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Author: Danielle Gauthier

1935-1944: “Don’t Condemn—Understand”

Written by Danielle Gauthier on . Posted in Blog, Boston Centennial.

“100 Years of Welcome: Commemorating IINE’s Boston Centennial” Series:
Installment #3

Welcome to the third installment of our series, “100 Years of Welcome: Commemorating IINE’s Boston Centennial.” The previous installment, “1924-1934: Fostering Community,” described how the newly formed International Institute of Boston (IIB) provided a space to celebrate and support the city’s immigrant communities during a period of restricted immigration and economic hardship.   

In the mid-1930s to mid-1940s, the International Institute of Boston navigated the Great Depression and the Second World War—a roiling sea of economic pressure, fear of both real and imagined enemies, and competing views of national loyalty.  

During this period, IIB found ways to help U.S. soldiers in Boston and U.S. allies abroad; Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazis; and immigrants from the Axis countries of Japan, Italy, and Germany, while also pushing back against the discriminatory Chinese Exclusion Act and serving Boston’s Chinese community.  

This remarkable balancing act began with a declaration of independence. 

More International and “truly American” 

IIB’s first International Ball, held at the Statler Hotel in 1938. Photograph by Richard Merrill, courtesy of the Boston Public Library and the Digital Commonwealth.

At the beginning of the 1930’s, the International Institute of Boston had moved its offices from Boston’s YWCA at which it was founded, to its own offices on Beacon Street and expanded its initial focus from serving immigrant women and girls to serving all immigrants, with “Nationality Workers” drawn from Boston’s immigrant communities continuing to work directly with clients. 

In 1935, IIB’s newsletter, The International Beacon, informed its membership that it was “eager to be even more ‘international’ and at the same time more truly American than ever before.”  

First, it fully shed its association with the Boston’s Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA). It would now be an “organization representative of men and women of various races, nations, and creeds,” governed by a board of directors that included members of the city’s immigrant community. This move would separate IIB from any singular religious affiliation in order to best serve immigrants of all faiths. As the Beacon explained, “the emergence of new American civic leaders,” from Boston’s immigrant communities, would enable IIB to welcome “young men and women of education and initiative” as “members and leaders as well as participants in activities.” 

Second, expanding its connection to community partners, the newly independent IIB joined the Boston Council of Social Agencies, and solidifying its commitment to the national movement from which it emerged, joined the National Institute for Immigrant Welfare, later to be called the American Federation of International Institutes.  

Third, there was some organizational rebuilding to do. Throughout the 1930s, the ravages of the Great Depression had led to significant cutbacks, including a reduction of staff. To recover, IIB founding Executive Secretary Georgia Ely launched the first International Institute of Boston Ball at the lavish Statler hotel. This festive fundraiser helped rally supporters to its cause by celebrating the contributions of Boston’s immigrant community. The event showcased international fashion, cuisine, and dance.  

Continuing its commitment to cultural pluralism, in 1937 Marion Blackwell became IIB’s second Executive Secretary. An apt spokesperson for the International Institute movement, she wrote in a letter to the editor of Harenik, Boston’s Armenian newspaper, “I believe it is disastrous to sever old-country traditions and ties, and I do not believe in the melting pot idea which would make all people in America of one kind.” Independent and immigrant-driven, IIB reinforced the value of the diversity of those it welcomed and served. 

Don’t Condemn—Understand!

In the late 1930s and early 1940s, under Marion Blackwell’s leadership, the International Institute of Boston continued to fiercely oppose discrimination against foreigners through advocacy. It successfully lobbied against proposed cruel and inhumane federal immigration legislation which, preying on the economic fears of the Depression, would have deported immigrants receiving government relief and created prison camps for those who could not be deported.  

As the Second World War stoked mistrust of immigrants—specifically those from the Axis countries of Germany, Italy, and Japan—the International Institute of Boston was quick to defend them. In a note “From the Executive’s Desk” in its International Beacon newsletter, Marion Blackwell wrote, “DON’T CONDEMN—UNDERSTAND! This is the key word of International Institute philosophy…War necessitates certain regulations but does not require us as individuals to lose a sense of proportion. [We have] always espoused the cause of the less understood groups of foreign cultures.”  

When activists could not ultimately prevent the U.S. government from creating wartime internment camps, the International Institute of Boston focused its efforts on supporting the reintegration of those who had been interred. In the early 1940s, IIB helped form the Nisei Hospitality Committee to assist Japanese nationals and Japanese Americans released from the camps. The International Institute housed the Committee, which aided roughly 600 camp evacuees in finding emergency housing and other vital services in Boston. It also worked to connect relocated internees, most of whom were students, with Nisei and Issei (first- and second-generation) Japanese families in Boston.  

Multiple Fronts of Support in Wartime

As the U.S. entered the war against fascist forces abroad, Boston bustled with mobilization efforts. The Boston Navy Yard in Charlestown became the designated production site for destroyer ships and a hub for navy ship repairs of all kinds. An army base in South Boston sent supply ships to troops throughout Europe. Nearby Fort Devens received draftees from throughout New England and served as a training center for army combat soldiers, cooks, chaplains, and nurses.  

The International Institute of Boston found every available path to help Boston’s immigrants and refugees during wartime. One focus was supporting second generation immigrants serving in the armed forces who were stationed in Boston during basic training, while awaiting deployment, or while on leave. Building on its success in connecting people through social gatherings and arts events, IIB worked with the Soldiers and Sailors Recreation Committee formed by city and state officials to host welcome celebrations and dances for local servicemembers and to connect them with local immigrant families of like cultures who invited them into their homes for holiday dinners. IIB helped fundraise for a committee called Defend the Allies that organized local groups to send aid to countries joining the U.S. in its fight. IIB’s Immigration legal support services became focused on ensuring that anyone not born in the U.S. who served in its uniform abroad would be granted entry to the U.S. and full citizenship in Boston.  

Meanwhile, when the horrors perpetrated by the Nazis began creating a refugee crisis to which the U.S. was not yet receptive, IINE partnered with a local mutual aid association sponsoring small numbers of Jewish refugees to resettle in Boston. Taking up the cause, IIB provided new arrivals with English language instruction to help them integrate.  

Today, IINE’s Boston office is located on the border of the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood

A final avenue for support of immigrants opened when the U.S. formed an alliance with China. The International Institute lobbied hard to repeal the national Chinese Exclusion Act which had slammed the door on Chinese immigrants for decades. Once the act was successfully repealed in 1942, IIB hired its first Chinese “Nationality Secretary,” a Chinese immigrant who would lead IIB’s effort to serve the city’s Chinese community, including reunifying families who had been separated by the quota system that had replaced the Exclusion Act.  

Today, the Boston offices of the International Institute of New England reside in the China Trade Center on the border of the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood. Within these offices, the International Institute continues to employ a diverse staff representative of the people IINE serves and to work with both local and national partners to find every available path to welcome newcomers who need our support and who renew Boston’s communities. 

During our centennial year, we celebrate 100 years of life-changing support to refugees and immigrants in Greater Boston and prepare for our second century of service. Learn more here: IINE Boston Centennial.

Employer Blog Thumbnail

Local Employers Say That Hiring Refugees and Immigrants is a Win-Win

Written by Danielle Gauthier on . Posted in Blog, Employment Support, Press Releases/Statements.

When refugees and immigrants arrive in New England they are eager to join the workforce, succeed and advance in their careers, and contribute to their new communities. During a transition filled with uncertainty, landing a job in the U.S. is their first major step toward financial security and pursuing their dreams.

Since our founding over 100 years ago, the International Institute has supported these new arrivals in developing the skills and expertise needed to successfully enter the workforce. IINE’s employment team helps clients to orient to U.S. workplace culture, set short-and long-term goals, and find and apply for jobs. In 2023, working with an established and growing network of local staffing agencies and employers, IINE prepared 1,881 refugee and immigrant clients to enter the workforce and placed 469 clients in jobs with strong starting wages, benefits, and clear pathways for advancement.  

Local employers describe hiring refugees and immigrants as a win-win; they know they’re getting employees with incredible work ethics who will strengthen the culture of their companies, and they take pride in helping people who have overcome heart-rending challenges for the chance of a fresh start.  

Meet some of the exceptional employer partners who have hired IINE clients – and seen tremendous results… 

WeStaff, a national staffing agency with a branch in Lowell, Massachusetts, has partnered with IINE for 10 years placing more than 3,000 refugees and immigrants into entry-level manufacturing jobs.  

Yusuf and KelleYusef Abdi, a long-time IINE Career Services Manager who is himself a former refugee from Somalia, first approached Kelle Doyle, WeStaff’s Area Manager, back in 2014. It didn’t take long for them to understand how they could help one another’s clients. Soon they were meeting frequently, reviewing the skills and experience of the refugees and immigrants Yusuf was working to place, matching them with job openings, and helping them fill out employment paperwork.

“He would bring 10 to 15 people at once, “says Kelle. “At first, we would spend hours together. Soon it got to a point where Yusuf trusted me and knew I’d take good care of his people, so he’d drop by, say a quick hello, give me a hug, go do some other work for a few hours, and come back. I ended up putting so many people to work through Yusuf’s help!” 

Kelle cannot say enough about how successful this pool of employees has been over the years, “They end up being our best employees. Their work ethic is unbelievable—and we know that they are humbling themselves, because they come with the most interesting educational and professional backgrounds, which may not be what we do at all, but they work in our manufacturing or our warehouses because that’s what we do, and they end up being the best employees there. The nice thing is, we’re a steppingstone for them to grow their language skills, make some money, establish themselves, get licenses, and just start a life here.” 

Kelle Quote

She says she could talk all day about the incredible people she’s met through the partnership and what it means to them to get the chance to work. “I had these two young employees once,” she remembers, “who were going to take the train to Wilmington and then walk a mile and a half to get to the client company. You never want to set them up for failure, so I said, ‘You know a mile-and-a-half seems like an awfully long walk.’ And they said, ‘Do you know how far we had to walk to school? We would think nothing of walking 10 miles one way to get to school and oftentimes we didn’t even have shoes on our feet.’”

Kelle says that she’ll never forget the perspective this showed her. She’s also grateful that Yusuf’s team is able to arrange for rides for their clients, and “even provide them with steel-toe boots!” 

Kelle certificate

The culture of her own company has also been very much shaped by the partnership, “I tell my staff, ‘Never forget what we do. It’s not just an employment agency. We touch lives every day here. You have no idea the impact we have on people who are coming here from refugee camps or other horrific situations. We help them to settle down and have confidence, and then we get to watch them grow in their new lives. We’ve employed entire families, and we’ve had people come back and get higher-level jobs.’

Back in 2015, when Kelle’s company was called “Remedy Intelligent Staffing” Kelle was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation from the Massachusetts Office of Refugees and Immigrants at an IINE event celebrating staff, volunteers, and community partners. Later that same year, she was awarded a national “Recruiter of the Year” award at a ceremony in Las Vegas.

“I can tell you it was because of Yusef and all the people that came from IINE,” Kelle says. “It all trickled down to some really cool stuff happening in my world.”  

Ofemz, an up-and-coming Home Health Care Agency in Manchester, New Hampshire that is founded, owned, and operated by Nigerian immigrants Femi and Odun Owolabi, has recently employed a dozen IINE clients and is set to interview more. They describe their partnership with IINE as “a wonderful experience.”  

Femi Owolabi

Femi says that when they started the business and began looking for staff, they knew they wanted to employ fellow immigrants. They were thinking about the support they wish they’d had back when they were seeking their first jobs in the U.S. “It was a challenge before we could get a job,” he remembers. “We did it on our own and had to do everything.” 

The Owolabis reached out to people within their church and community networks. When Femi learned about IINE, he sent an email asking if there were “new immigrants who are just getting set up” who may be interested in the work, and if they could partner in any capacity. “I’m so glad I sent that email,” Femi says.

Ofemz places home health care aides, who help people of advanced age who need assistance with the tasks of their daily lives but prefer to stay in their own homes rather than assisted living facilities. They work with people at their most vulnerable and need to help them feel safe, supported, and comfortable. Femi feels a tremendous sense of responsibility to his clients. “Some of them light up when they see us. They see us as their family.” Femi too, describes his clients as being “like my family.” Trusting the people he sends to help them is of utmost importance.  

He says that the IINE clients he has hired have been perfect for the role. “It’s been awesome. Awesome. The individuals we hired through IINE have proven to be outstanding contributors to our team. Our clients love them. They are very diligent and are really passionate about what they do. It’s been a really great experience so far. Clients will say, ‘I only want this particular person because I love the way they are.’” 

Femi hopes to hire more IINE clients very soon. “There’s a good relationship with IINE supporting folks once they’re here, and hopefully we’ll get some more people trained up to have the language skills and other skills to keep helping out, and that this seems like a great job for them.” 

The Harvard Square Hotel, which accommodates visitors to the famous university just outside of Boston, has had an employment partnership with IINE for five years. They are supportive of the IINE clients they’ve hired and proud of the relationship.

In 2021 and 2022 IINE was working to resettle hundreds of Afghans who had been suddenly evacuated from their home country because when the Taliban retook power, they became targets. The Harvard Square Hotel was a strong partner, hiring many to fill jobs in hotel housekeeping and customer service at their front desk.  

Hotel Manager Richard Carbone helped train these and other clients and has served as a guest speaker in IINE’s hospitality skills training programs, providing insight into the industry. 

“Our IINE staff members are all doing very well and contributing to the team.” Richard writes in an email. “Some are going on two years in May 2024!!” 

IINE Employment Specialist Sean Burke has recently placed a client as a housekeeper at the hotel who speaks highly of the opportunity.  

“Abdoulaye is a refugee from Senegal who came to the US in late 2022, “says Sean. “He was an absolute joy to work with and was proactive about the job search and learning English. He ultimately wants to open his own restaurant in Boston. He started working at Harvard Square Hotel and whenever we talk about the work, he always says how happy he is to be working there. They threw him a birthday party shortly after he started!” 

“This is par for the course for this employer,” Sean adds. “They’re very supportive of our clients in general and we know that when we place someone there, they will be appreciated. The partnership has lasted because our clients have a great track record of success contributing there, and the Hotel knows they’re getting well-trained candidates and ongoing support from IINE. They also know a little bit about our clients’ backgrounds and are happy to help them out.” 

It’s a win-win. 

In 2023, IINE prepared 1,881 refugee and immigrant clients to enter the workforce and placed 469 clients in jobs with strong starting wages, benefits, and clear pathways for advancement. Learn more about our employment services and opportunities to get involved here. 

From the Desk of the CEO: The Economic Argument for Welcoming Refugees and Immigrants

Written by Danielle Gauthier on . Posted in Blog, FEATURED, From the Desk of the CEO, Press Releases/Statements.

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

For those of us who feel strongly about advocating for the rights and protections of refugees and immigrants, the reasons we do so are deeply human. Refugees and immigrants endure long and often dangerous journeys to the U.S. because they have no other choice. Reeling from recent trauma and arriving with very few resources and connections, individuals and families show extraordinary bravery and resilience. Welcoming and supporting them is a moral imperative.  

However, in addition to the humanitarian reasons, there are clear economic reasons to embrace newcomers. Numerous recent reports have illuminated the critical role refugees and immigrants have historically played in growing our nation’s economy and the contributions they will make in the years to come. Read on to discover why welcoming immigrants to our communities is not only right in principle, but also the smart thing to do… 

1. Refugees and immigrants strengthen our workforce by filling much-needed roles in a range of industries. 

Nationwide, there are two open positions for every jobseeker – a labor gap that is expected to persist for years, as the economy recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. The arrival of refugees and immigrants is critical to narrowing this gap. By filling roles in a range of industries, from healthcare to STEM, construction, environmental services, and more, newcomers bring skilled expertise and growth to our labor force.  

Economic Argument
Source: American Immigration Council

In addition, immigrants are highly entrepreneurial and start businesses at a much higher rate than U.S.–born residents. 22% of entrepreneurs nationwide—3.4 million people—were born outside of the U.S.

2. Immigrants more than pay back the initial support they receive. 

While refugees and immigrants receive modest help from the government upon arrival, the economic contributions they go on to make far outweigh that initial support. When I speak with our clients, so often one of the first things they tell me is how eager they are to gain work authorization, find a job, and support their families. And you can see that in the numbers.

Economic contributions

A new report found that from 2005-19, refugees and asylees paid more in taxes than the government spent on them. In addition, refugees and asylees who have been in the U.S. for ten or more years earn the same level of income, on average, as the general population, and because a larger portion of this population is of working age, refugees and asylees contribute more per capita than the U.S.–born population.  

3. Without new arrivals, the population—and tax base—in many states would shrink.

Take Massachusetts, for example. Since 2020, the state has lost almost 110,000 residents. Out-migration is at its highest peak in 30 years. At the same time, the state’s population is aging, and the birth rate is declining. Meanwhile, just north in New Hampshire, while out-migration may not be a cause of concern, the average age of the state’s population is. As the second oldest state in the country, New Hampshire’s workforce is aging rapidly. Not only is there room in our country for people who arrive here seeking safety, we need them to ensure the growth of our economy.   

• • •

Refugees and immigrants come to the U.S. when remaining in their home countries is no longer a viable option – because of fear of persecution, because of war, and because of immense, life-threatening dangers. When they do, in addition to deeply enriching the culture, society, and diversity of the communities they join, they help build a more prosperous future for us all.  

Over the next 10 years, from 2023 to 2034, the U.S.’s Gross Domestic Product will be $7 trillion greater because of immigrants.

However, in order to successfully integrate into their new communities, join the workforce, and reach their potential, refugees and immigrants need adequate early support. The International Institute of New England is dedicated to providing our clients with a strong foundation so they can go on to achieve their dreams and contribute to their new communities.  

Thank you again for your ongoing support. Refugees and immigrants are finding safety and hope in our region because of you.  

1924-1934: Fostering Community

Written by Danielle Gauthier on . Posted in Blog, Boston Centennial.

“100 Years of Welcome: Commemorating IINE’s Boston Centennial” Series:
Installment #2 

Welcome to the second installment of our series, “100 Years of Welcome: Commemorating IINE’s Boston Centennial.” You can find the first installment, which described an immigration boom that bolstered the factory economy in Boston from 1910-1924 and the formation of International Institutes across the country, here: “1910-1924: Redefining Americanism.” We pick back up where we left off – in 1924, the year of the founding of the International Institute of Boston. 

In this period, the newly formed International Institute of Boston (IIB) provided a space to celebrate and support the city’s immigrant communities during a period of restricted immigration and economic hardship.  

Navigating Troubled Waters

The International Institute of Boston was founded at Boston’s YWCA in 1924 as part of a national movement of International Institutes that promoted the then radical practice of integration without forced assimilation.  

Leading up to the founding, the YWCA had placed a focus on helping newly arrived immigrant women obtain citizenship at a time when tens-of-thousands of immigrants were arriving at Boston Harbor each year, often filling jobs in newly built factories. By 1924, the tide had turned as immigration slowed due to discriminatory federal laws, and soon after, the Great Depression would shutter many of the factories and businesses that had employed new Bostonians during the prior immigration boom.  

And yet, Boston was still very much a city of immigrants. According to the 1930 federal Census, more than 60% of Boston’s residents were either born outside of the U.S. or both of their parents were. The International Institute of Boston and its supporters were dedicated to helping them remain and thrive.  

From the mid-1920s to mid-1930s, the International Institute led the charge in pushing back against efforts to detain and deport immigrants, urging supporters to write to their congressmen to voice their steadfast support for their new community members. While offering the core services still provided today—advocacy, access to education, jobs, healthcare, and immigration legal assistance—the International Institute of Boston also focused on supporting persecuted immigrants in exploring, expressing, and drawing strength from the cultural heritages they brought to Boston, shaping the character of our city.  

Bringing Communities Together in A Vibrant New Home 

Drawing of the International Institute of Boston building at 190 Beacon St., from the cover of The Beacon newsletter
Drawing of the International Institute of Boston building at 190 Beacon St.

In 1930, the International Institute moved from the YWCA on 12 Newbury Street, to offices at 190 Beacon Street, within walking distance of Boston Common, the Massachusetts State House, and what would become the International Institute of New England’s current Boston office on 2 Boylston Street. This building would be the home of the International Institute of Boston until 1964. 

It was here that the agency first expanded its client population to include men and boys as well as women and girls. In addition to providing case work in Boston’s neighborhoods, the International Institute also continued expanding its social and cultural programming. The first staff of the International Institute of Boston included two professional “Secretaries” (as all staff members were called) who were “nationality workers.” Themselves immigrants, these staff provided case work and organized cultural programming for Boston’s new Armenian, Russian, Greek, and Polish communities. A Syrian Secretary and an Italian Secretary were added within the next two years.  

With this team of nationality workers, the agency began facilitating educational, social, and cultural programs. They helped a group of Armenian women found The Women’s Gertasiratz School to both learn English and teach Armenian to their children, organized an Armenian social club, and helped form a Polish Students Club to study Polish language and culture.  

These programs, and the many that would follow, helped first-generation immigrant groups to connect and form tight-knit communities and helped second-generation Americans—many of whom were torn between their families and the pressure to assimilate—to stay connected to their culture and communities in a time when they needed to pull together for support.  

Folk dancers gather at IINE. Courtesy of Schlesinger Library, Harvard Radcliffe Institute.
Women gather for folk dancing at IIB. Courtesy of Schlesinger Library, Harvard Radcliffe Institute.

In the 1930’s, The International Institute of Boston sponsored an Italian Girls Club to teach Italian language and literature, which the agency’s Italian Secretary hoped would “give the girls a sense of pride in acknowledging the greatness of their ancestry,” and it sponsored an organization to study Greek language and history and produce Greek plays; a Syrian Girls Club to study Arabic; a Syrian Mothers Club offering both lectures and songs in the Arabic language; and a club for the study of Russian literature. Czech immigrants gathered for lectures on Czech history, Finnish immigrants came for musical programs, and Ukrainians gathered for folk dancing and singing.  

Through the struggles of discriminatory policies and the economic depression, these clubs and classes brought immigrants together to draw strength from one another, build solidarity and leadership, and practice artistic expression that would not only carry on their traditions but also help them share their cultures with their new neighbors. 

Echoes of the social clubs sponsored by the International Institute of Boston 100 years ago are felt in today’s sewing and cooking groups IINE has formed for recently arrived Afghan women targeted by the Taliban, and in our Suitcase Stories® program through which refugees, immigrants and second-generation Americans perform tell their personal stories of migration and new beginnings.  

The International Beacon

An early cover of the IIB’s newsletter, The International Beacon

In 1933, the International Institute of Boston launched The International Beacon, a newsletter that kept membership current on its programming and on the pressing immigration issues of the day and how to advocate for immigrant rights. Its first editor, Alfrieda Mosher, was the daughter of a U.S. diplomat and a graduate of Boston University who spoke several European languages. Long a champion of immigrants, Mosher had volunteered at the YWCA to help immigrant women with citizenship and naturalization issues, and had led clubs for Anglo-American, Swiss, French, and Armenian women. She was a natural spokesperson to celebrate the agency’s work and call its members to action.  

Today, maintaining its beacon of welcome to refugees and immigrants, the International Institute of New England and its supporters carry the passion and dedication of its founders to the core services that new Bostonians need to integrate and thrive. Over 100 years, we have continued to weather dramatic changes in immigration policy and shifts in the perception of newcomers beyond our control, focusing our services in response to the needs of the individuals and families that we serve. As the International Institute’s earliest nationality workers understood, immigrants are vital to the framework of Boston – and with initial support, they become well-positioned to reach their full potential in our communities.  

During our centennial year, we celebrate 100 years of life-changing support to refugees and immigrants in Greater Boston and prepare for our second century of service. Learn more here: IINE Boston Centennial.

Spotlight Report: Legal Services (March 2024)

Written by Danielle Gauthier on . Posted in Spotlight Report.

The Spotlight Report is a quarterly report to bring you a deeper understanding of our work. This Spotlight Report focuses on our immigration legal services, which address the urgent needs of newcomers to our country.

IINE Honors Giovanni Caforio, Bristol Myers Squibb’s Executive Chairman of the Board, at 42nd Golden Door Award Gala

Written by Danielle Gauthier on . Posted in Blog, Events.

On Monday, March 4, 480 IINE community members gathered at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston for our 42nd Golden Door Award Gala. Each year, the Golden Door Award is presented to an immigrant who has made outstanding contributions to U.S. society. The award takes its name from Emma Lazarus’s words, which are inscribed at the base of the Statue of Liberty: “From her beacon hand glows world-wide welcome…I lift my lamp beside the golden door.” This year, the award was presented to Giovanni Caforio, Executive Chairman of the Board and Former CEO at Bristol Myers Squibb. 

Highlights of the Evening

Golden Door Award Honoree Giovanni Caforio Advocates for Equitable Support for All Immigrants So They Can Pursue Their Dreams   

Born and educated as a trained physician in Italy, Giovanni joined Bristol Myers Squibb in 2000, assuming a number of roles over the years, most notably as CEO and today, as the Executive Chairman of the Board. At the Golden Door Award gala, Giovanni’s colleagues, including Vicki Sato, Chair, Denali Therapeutics and VIR Biotechnology, and Ted Samuels, Lead Independent Director, Bristol Myers Squibb, paid tribute to his impactful leadership, which has led to the development of medicines that have fundamentally changed the way we treat cancer; his commitment to developing a patient-focused culture driven by innovation and accountability; and his strong belief in the business value of diversity and inclusion.  

Giovanni accepted the Golden Door Award with humility, taking a moment to acknowledge the privilege he had when coming to the U.S. as an immigrant—a medical degree and an American company supporting him—and to call on our country to provide newly arrived immigrants with the necessary support to build a strong foundation. Learn more about Giovanni and his exceptional accomplishments in the video below.  

IINE’s Own Lead Case Specialists Pierre Julnor Laurent and Safeena Niazi Share Inspiring and Difficult Stories of Forced Migration 

In Haiti, Pierre rose through the ranks as a talented doctor, ultimately leading Port-au-Prince’s citywide response to the COVID outbreak. It was a role he embraced, having always been drawn to help those in need. When gang violence escalated in his beloved home country, Pierre had no choice but to leave. He didn’t want to go, but after several kidnapping attempts, he knew it was the only way to ensure his and his family’s safety. In the U.S., Pierre found IINE – and a new purpose. As a Lead Case Specialist, he continues to serve others by helping fellow Haitians find security and a new start in Massachusetts. Hear Pierre’s story in the video above.  

Safeena Niazi at Golden Door Award 2024

A host of the evening, Lead Case Specialist Safeena Niazi also reflected on her own journey of forced migration. Originally from Afghanistan, Safeena came to the U.S. in 2017 and was resettled by IINE; today, she is a member of our Legal team. Safeena shared how she fearfully watched from afar as the Taliban took over her home country in 2021 and the relief she felt when a close friend and trusted colleague was able to escape and reunite with her here.  

Both Pierre and Safeena’s stories brought tears to the gala attendees’ eyes as they reminded us all of how much refugees and immigrants often have to leave behind to find safety and rebuild their lives in our communities.  

IINE Supporters Raise Nearly $1.7 Million for Refugees and Immigrants  

The evening was a resounding success, thanks to the generous support of our attendees and sponsors, including Gordon Dyal & Co. Advisory Group LP, Bristol Myers Squibb, Biogen, Evercore, Jean Hynes and Mark Joseph Condon, Mark and Becky Levin, Moderna, Morgan Stanley, and ThermoFisher Scientific. The $1.7M raised comes just in time. “IINE is now the largest-scale resource for newly arrived refugees and immigrants seeking humanitarian relief in Massachusetts and New Hampshire,” said CEO and President Jeff Thielman. “Three years ago, we served 4,000 clients; this year, we are on pace to serve 18,000 individuals and families, including thousands of Haitian, Afghan, and Ukrainian families seeking peace and security...Thank you for being here tonight, for celebrating and supporting our mission, and for believing in immigrants and refugees.”  

Learn more about the Golden Door Award here.

Farewell to IINE’s Friend and Leadership Council Member Wayne Chen

Written by Danielle Gauthier on . Posted in Blog.

We were saddened to learn that Wayne Chen passed away on March 5, 2024. His family surrounded him in love and comfort during his final days at home.   

After attending an IINE Suitcase Stories event in Weston, MA, Wayne Chen became a dedicated volunteer and cherished member of the IINE team.  Never missing live Suitcase Stories® showcases, the annual Golden Door Award Gala, and International Women’s Day events, Wayne was knit into the fabric of all we do at IINE. He was passionate about our work, and we were the grateful recipients of his many talents and selfless dedication. 

 Wayne was an active member of the Leadership Council at IINE, a dedicated English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) tutor, a voluntary photographer at events, and often offered support to the Advancement team, preparing important documents for much-needed grants. Wayne and his partner Randi generously donated to IINE’s Refugee Resettlement and ESOL program.  He worked closely with our Lowell office, and most recently volunteered as a guest speaker in our workshops for refugee youth. 

We will miss Wayne and his warm, caring spirit and will continue to celebrate his contributions to IINE for years to come. 

What Does It Take to Find Affordable Housing for Refugees and Immigrants?

Written by Danielle Gauthier on . Posted in Blog, Press Releases/Statements.

It’s no secret that housing is extremely scarce in New England’s cities. A “vacancy rate” is the percentage of a city’s existing housing that’s available to rent. Lowell, Massachusetts has a vacancy rate of 7%. Boston’s hovers around 2% and Manchester, New Hampshire’s is less than 1%.  

Affordable housing is even more scarce, and when refugees first arrive, they face significant disadvantages as prospective tenants. Having been forced to suddenly leave their home countries under terrible circumstances, they start out in the U.S. without the security of jobs, credit, references, the funds to pay their deposits, and often, the English language skills and cultural knowledge to build the needed relationships with property owners.  

What they do have is remarkable resilience, drive, and adaptability—and they have IINE. Refugees, asylees, and other protected immigrants are eligible for housing support under federal law, and the International Institute of New England has been successfully securing them housing before they arrive, setting up their apartments, and bringing them from their ports of entry to their first homes in the U.S., for more than 100 years. 

IINE is notified by the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants that refugee families and individuals will be arriving about one to two weeks in advance. The word goes out to our Housing Coordinators and they’re off to the races, looking for housing that will meet the arriving refugees’ needs, is withinwalking distance to necessities such as grocery and convenience stores, and ideally, is situated in a diverse community that will connect them to fellow immigrants and former refugees who will embrace their arrival. Last year, IINE successfully found housing for more than 345 new arrivals. Read on to learn how.  

IINE housing coordinators draw from networks and experience. 

Paris Peters had a full 20 years of experience as a realtor in Boston before becoming an IINE Housing Coordinator at the beginning of 2023—so she already knew a lot about finding people housing in Boston. “Or I thought I did!” she says, laughing.  

She explains that finding housing for people who arrive without the resources of other potential tenants is a whole different ballgame, but she does draw from a network of about 20 realtors who trust her and understand what she needs, “my backbone,” she says. “They come up with something, even if we can’t take it. Every time I say, hey I need, this…they’re like, hey, we’ve got it.” 

Still, they won’t always have apartments that meet a particular family’s needs, so Paris has to constantly grow her network. “Apartments.com, Craigslist, Facebook has a whole housing section—I also am a member of quite a few real estate groups and find them to be the most helpful. I get the quickest responses from them. So, networking and using the community really, really helps. Something as simple as speaking to your neighbor—that has gotten me an apartment.” 

Paris and Sandrine

Sandrine Mukakinani, Paris’ counterpart in IINE’s Lowell office, was a local property manager who had been providing housing for our clients when she became an IINE Housing Coordinator in 2023. A former refugee from Rwanda, she was resettled by IINE in 2015, and after exploring several careers, became interested in realty. “It’s something I have a passion for doing. I like anything related to properties,” she says. “I want to grow in the property business. Doing this job…I meet many landlords, I learn a lot, and I can also serve our office. So, I like it. It’s challenging, yes, but I do accept that challenge because I’m learning.”

Sandrine says she has a network of about 18 realtors that serve as her go-to’s in Greater Lowell, and like Paris, frequently checks apartment listing sites, Facebook, and Craigslist as well. 

“I start with the landlords we already have an existing relationship with. I call, I send messages, I disturb them all the time,” she says, laughing. “I use my friends who are involved in properties as well. I do it all. Any way I can get to, luckily, yeah, we have something available.” 

For IINE’s Manchester, New Hampshire office, the network is much smaller but has been equally effective. “Manchester uses only three property managers,” explains Senior Program and Contract Manager Kateryna Kelly. “They manage not whole buildings, but large quantities of units in buildings here and there throughout Manchester.” One of these is actually based in Massachusetts and also finds units for IINE clients in Lowell. “We have a very informal relationship with him. Sometimes we just text him and let him know what we need and when.”

Property owners who are also immigrants are a good bet.  

IINE staff and volunteers ensure apartments are freshly cleaned, set up with furniture and household goods, and stocked with culturally appropriate groceries

Paris is the granddaughter of immigrants from Cape Verde, Sandrine a former refugee from Rwanda, and Kateryna, an immigrant from Ukraine. While their experiences were very different, they are all able to empathize with the challenges our clients face. They find the same is true when they connect with property owners who are immigrants. 

“Most of the landlords that I have found are also from immigrant populations themselves, or their parents were immigrants,” says Paris. “That’s the great thing about Boston. It’s got a large immigrant/refugee history and population. Either their grandparents, their parents, or they came from somewhere else, myself included. You understand what kind of difficulty it is, you know, moving from one country to another, what cultural shocks they’re going to go through, because they understand the process.” 
 
Sandrine reflects, “It’s not that easy when you come from far away, especially when you come from Africa. It’s a new country, new culture, new everything, new people. You leave your family back home, so you start all over again. It takes time to settle. The Lowell community has a lot of immigrants. So those [go-to] landlords—not all but many—they also came as immigrants. They understand and they are willing to help.”

IINE’s strong track record can make all the difference.

Building up a network of reliable realtors and property owners who will quickly respond to requests with opportunities takes charm, patience, and relationship-building.

“It does help when there is a program assisting a tenant,” says Paris. “I make that a benefit of us, a benefit for the landlord, and I use myself as a backup. I tell the landlord if you’re having a problem with the tenant, please call me.” She explains that not only will the landlord have her support, but that IINE’s clients have support, from federal benefits helping them to cover rent until they’re able to work, to interpreters who can help with communications, to case specialists and volunteers who are helping to orient them to their new lives and expectations. She points out that as far back as her records go, IINE clients have never been evicted from their apartments.  

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Members of the St. Anselm College football team help prepare an apartment for a refugee family of six from the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Kateryna remembers struggling to convince a property manager she now relies on. “It took us a bunch of explanations of what we do, where clients are [in the resettlement process], that they are going to be employed…but once he started working with us, he saw how consistently we reach out, how responsive we are, and how consistently we can fill his vacancies. That’s appealing.” 

Volunteers turn a housing unit into a home.

When you’re bringing someone who has lost their home to their first new living space in an unfamiliar country, you want it to feel as welcoming as possible. Once IINE has secured an apartment, community volunteers spring into action, helping to deliver and set up furniture, plates, silverware and cookware, cleaning supplies, bedding, and even art for the walls, all donated by community members.

Mike Mailloux, Volunteer Coordinator at IINE’s Manchester office, explains, “We will make the apartment look homey and welcoming, put toys on the beds for the kids and provide everything a family may need for the first few months.” 

“Today I actually happened to be there when a family from the Democratic Republic of the Congo—a mom and three kids—showed up. I opened the doors for them, and all the kids were super excited, running around the apartment and playing. They immediately busted open a box of toys in the living room. They were so happy that they had some stuffed animals. It was so fun and so nice to see that.”  

Diana and Randy quote

When IINE’s community volunteers secure housing for refugees, the keys are resourcefulness and persistence.  

The Westside Welcoming Committee Resettle Together team has successfully sponsored two families of refugees, including finding them housing. Group leader Jon Levine’s description of his approach mirrors Paris’s: “Call and beg, call and beg, and keep doing that.” 

“It’s just a matter of calling a LOT of real estate agents about any unit on any of the listing websites that looks like it could suit a family’s needs,” he says, adding that it helps to find realtors’ direct numbers, to which a member of Westside Welcoming Committee often has access as a fellow realtor. When he gets a ‘no,’ he asks the realtor if they have a contact who might say ‘yes.’ Once he gets his foot in the door, he has to make his pitch.

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A handmade card at an apartment provides a warm welcome

“There’s no greater challenge than getting the agent to believe you can produce a legitimate ’safe’ prospect for their landlord—safe meaning that they’ll pay the rent regularly and not cause trouble! Your own presence and demeanor in representing IINE and its clients can go a long way to doing that. It helps to have your finger on the numbers—to know exactly what you can (and can’t) assure the landlord in terms of rent funds. And if your community group is committed to seeing this family through, then making that clear to the agent and landlord as well.”

Jon likes to say:

“IINE has been settling families like this for more than 100 years, finding them housing, providing English language lessons, full medical coverage, and then working with them to find jobs so that usually within six months or so, they become self-supporting. And our support group of local Boston citizens is committed to doing everything in our power to get them on their feet as quickly as possible.” 

He’s gotten good at evaluating an apartment once he gets an offer. “There’s an invaluable website called walkscore.com. Just plug in the address you’re considering, and it will give you both a walkability and a transport score, with bus, T, and train routes near the location, as well as maps that show shopping in the vicinity.”

The Westside Welcoming Committee successfully found housing for a family of four from Iraq in the Boston suburb of Newton and a family of three from Cameroon in the Boston neighborhood of Dorchester.

“The first family is still in their Newton apartment one year later, and the kids love the school they’re in. I think the family in Dorchester was thrilled to have a place to call their own—they’re very happy with the space!” 

IINE is looking for long-term (12 months or more) housing in Massachusetts and New Hampshire for newly arrived refugees and immigrants, including families who are currently in MA’s emergency shelter system. Learn more about housing needs here. If you have housing to offer or know someone who might, please be in touch. 

Employee Profile: Meet Jessica Gutierrez, Immigrant Family Support Coordinator

Written by Danielle Gauthier on . Posted in Blog, Manchester, Our Team, Press Releases/Statements.

Jessica joined IINE in 2023 as an Immigrant Family Support Coordinator on our Unaccompanied Children’s Program (UCP) team. The UCP team helps children, some as young as two years old, who have fled their homes in Central America and crossed the Mexico/U.S. border unaccompanied to seek refuge from violence, poverty, and instability, to reunite with their families in the U.S. Working throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, parts of New Hampshire and Maine, and the New York City area, the UCP team serves more than 600 children and their families every year. In our latest employee profile, Jessica shares her journey to IINE, what she enjoys most about her role, and how she likes to spend her time outside of the office. 

What brought you to the International Institute of New England?

Jessica apple picking
Jessica enjoys apple picking during an IINE staff outing

I graduated from Lesley University in 2020 with a Bachelor’s in Children, Youth, and Families Studies with a minor in Social Work. I’ve always wanted to work with people and help those in need. My first job out of college was at a nonprofit organization working with adults with developmental disabilities. I was there for two years and knew I wanted to keep exploring different fields. During undergrad, I completed an internship at a nonprofit legal organization and was interested in working with the immigrant community. At a young age, as a bilingual, I was translating and interpreting documents for my family and friends. When I was searching for my next endeavor, I was considering continuing to work in the developmental disability field but was having a hard time. I then started searching for something I knew I had a passion for: working with refugees and immigrants.

What does your day-to-day look like?

On an average day, I begin by checking my calendar to see if I have any home visits or meetings scheduled. I have team meetings weekly where we learn about new topics related to our clients. I then read my emails to see if there are any urgent emails I have to answer right away. I also turn my work phone on and return any messages or calls from clients. I usually spend the morning working on a home visit assessment or my case notes, or looking for resources for my clients. When I have finished those tasks, I will complete check-in calls with my clients or home visits in the afternoon. During check-in calls, I assess my client’s safety, making sure they feel comfortable in their placement, and discuss their ongoing goals and how I can help them achieve them. During home visits, I get to know the families and help them connect to the appropriate resources.

What aspect of your role do you enjoy the most? 

Jessica hiking a volcano in El Salvador
Jessica hiking a volcano in El Salvador

I enjoy getting to know all the families I work with and being able to talk and motivate the children/youth and encourage them to be their best! Families really appreciate someone being there for them, to listen and share resources. Another aspect I enjoy is collaborating with my colleagues. They all bring their own experience to the team and are very helpful. My role challenges me every day as each case brings new tasks to learn.

What advice would you share with someone who is interested in this work?

Be dedicated to helping your clients, and your clients will always appreciate your efforts, small or big. Also, don’t be afraid to ask your colleagues for support; they are full of knowledge and willing to help!

How do you enjoy spending your time outside of the office?

During my free time, I love finding a good series to watch. Summer is my favorite season; I love going on walks/runs on a nice hot day or soaking up the sun and reading a good book. This year I’m looking forward to learning new recipes!

Interested in joining our team? Our collaborative, team-oriented environment offers opportunities to serve refugees and immigrants, while learning from other staff and departments. View career opportunities here. 

The International Institute of New England Celebrates 100 Years of Service in Boston

Written by Danielle Gauthier on . Posted in Blog, Boston.

February marks 100 years since the International Institute of Boston first opened its doors to welcome and support people from all around the world

BOSTON – February 15, 2024 – The International Institute of New England (IINE) celebrates the centennial anniversary of its Boston, Massachusetts office, marking 100 years of welcoming and serving refugees and immigrants in the city and surrounding communities. Over the century, IINE’s Boston office has expanded to support more than 3,000 individuals from all around the world every year—many of whom have fled persecution, war, famine, and climate disasters. Their programs—which span resettlement, adult education, workforce development, pathways to citizenship and much more—help immigrants find safety and a fresh start in Greater Boston.

IINE started in its earliest form in the early 1900s when women at YMCA’s all around the country noted the nation’s growing immigrant population and sought to create a more welcoming, inclusive place where their newest community members could access multilingual social services. The first “International Institute” opened in New York in 1911, and the model quickly spread. By the 1920s, there were 55 International Institutes across the country. The International Institute of Lowell opened in 1918 and in Boston in 1924. Over the next ten decades, hundreds of community groups, individuals, employers, city departments, corporations, and foundations joined forces with the International Institute to help immigrants integrate into New England. IINE’s third and final location in Manchester, NH, was founded in 1994 and in 2001 the three sites consolidated to become the International Institute of New England.

Today, IINE’s services are organized around its strategic resettlement model—rooted in responsiveness, equity, and advocacy—which provides a framework to successfully welcome and integrate refugees and immigrants into Massachusetts communities where they both benefit and contribute. Through its evolving model and programs, IINE has played a critical role in building Boston into the welcoming, diverse city it is today, where 28% of residents are immigrants, and many more are multi-generational descendants of those who first arrived.

“During our centennial year and amidst a surge of newly arriving families in the Commonwealth, we celebrate 100 years of life-changing support to families in Greater Boston as we prepare for our second century of service,” said Jeff Thielman, President and CEO of the International Institute of New England. “Around the world there are more displaced people than ever before, and the causes of displacement are shifting. We can’t know when or where the next natural disaster, conflict, or humanitarian crisis will occur, but we know that IINE will always strive to be prepared to welcome them and provide critical resettlement services including social connection, language acquisition, and workforce integration.”

IINE’s work of welcoming newcomers into the Commonwealth, while valuing and preserving their unique cultural contributions, is integral to the city’s growth, success, and identity as a city of belonging. Providing refugees and immigrants with a strong foundation of support means new arrivals have the opportunity to integrate into our communities, achieve self-sufficiency, and meaningfully contribute to Boston’s culture and economy.

IINE Boston marks its centennial with a year-long celebration with several upcoming events and a new series exploring its history and Boston as a city of immigrants: “100 Years of Welcome: Commemorating IINE’s Boston Centennial”. Events throughout the year include an Immigrant Heritage Month celebration in partnership with the City of Boston, an interactive “Centennial Walk” journeying through 100 years of service, and the Golden Door Award Gala in 2025, a time-honored celebration which will for the first-time honor IINE itself for its contribution to American society and to shaping Boston’s vibrant diversity.

To learn more about the International Institute of New England and its upcoming centennial anniversary plans, visit https://iine.org/boston-100/.

ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEW ENGLAND

The International Institute of New England (IINE) creates opportunities for refugees and immigrants to succeed through resettlement, education, career advancement and pathways to citizenship. With locations in Boston and Lowell, Massachusetts and Manchester, New Hampshire, IINE serves more than 10,000 individuals annually, including people displaced by political instability, violence, and climate crises, child and adult survivors of human trafficking, and unaccompanied children joining family members in New England. IINE offers a comprehensive range of programs and services to help these newcomers feel welcome, achieve stability and security, and access resources in their new communities; advance their education and employment goals; and integrate into their communities. IINE’s expertise builds on more than a century of service, and with continued partnership from community groups and support from philanthropists throughout New England, IINE will continue this service for the next 100 years and beyond.

1910-1924: Redefining Americanism

Written by Danielle Gauthier on . Posted in Blog, Boston, Boston Centennial.

The International Institute of New England is thrilled to share the first installment of our new series, “100 Years of Welcome: Commemorating IINE’s Boston Centennial.” The series will begin in 1910 and guide us to present day, chronicling the founding and growth of IINE’s Boston programming, Boston’s history as a city of immigrants, and how the two are deeply entwined. We begin during a period of record immigration in Boston—and increased backlash, as a result—as International Institutes were beginning to take shape across the country. 

The “International Institute” model was an integration movement born during an immigration boom that both fueled the new factory economy in cities like Boston, and spurred debate nationwide on how newcomers should be welcomed and integrated.   

A Port of Welcome

The early 1900s was a period of peak immigration to the U.S. and Boston Harbor was one of the busiest ports of entry for newcomers from around the world. Whether displaced by persecution, ravaged economies, or famine, individuals and families came to Boston for safety, freedom, and work.  

By the 1910s, tens-of-thousands of people were arriving in Boston each year, and nearly 40% of the city’s population were immigrants. Already home to a large Irish community, Boston’s North, West, and South End neighborhoods filled with newly arrived Italians, Russian Jews, and Canadians, as well as smaller new communities from China, Portugal, Poland, Lithuania, the Balkans, the West Indies, and beyond.  

Most people found jobs in the city’s new factories, making products like clothing and textiles, chemicals and rubber goods, or candy. Others worked as day laborers on Boston’s docks and railroads or filled construction jobs on the rapidly expanding roads, subways, and streetcar lines that gave more people access to the city and to factory jobs. Some took to selling produce or dry goods on the streets, and the most successful of these were able to earn enough to start their own grocery stores or retail shops.  

Backlash and Pressure

The boom in immigration across the Northeast helped to build up cities and strengthen economies. But it also inspired fear and prejudice which worsened as the country became embroiled in the First World War. Throughout the 1910s and ‘20s, the U.S. government passed a series of discriminatory bills imposing harsh requirements for all would-be immigrants, quotas on immigration from some countries, and outright bans on others.

For organizations that worked with immigrants at the local level, a belief in the need for assimilation, or “Americanization,” became the dominant view. Immigrants were urged to shed their “old world” ways and emulate the Anglo-Protestant majority. This was the “melting pot” ideal in which immigrant cultures would melt away and be replaced by a superior American culture. A popular slogan during the war became: “100% Americanism.”  

But a movement led by newly forming “International Institutes” took a radically different approach.   

A New Approach to Welcome

Edith Terry BremerThe first International Institute was established by Edith Terry Bremer in New York in 1911 under the sponsorship of the local Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), A graduate of the University of Chicago, Bremer had extensive social services experience and had worked as a Special Agent for the United States Immigration Commission. At the YWCA, she administered a survey on the status of immigrant women in the city and learned how great their needs were. In response, she founded the International Institute to provide immigrant girls and women with English language classes and recreational and club activities, and to support them with housing, employment, and citizenship.  

What set her International Institute apart was Bremer’s adoption of “Cultural Pluralism,” the philosophy that—in contrast to assimilation or “Americanization”—immigrants should be encouraged to not only preserve their cultural heritage but to share and celebrate their cultures while also participating in U.S. civic life. International Institutes became places where immigrants could continue to be themselves while learning how to navigate their new lives in the U.S.  

Bremer’s model spread, and by the 1920s, 55 International Institutes opened in YWCAs in cities with large immigrant populations throughout the U.S., including the International Institute of Lowell in 1918 and the International Institute of Boston in 1924. These are the origins of the International Institute of New England of today.  

Staff at International Institutes often became experts in immigration and naturalization law and served as mediators between newcomers and various government agencies. They quickly came to expand their services to work with entire families instead of only girls and women, and they often went and visited them in their homes.  

The International Institutes prioritized hiring immigrants as case workers—then called “nationality workers”—who were familiar with the languages and traditions of the families they served and were often already known in their communities. An important part of implementing cultural pluralism, these staff members were usually either first- or second-generation immigrants, received training in social work, and had unique sensitivity, insight, and access into the communities they served. This practice was unique at the time and remains a priority for the International Institute of New England today.  

The International Institute of Boston is Born

Georgia Ely
Georgia Ely. Courtesy of Schlesinger Library, Harvard Radcliffe Institute.

The International Institute of Boston was founded by Georgia Ely in 1924 at the city’s YWCA, very much in the spirit of Edith Terry Bremer and cultural pluralism. From the beginning, it was staffed with “Nationality Workers” with origins in Armenia, Greece, Syria, Russia, Poland, and Italy. Recruited from Boston’s immigrant communities, they were all college graduates with graduate-level social work training.

Speaking to immigrants in their own languages, the nationality workers helped new arrivals to access health services and educational opportunities, served as translators when needed, intervened in cases of employment discrimination, and helped people navigate the ever-changing U.S. immigration legal system and work toward citizenship. 

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Members of foreign women’s clubs at the International Institute of Boston enjoy skating at the YWCA gym, ca. 1924-1934. Courtesy of Schlesinger Library, Harvard Radcliffe Institute.

At the same time, nationality workers were committed to “group and community work,” helping to organize vibrant social, educational, and arts performance groups in which immigrants could explore and share their cultures. On any given night in Boston in the mid-1920s and 1930s, there might be a lecture on childcare sponsored by the South Boston Armenian’s Women Club, a play performed by a Greek youth group, or a book discussion at the South End Greek Mother’s Club. A visitor to the International Institute of Boston might encounter the Syrian Girls Club singing songs in Arabic or a performance group practicing Ukrainian folk dance and music.  

As they resettled in Boston, newcomers not only found support to meet their basic needs at the International Institute, but they also found the freedom to retain their cultural identity as they built their new lives and contributed to their new communities. 

Today, the International Institute of New England employs staff from over 40 countries, dedicated to continuing the practices pioneered by nationality workers over a century ago. We have seen through decades of service the value immigrants bring to our communities and our economies as they become part of us. We are excited to share their stories with you through this centennial series. 

During our centennial year, we celebrate 100 years of life-changing support to refugees and immigrants in Greater Boston and prepare for our second century of service. Learn more here: IINE Boston Centennial.

What is a “Climate Refugee?”

Written by Danielle Gauthier on . Posted in Blog, Press Releases/Statements.

6 things to understand about how the climate crisis is displacing people worldwide and what we can do to help

“The period of global warming has ended; the period of global boiling has arrived,” United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres announced during another record-breaking summer for global temperature in 2023. Global warming affects food and water supplies, causes rising sea levels that decrease livable land, and creates destructive natural disasters. It’s already a factor in displacing millions from their homes worldwide each year, often termed “climate refugees.” Countries around the world need to prepare for this problem to get much worse if trends are not reversed, and as we work to reduce the causes of climate crises, we also need to better protect the people most at risk.  

Here are 6 important things to know about “climate refugees.” 

1. “Climate Refugees” are people who have been forced to leave their homes because of the effects of climate change, but the term isn’t entirely accurate.

“Refugee” is a term with a precise legal meaning. Defined by the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees, refugees are people who have left their home countries and are unable or unwilling to return because of a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion. When granted, refugee status gives people important rights in their new country, allowing them to stay, work, and receive life-changing support from resettlement agencies like IINE. Currently, refugee status is not legally conferred to people who lose their homes because of the climate crisis. 

“Climate displaced persons” is a more accurate umbrella term for those displaced by the climate crisis. The term “climate migrants” often appears in the media, but only describes those planning to stay at their destination temporarily.  

2. Not legally considered “refugees,” people displaced by climate disasters are not protected by international law.  

Legislation has been proposed to protect climate displaced persons, but so far has stalled. U.S. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) introduced a bill to establish a Global Climate Change Resilience Strategy in 2019, and then with Nydia Velásquez (D-NY) in 2021, and again on November 20, 2023, with IINE’s endorsement. Among other needed measures, it would create a U.S. resettlement pathway for climate displaced persons.  

3. Climate disasters can destroy homes either very quickly or slowly over time. 

Climate disasters can take two forms: sudden-onset and slow-onset.  

Sudden Onset vs. Slow Onset Climate Disasters

Sudden-onset climate disasters are events that strike quickly and cause tremendous damage like earthquakes, hurricanes and cyclones, tsunamis, floods, and volcanic eruptions. In many cases, they cause people to migrate to new areas within their own countries, becoming “internally displaced.”  

Slow-onset climate disasters are not caused by one sudden event but are the consequences of prolonged stressors like droughts or slow but devastating erosions like when sea-level rise shrinks habitable land. These disasters can be not only destabilizing, but in some cases, make places permanently unlivable.  

4. Even when not the sole cause, climate disasters worsen other causes of displacement.

Seventy percent of refugees and eighty percent of internally displaced people have fled from countries that are among the most affected by climate crisis according to the UNHCR, the U.N.’s refugee agency.

Climate change is a threat multiplier. For countries struggling with stressors like poverty and job loss, competition over dwindling resources, damaged infrastructure, and government corruption, climate disasters make these challenges worse, which can enflame tensions, provoke conflicts and push people to the breaking point of needing to leave their homes.  

Climate disasters can also make people more vulnerable to becoming victims of human trafficking. “Traffickers can exploit [climate crisis] conditions by promising food, shelter, and other resources, sometimes posing as disaster responders or social service professionals to gain trust,” according to the U.S. government’s Office on Trafficking in Persons.  

5. Globally, women, children, persecuted minorities, indigenous people with strong ties to their land, lower-income people, and migrants of all kinds are disproportionately at risk from climate disasters. 

Disadvantages can be dire. These populations are more at risk because they tend to have less decision-making power, fewer government protections, fewer resources to adapt to climate-related shocks, more to lose when land becomes unfarmable, and less ability to resist when others try to force them to leave their land or take their resources.  

Embedded Blog Quote - Senator Ed Markey 
The “climate justice” movement also points to the fact that those who have contributed least to the climate crisis—counties that are less industrialized and less affluent—are disproportionately affected by it and should be compensated. An often-cited study in The Lancet pins 92% of excess CO2 emission on the United States and the European Union.  

6. To minimize climate change’s negative impact and best protect the most vulnerable populations, we must prepare now.

We can lessen this crisis through cooperation and collective action. There is much to be done, including: 

As more people are displaced worldwide by the climate disaster, IINE is prepared to welcome them. We are proud to provide life-changing services to more than 10,000 refugees and immigrants every year. Please consider donating today to support our work.