don’t think would necessarily be an asset, it probably will be – and we’ll put it to good use! Everyone here helps each other.
Як ви любите проводити час поза офісом?
I have a little bit of a homestead at home. I have fruit trees, blackberry bushes, and ducks and geese. My geese are noisy, and this is a feature, not a bug. They’re very effective at alerting against predators. On my days off, you’ll often find me splitting firewood. That’s what I consider self-care – and doesn’t hurt that it keeps our house warm for cheap!
Бажаєте приєднатися до нашої команди? Наше спільне, командно-орієнтоване середовище пропонує можливості служити біженцям та іммігрантам, навчаючись у інших співробітників та відділів. Переглянути кар'єрні можливості тут.
Мігранти. Іммігранти. Біженці. Шукачі притулку. Умовно-достроково звільнені. Всі вони залишають свої домівки в пошуках кращого життя. Хтось їде за власним бажанням, а хтось через гостру необхідність. Терміни, що використовуються для опису людей, які приймають ці важкі рішення і подорожі - це визначаються від того, чому вони приїжджають, і різними юридичними правами, які вони мають після прибуття.
The terms “Migrant” and “Immigrant” are not humanitarian legal statuses, just descriptors. Though usage varies, formally the main difference between migrants and immigrants is the permanency of their stay in a new location.
Migrants are people on the move either within their home countries or internationally, who do not necessarily intend to stay at their destination indefinitely. It’s important to note that “migrant” is often used as an umbrella term when people’s motivation for crossing borders, or their ultimate status after arrival, is unclear.
Іммігранти вирішують переїхати в іншу країну з наміром оселитися там. Вони часто проходять тривалий процес перевірки. Багато з них стають законними постійними мешканцями, а згодом і громадянами.
"Емігрант" використовується для опису особи, яка покидає країну свого походження, а "іммігрант" - для опису особи, яка в'їжджає або вже в'їхала до нової країни.
Ці терміни стосуються гуманітарного правового статусу - вони визначаються причинами прибуття або способами прибуття, а також правами та захистом, які вони отримують після прибуття до США.S.
Біженці залишають свої рідні країни і не можуть не можуть або не хочуть повертатися через a обґрунтованих побоювань стати жертвою переслідувань за ознаками раси, релігії, національності, приналежності до певної соціальної групи або політичних переконань.
Tті, хто отримує правовий статус "біженця," отримують захист відповідно до міжнародних законів і конвенцій. Вони можуть жити і працювати легально і отримувати життєво важливу підтримку від таких організацій, як IINE. Рішення приймається офіційною установою, наприклад, урядом або Організацією Об'єднаних Націй..N. Агентство ООН у справах біженців перед тим, як виїхати до нової країни. У США біженці можуть приєднатися до робочої сили та мають можливість стати законними постійними мешканцями і, зрештою, громадянами країни.
Неофіційно, "біженець" іноді використовується як загальний термін для опису всіх, хто залишає свою країну через небезпечні умови, незалежно від правового статусу. Дізнайтеся про програму IINE з розселення біженців.
Asylum-seekers leave their home countries with the hope of obtaining the same protections given to refugees once they arrive at their country of destination. Upon reaching or crossing the border, they must apply for “Asylum,” and prove to authorities that they have suffered persecution, or fear that they will suffer persecution, based upon race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. Those whose claims are successful—and who are granted protections within their new countries—are called “Asylees.” Asylum-seekers can apply to work in the U.S. while their cases are pending and like refugees, asylees have a path to a green card, and eventually, citizenship.
Temporary Protected Status allows designated foreign-born individuals to temporarily remain in the U.S. and apply for work authorization in the U.S. while it is deemed unsafe to return to their country of origin.
When a war breaks out, or a natural disaster strikes a foreign country, people from that country who are currently in the U.S. may be granted TPS by the U.S. government. TPS is sometimes renewed over several years—and sometimes the renewal decision becomes politically contentious. The status does not inherently provide a pathway to citizenship, or the same rights and protections afforded to refugees and asylees, but TPS recipients can apply for asylum, or other humanitarian legal statuses.
Parolees, also known as “Humanitarian Parolees,” are granted entrance to the U.S. temporarily for urgent humanitarian reasons—usually for one year at a time. Like TPS recipients, they do not inherently have a pathway to citizenship, but can apply for authorization to work while in the U.S., for asylum, or for other humanitarian legal statuses.
CHNV Parolees, under a new legal status, can enter the U.S. for two years if they have sponsors in the U.S. who commit to providing housing and financial support for this period. This mirrors the Unite for Ukraine (U4U) program launched earlier for Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion of their country.
Victims of Trafficking are people who are subjected to force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of commercial sex, debt bondage, or involuntary labor. Human Trafficking is one way in which people are forced to move across borders, but trafficking victims can be U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents, or foreign nationals.
IINE provides a Trafficking Victims Assistance Program to provide case management and immigration legal support to foreign-born victims of trafficking.
Unaccompanied Children are people younger than 18 years-old who enter the U.S. independently of a parent or legal guardian and for whom no parent or legal guardian in the U.S. is available to provide care and physical custody. They are usually fleeing unlivable conditions and threats to their safety in their home countries, and often seeking to reunite with family members in the U.S. Learn about IINE’s Unaccompanied Children program.
These statuses currently fall outside of humanitarian protections.
IDP have been forced to leave their homes because of violence, human rights violations, or natural disasters, but, either by choice or necessity, have not crossed an internationally recognized border. IDPs do not have special status internationally or in the U.S. with rights specific to their situation.
CDP have been forced from their homes due to disasters caused by climate change. A growing population, individuals displaced by climate disasters alone do not currently qualify for humanitarian protections internationally or in the U.S.
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 skills, learned about art and science, and formed deeper bonds with their peers.
Lowell, Massachusetts
“That was really nice. I met a lot of people and made new friends,” writes Farah, a 14-year-old from Afghanistan practicing her English in a tutoring session. “My favorite activity was planting the pots. It was so fun and I love the nature, which makes me happy.”
Farah is one of twenty young refugees who have spent much of their summer with IINE in Lowell, not only working on their English, but also, sewing, swimming and playing sports at a local YMCA, practicing yoga in a dedicated youth space in the Lowell office, and taking field trips to local spots like Lowell’s New England Quilt Museum.
They’ve also been making art—the “planting pots” activity that Farah enjoyed took place over two weekly “Art Afternoons.” While listening to music, eating snacks, sipping tea, and mingling, participants were guided by an IINE community volunteer and a summer intern in decoratively painting two pots. In one pot they planted herbs—choosing from parsley, sweet basil, coriander, and chives—which IINE will plant in a community garden. In the second, they potted spider plants, which each participant was able to take home with them.
The refugee youth taking part in Art Afternoons and other summer activities range in age from 14-20 (and sometimes bring younger siblings along to join the fun) and have come to the U.S. from Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti and Syria. They are drawn from IINE’s year-long programs, Refugee Youth Mentoring and Youth Goal, in which they are matched with volunteer mentors, who help them set, pursue, and achieve their educational and career goals. They also participate in peer support groups, like a group especially for Afghan women, and workshops in which members of the local community present on education, work opportunities, and skill-building.
As refugees, these youth have all experienced early trauma, and given their language and economic barriers, can feel isolated in their new communities. IINE Youth Services Manager Isabel Goes developed IINE’s summer programming to keep them engaged, help them practice their English, and encourage them to socialize and make friends.
“The biggest thing was building community bonds with our youth—reducing isolation when resettlement starts,” says Goes, “and we’ve seen clients form close bonds this summer, which will be useful during the fall. We have tutoring twice per week which helps with English, but it’s also nice to have informal conversations during activities and see how far clients can get with what they know so far. It also opens the door if youth need any guidance during this time.”
While Goes also cites the potted plant activity as a highlight, she is particularly excited for what she has planned to cap off the summer. “There have been a lot of requests for a bake-off or a cook-off with IINE staff as judges! We also want to reserve space in the park for an end-of-summer celebration with yard games.”
Manchester, New Hampshire
Meanwhile, IINE staff at our Manchester site planned an equally fun summer for the children and youth engaged in our Refugee School Impact program, which supports newly arrived refugees in navigating the Manchester public school system.
IINE School Impact Coordinator Jamie Suarez partnered with Southern New Hampshire University’s Center for New Americans Amika Youth Program, helping to plan summer field trips to state parks, amusement parks, and more during the school break.
IINE has had a great relationship with the program for several years, and Suarez says, “This is a new expansion to our shared goal of giving refugee youth great experiences and keeping the kids educationally engaged throughout the summer months. We are providing additional funding to their existing program so they can take more kids and expand on their field trip experiences.”
Among other fun activities, youth had a blast at Dupont Splash Pad and Chucksters mini-golf, found inspiration at the Currier Museum of Art, and enjoyed hands-on learning experiences at the SEE Science Center.
“Summer programming at the SNHU Center for New Americans was an absolute blast,” says Center for New Americans Program Coordinator Aloyo Lidia Yen. “The kids enjoyed new experiences with field trips to places some had never been before, mini golf, beach trips, movies, and more! Thank you, IINE, for helping make this happen.”
Volunteer mentors and tutors help our refugee youth clients to practice English, complete school assignments, prepare for interviews and exams, and more. If you are interested in volunteering with our youth, visit our Get Involved webpage.
Марина, українська біженка, проживала в Києві зі своєю донькою. коли Росія вторглася в країну у 2022 році.. У її нещодавній Suitcase Stories® у своєму нещодавньому виступі вона поділилася історією своєї непростий aі сміливого рішення попрощатися з родиною та друзями в Україні, не маючи уявлення, коли вони можуть возз'єднатися, і її рішучість дати своїй доньці безпечний дім у США. Марина прийшла до IINE як клієнт і зараз працює як спеціалістом з працевлаштування в нашій команді кар'єрних послуг. Щодня вона допомагаєs товаришам українським біженцям та іншим іммігрантам адаптуватися пристосуватися до життя в США і забезпечити роботу. Нижче наводимо стенограму Нижче наводимо стенограму історії Марини з її власних слів.
З моменту переїзду до США минулого року я відвідав багато кав'ярень у Бостоні, зокрема Starbucks, Tatte і Panera. Найбільше мені подобається кава в Starbucks. Я замовляю лате з соєвим молоком і одним шматочком цукру. У мене алергія на звичайне молоко. Мені подобається, що коли я п'ю каву, то відчуваю себе нормально. Але іноді, коли я сиджу в кав'ярні і чую звуки літаків у небі, я одразу ж переношуся назад в Україну. Цей звук змушує мене нервувати, і я відчуваю, що маю бігти в укриття. Це якесь асоціативне відчуття, від якого дуже важко відійти.
В Україні я була успішною бізнес-леді. Я працювала в роздрібній торгівлі, відкриваючи нові бізнеси, такі як H&M та Adidas у торгових центрах.
Я пам'ятаю, як раніше переживала через такі дрібниці, як зламаний ніготь або якась негарна зачіска. Все змінилося 24 лютого 2022 року. Я пам'ятаю, що прокинулася о 4 ранку, як завжди, бо в мене п'ятимісячна донька, і мені треба було її погодувати. Я побачила за вікном феєрверк, або мені здалося, що це був феєрверк. Раптом я отримала смс від мого друга, який жив на півночі України. Він писав мені: "Марино, бери доньку, собаку і кота і їдь у безпечне місце. Почалася війна". Я була шокована. Я не знала, що робити. Я обдзвонила всіх своїх сусідів, щоб вони забирали свої речі і їхали. За годину прийшли сусіди і допомогли мені зібрати речі. Коли ми нарешті виїхали, я їхала зі своєю 5-місячною донькою, котом і собакою та двома сусідами (бо в них не було машини).На дорозі були затори, паніка, жах і довжелезні черги, щоб заправити машину. Я зателефонував друзям, щоб дізнатися, якою дорогою буде краще. Ми їхали до кордону з Польщею і сподівалися знайти друзів, які могли б взяти нас на нічліг. Дорога, яка мала зайняти п'ять годин, зайняла двадцять одну. Коли ми приїхали до Львова, нас прийняли наші друзі. Замість того, щоб прийняти гарячий душ, відпочити чи перекусити, ми попрямували до притулку, бо почули сирени по всьому місту. Я думала, що ми залишимося у них на одну ніч, але замість цього ми залишилися на три місяці. Я робила все можливе, щоб бути зайнятою. Я була волонтером, збирала пожертви, що надходили через кордон, і роздавала їх людям. Пам'ятаю, як моя донька повзала між коробками. Треба було чимось займатися, інакше мої думки поринали в темряву. Весь час я думала: "За кілька днів ми поїдемо додому, за кілька днів ми поїдемо додому". Але "кілька днів" означало ще один тиждень.
Зрештою, ми з сусідами вирішили повернутися до Києва. Це був наш дім. Ми змирилися з тим, що він не буде таким, як раніше, і що ми будемо вчитися жити в новій реальності. Ми будемо сильними. Але повертатися було важко. Люди були іншими. Люди менше посміхалися, багато підприємств було закрито. Я не могла повернутися на роботу, бо міжнародні компанії більше не відкривали магазинів в Україні. Я дізналася, що няню, яка доглядала за моєю донькою, коли я йшла на роботу, вбили.
Але я не хотів їхати з України. Це наш дім. Я хотіла бути сильною.
Це змінилося одного дня, коли в сусідній будинок влетіла ракета, і п'ятирічна дівчинка втратила батьків, стала сиротою та інвалідом. У той момент я зрозуміла, що те ж саме може статися зі мною і що моя дочка може залишитися сиротою. Я сказала собі, що мені потрібно переїжджати. Я знайшла програму, яка допомагає українцям переїхати до США. Мій друг спонсорував нас, і після того, як ми отримали схвалення, я спакувала дві валізи з нашими речами і поїхала. Дорога знову була важкою, і з кожним віддаленим кілометром я розуміла, що моє серце в Україні, але я хочу мати безпечне майбутнє для моєї доньки.
Після приїзду в Бостон мені потрібно було оформити всі документи, щоб легально перебувати в цьому штаті країни, щоб ми могли бути громадянами цієї громади, і інші українці підказали мені, що я можу звернутися до IINE. І я дуже вдячна їм за допомогу в оформленні всіх документів, за отримання страховки, за допомогу з пошуком роботи, і за те, що тепер я є їхньою частиною і можу допомагати таким же українцям, як і я.
Одна з речей, про яку я нагадую іншим українцям, - це знаходити радість у маленьких моментах. Для мене це чашка кави. Іноді, коли я сумую за домом, я йду в торговий центр Natick, замовляю філіжанку кави і просто гуляю. Це нагадує мені про моє життя в Україні, і я відчуваю себе трохи менш тривожною.
Крім того, ви не чуєте літаків зсередини торгового центру.
Програма Suitcase Stories® запрошує оповідачів розвивати власний значущий досвід міграції та міжкультурного обміну та ділитися ним з іншими - від великих аудиторій до невеликих груп - різного віку. У кожного є своя історія.™ Дізнайтеся більше про Suitcase Stories®.
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 of what would come next, and resettlement agencies across the country rushed to respond. Thanks to an incredible outpouring of support from our donors, community partners, and volunteers, IINE welcomed and resettled more than 500 Afghan evacuees in Massachusetts and New Hampshire within five months.
Now, two years later, what does life look like for Afghans in the U.S.? Devastatingly, it is still full of unknowns.
Humanitarian Parolee Status – An Impermanent Solution to a Lasting Problem
Afghan evacuees came to the U.S. as humanitarian parolees and were granted legal permission to stay for two years. Recently, the U.S. government offered Afghan families an extension of parole for another 12 months—which, in effect, extends their limbo. Afghan evacuees, most of whom traded their safety to support our country, need more than short-sighted and temporary permission to stay in the U.S. Having worked with the U.S. as allies, returning to an Afghanistan still ruled by the Taliban is not an option.
Join IINE in advocating for the Afghan Adjustment Act (AAA). The bipartisan bill, recently reintroduced to Congress, would allow Afghans to apply for green cards and set them on a pathway to becoming permanent citizens. The AAA would enable those who came alone to bring their families to the U.S.; many Afghan evacuees were separated from their families in the chaos of being airlifted from Kabul, and their families remain in Afghanistan, in danger every day. Passing the AAA will 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.
A New Community, A New Home
Despite living in limbo, over the past two years Afghans have put down roots in New England. IINE has helped Afghan families in Manchester, New Hampshire gather weekly to cook together, socialize, practice English, and play games. They attend workshops on topics ranging from dental hygiene to child car safety, learning the cultural customs and norms of their new country. In Lowell, Massachusetts, Afghan women gather weekly for an IINE-led sewing class. A few participants have gone on to start their own sewing business; they are excited to be supporting their families and contributing financially in a way they never have before.
There are many more stories like these. Afghans have created community here. New England is now home.
Lend Your Voice in Support
Because of generous support from people like you, IINE has welcomed and supported 554 Afghans since August 2021. You can advocate for their permanent residency in the U.S. by contacting your congressional representative today and asking them to pass the Afghan Adjustment Act (S.2327 and H.R. 4627).
IINE’s donors are our heroes! When the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan, you stepped up. You helped ensure that families who come to Massachusetts and New Hampshire find welcome and life-saving support. Now, your help is needed once more.
Violence, chaos, and widespread food and water shortages in Haiti are endangering the lives of its people. IINE is currently serving more than 5,000 Haitian immigrants – a number unlike anything we have ever seen before. Learn more and discover how to support this vulnerable population here: https://iine.org/5-things-to-know-about-the-crisis-in-haiti.
Julian 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 in their new home. Julian shared his path to IINE, what he enjoys most about his role, and how he finds hope and purpose as the war in Ukraine continues.
Що привело вас до Міжнародного інституту Нової Англії?
I didn’t necessarily envision myself working at IINE, but having lived in Ukraine for nineteen years of my life, I had a strong desire to help Ukrainians who were coming to Massachusetts through the U4U program. I knew that I would be well equipped to bridge the gap between Ukrainians who moved to Massachusetts and the possibilities that are available to them.
What does your day to day look like?
As a Community Services Case Specialist my day to day varies, but every day there is a fair amount of documentation that takes place. In addition, I apply to different public benefits for my clients and check in with them to make sure that their needs are being met to the best of my ability.
What aspect of your role do you enjoy most?
I enjoy interacting with my clients and helping them to get from where they are to where they would like to be. I enjoy being a step in the process of becoming integrated into the community. I love connecting people, so meeting people and connecting them to different resources, community leaders, etc. is something I enjoy.
What advice would you share with someone who is interested in joining IINE?
IINE is a special place in that you are one of the first people that someone meets when moving to the United States. You have the unique opportunity to help someone get on the right path toward their goals. In addition, you can be kind to someone who may not have experienced kindness or positive emotions for a long time.
Share something you are passionate about.
It’s difficult at times to focus on hobbies because for Ukrainians, the number one goal at the moment is victory and survival. In order to get to victory faster, I started an initiative for creative people to do projects for people and use the revenue to support Ukraine. I have been doing photo and video shoots to help my friends who are fighting in Ukraine and who are in dire situations (you can view the photos and videos on Instagram).
Бажаєте приєднатися до нашої команди? Наше спільне, командно-орієнтоване середовище пропонує можливості служити біженцям та іммігрантам, навчаючись у інших співробітників та відділів. Переглянути кар'єрні можливості тут.
“This is when we knew we had to start life all over.” Mapendo, 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. In our blog, she shares her Suitcase Stories® performance – the story of her family’s journey from their home in the DRC, where life was comfortable until her father suddenly went missing; to Uganda, where they lived for ten years; to the U.S. After a long, difficult journey, Mapendo and her family of eight are putting down roots in Massachusetts, and Mapendo is determined to find success. She recently graduated from our Certified Nursing Assistant Program so she can pursue a role in healthcare. Here, she shares her story in her own words…
When I was young I felt like a celebrity because my father was a famous sculptor, researcher, and book writer about African art. We lived a life everyone worked hard to get in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It was a luxurious life with my parents and four older siblings. Life was too smooth until one day my father went missing. We didn’t take it very seriously for the first weeks because he usually went for business trips for his research work, but as weeks turned into months, we started getting worried. The fact that we were not able to communicate with him made it even worse. As a little girl who never thought of living without both of her parents, I remember asking my mother each single day to bring back my father, but with tears rolling down her eyes, she had nothing to say. She only got more grief.
One night, we received a call from an anonymous number to find out it was my father. He was elaborating on how unsafe it was for us in Congo and that we had to flee immediately to Kampala, Uganda. That very night my family started packing only the things we will need for the journey. The young me was totally confused about what was going on, so I grabbed my favorite snack and a doll, thinking we were going for a family picnic.
We took a cargo ship to Uganda since it was the only means of transport we could get. Upon reaching Uganda, we took a bus that drove us to the capital. When we reached Kampala, we didn’t know how we were going to locate our father. We did not understand what people were saying. At that point I was confused about how I moved from luxury to the ghetto. Fortunately, a stranger saw how confused we were and took us to the nearest police station. One of the policemen knew Kiswahili and asked my mother questions. After a while, a stranger came claiming that he knew where we could find our father. He offered to take us. At that point, we had mixed feelings of happiness and fear, but fleeing from Congo was a risk we already made, so we had no choice but to go with him to where my father was.
At last, we met my father, and we were so happy to see him again after a year. But we were so exhausted and famished. When he took us to the place we had to start living, we all broke down. This is when we knew that we had to start life all over with nothing like cars, luxurious foods, houses, or Barbie bedrooms.
After five years, life got better and we had access to good schools and better houses, and my family had also expanded, but the fact was that we could not be offered citizenship as neither my grandfather nor father were Ugandans.
After ten years, we got resettled to the United States. We got so excited but we felt like something was missing because one of our sisters went missing and our going to the States meant that we will never get a chance to look for her ever again.
Upon arriving in the United States, we came with a lot of expectations only to find out that I needed to get a job so I can help out with bills, rent, and paying my own tuition. I’m currently working as a crew member at a fast food restaurant. As a young adult, I have learned that in life, regardless of what you are going through, there are moments of happiness that you need to make the most of.
Suitcase Stories® programming invites storytellers to develop and share meaningful personal experiences of migration and cross-cultural exchange with others—from large audiences to small groups—of all ages. Everyone has a Suitcase story™. Learn more about Suitcase Stories®.
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 IINE, his advice for prospective IINE employees, and how he enjoys spending his free time.
Що привело вас до Міжнародного інституту Нової Англії?
I came to IINE as a client in 2017. I was resettled here as a refugee after living in Uganda for thirteen years. I had worked with refugees for around nine years before that, and I was passionate about continuing that work no matter what. In the beginning, it wasn’t easy. I did a year of service as a Commonwealth Corp member. I oversaw sourcing and recruiting volunteers to support education, skills training, and career coaching programs, and expanding the organization’s volunteer outreach systems. In 2018, my year of service ended, and I started to look for a new job. I wanted to stay in the U.S. and be an inspiration to others. Coming here as a refugee, you have a lot of expectations for yourself. It can be hard to fulfill them. I was determined.
Throughout the year, I stayed in touch with my caseworker at IINE. They offered me a job as a Skills Training Specialist. I wanted people to see that IINE can resettle you, and you can work for them, too.
It’s been five years since you first joined IINE as an employee. Congrats on the work anniversary! How has your role evolved over time?
As a Skills Training Specialist, I focused on coordinating skills training programs and training clients. In 2019, I was promoted to Training Manager, and I continued that work until 2021. Then I was promoted to Associate Director, Workforce Initiatives. In this new role, I have expanded our existing skills training programs and implemented new initiatives.
Can you tell us more about these new initiatives?
Sure, let me share two in particular. One of the first new programs we piloted was a professional development course across our three sites (Boston and Lowell, Massachusetts, and Manchester, New Hampshire). The course was designed for a range of English language levels, from immigrants who are still beginners to those who are very advanced. Many of our clients are highly educated and had successful careers in their home countries. I wanted to design a course that would help them find good jobs in the U.S. too. We cover topics like professionalism & soft skills, customer service, professional email etiquette, transferable skills, teamwork/collaboration, professional resume and cover letter writing, job search strategies, mock interviews, professionalism/work ethics, and salary negotiations. Five individuals just successfully completed the course, and we are running the next cohort soon!
Another program I have led us in piloting is called SelfCorps. With this program, we want to make sure that we don’t just support our clients in getting jobs, but also in integrating into their communities. When we come to work, we bring our issues from our homes and communities with us. People are dealing with mental health issues, financial issues, police reform, etc. I want to help people balance their personal lives and work and to connect with resources in their communities. So, that’s the focus of the program.
You definitely keep busy! What does your day-to-day look like?
Every day is different. Right now, I’m very involved in community engagement, so I’m working closely with external partners, attending conferences, and setting up meetings about recruitment and training, etc. That might be my Monday, and then on Tuesday, I’m working on a grant proposal. Wednesday, I’m working on budgeting. It’s always changing!
I also try to work across our three sites, so I can collaborate with our different teams – whether that’s discussing our programs with a career navigator, talking with marketing about how to promote our programs, or collaborating with HR to think about recruitment and outreach. I am always looking to see where I can be most useful; I want to support wherever I can.
What aspect of your role do you enjoy most?
I enjoy being able to advocate for our clients. They have inspiring stories to share.
I also enjoy highlighting the work we are doing to support them. I’m proud to say that IINE has served 7,000 refugees and immigrants this year. That takes a lot of work and a lot of courage. We have an amazing team.
What advice would you share with someone who is interested in joining IINE?
Be flexible and open to change. The staff at IINE is a welcoming community. They want to support and teach you, and you have to be willing to support them and learn, too.
All of us are working towards a common goal – to support refugees and immigrants and make their lives better. Believe in the mission, and you will be fulfilled here.
Bonus: Share something about yourself that people might be interested to know.
I’m very social! I like being with people, listening to music and dancing together. I am also a crazy sports fan. I love soccer and basketball. I call myself a Bostonian; go Boston Celtics!
Бажаєте приєднатися до нашої команди? Наше спільне, командно-орієнтоване середовище пропонує можливості служити біженцям та іммігрантам, навчаючись у інших співробітників та відділів. Переглянути кар'єрні можливості тут.
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 happened to him shortly before the start of the baseball season.
“Our [employment] partnership with the Red Sox and Aramark, [who provides their concessions], was one that started because they reached out to us,” Nico explains. “We jumped on this opportunity and reached out to Jeff Carson who is the head of recruitment for Fenway. He invited us to tour the facilities. He has experience working in refugee resettlement and feels passionately about giving refugees and immigrants an opportunity in the American workforce. Our clients were really excited to work at Fenway as it is a famous stadium. The schedule is super great as it allows clients to pick their shifts—a lot of flexibility.”
In April, several IINE clients—refugees seeking their first job in the U.S. who had prepared with IINE Career Services staff—headed down to America’s favorite baseball park for a recruitment event. They learned about job opportunities with Aramark at Fenway and then had on-the-spot interviews. Three clients, from Yemen, the Central African Republic, and Ukraine, were handed offer letters for jobs in custodial services.
So far, their Fenway work experience is going better than the slow-starting 2023 Red Sox season. “It’s a great job. I like it a lot!” says Osamah, a recent refugee from Yemen. “Aramark is a good employer.”
So, has the partnership created some new baseball fans?
Sean Burke, an IINE Employment Case Specialist says that in conservations with the clients placed at Fenway, he finds that “they don’t necessarily follow everything that’s going on [on the field] but they appreciate the enthusiasm—how everyone is just thrilled to be there.”
Sean and his colleagues certainly were when IINE’s Career Services team was invited to the park to watch the Sox “perform tremendously well in a riveting game vs the Seattle Mariners” as a thank you for helping Aramark staff up.
Maryna Vernyhora, a refugee from Ukraine who now works as an IINE Employment Specialist is officially a convert. “It was my first game. I would gladly go again. It was incredible! To be honest, before I did not watch baseball at all, but now I am a fan of the Red Sox!”
Inspired by the mid-game heroics of the Sox (who won their fifth World Series title in 1918, the year IINE was founded in Lowell), Sean offered this final reflection, “It’s been a really great opportunity. Baseball’s an important part of American culture, and as the crew came out to clean up the field after a dramatic sixth inning, I came to realize how much the Red Sox and IINE Career Services have in common: we’re both signature New England teams.”
IINE provides job placement and targeted skills trainings so refugees and immigrants can earn a steady income and build a career path. Learn more about our employment services.