International Institute of New England

“We feel very fortunate to have the GLCF as a partner in this important work,” shared IINE President and CEO Jeff Thielman after receiving a $5,000 grant from Greater Lowell Community Foundation to support a collaborative mural project in partnership with local muralist Kit Collins. This mural project aims to engage with IINE’s refugee youth clients to provide an opportunity to express their cultural identities and personal experiences through collaborative art-making. This three-phase project launched in June, where our Youth clients sketched quilt tiles that represent unique aspects of their cultures. The project will culminate later this fall with a public debut event showcasing the Youth’s collaborative work and will be displayed on panels at IINE’s office entrance and at community events. We thank the Greater Lowell Community Foundation for their continued support and generosity. Read the full article to learn more: https://hubs.li/Q03SRPvt0 #immigrantcommunities #immigrantswelcome #refugeeswelcome #immigrantrights #welcomingcommunities #communitysupport

“We are feeling a lot of confusion...We are trying to figure out how to proceed,” IINE President and CEO Jeff Thielman told Boston Globe Media about the federal government shutdown, which disrupted air travel, and left so many families with uncertainty about how they would access healthcare, education programs, and food. In response, IINE distributed $50,000 in grocery gift cards to our clients. While the shutdown has ended, many questions remain. Read the full article to learn how communities were impacted: https://hubs.li/Q03T6Gpm0 #shutdown #SNAPbenefits #immigrationpolicy #usimmigration #legalpathways #immigrantcommunities #immigrantswelcome #refugeeswelcome #immigrantrights

No one should have to worry about their next meal. Last week, our staff across Massachusetts and New Hampshire distributed $50,000 in grocery gift cards to nearly 600 of our community members. 🍲 Like so many others, our refugee and immigrant clients were unsure how they would put food on their tables without SNAP benefits. Thanks to our community of supporters, we were able to make sure our refugee and immigrant neighbors stayed healthy and fed. 🫶 While SNAP benefits are resuming, so much uncertainty remains, and our clients are worried about their futures. Refugees and immigrants need our support more than ever. Many are struggling to cover the costs of food, housing, heating, and their most basic needs. Please consider giving today to ensure they can survive today to thrive tomorrow: https://hubs.li/Q03T3JNM0 #immigrantswelcome #refugeeswelcome #givetoday #welcomingcommunities #refugeeresettlement #refugeehope #givingback #gratitude #communitysupport #refugeesmatter #immigrantsmatter #givingsafety #givingopportunity #SNAP

“On the field of battle, there are no native-born and there are no immigrants; there are only Americans,” shared former U.S. Senator Spencer Abraham during a Senate subcommittee hearing on immigrant contributions to the U.S. armed forces in 1999. This #VeteransDay, we recognize the honorable contributions of immigrant veterans, many of who fought for our country, even as they faced discrimination and xenophobia. Swipe to learn more about immigrant veterans throughout history. #VeteransDay2025 #veterans #immigrantveterans #immigrantcontributions #immigrantswelcome #refugeeswelcome #honoringourveterans #usveterans

Investing in a brighter future 💖 At a time when our refugee and immigrant community faces increasingly hostile policies, colder weather, and new limits to federal benefits, including food, our clients need us more than ever. Our community members often ask the same question—how can I help? The answer is simple: give today. Your support helps immigrants keep their families fed and clothed, get their children enrolled in school, improve their English skills, find a job, or navigate the complex U.S. immigration legal system. Swipe to hear from our incredible community of supporters and join them by making a donation today: https://hubs.li/Q03S5Brv0 #immigrantswelcome #refugeeswelcome #givetoday #welcomingcommunities #refugeeresettlement #refugeehope #refugeesuccess #immigrantsuccess #givingback #gratitude #communitysupport #refugeesmatter #immigrantsmatter #givingsafety #givingopportunity

The Presidential Determination on refugee admissions for Fiscal Year 2026 has been set at 7,500 people, the lowest ceiling in the history of a program that has enjoyed broad bipartisan support for more than four decades. This number is only a fraction of past refugee admission ceilings and was set without consulting with Congress, as required by law. It also fails to meet the urgency of today’s global displacement crisis. At the end of 2024, there was an estimated 123.2 million forcibly displaced people worldwide—families and individuals who have lost their homes and safety due to persecution, conflict, and natural disasters. The United States has been the world leader in receiving refugees, and throughout the past four decades Americans have witnessed refugees fill needed jobs, start businesses, raise families, run for office, and add tremendous value to American society. We implore the administration to open refugee admissions to people fleeing crises in Sudan, Myanmar, Venezuela, and other nations, including Afghanistan. Thousands of Afghan war allies, who supported our government and troops, are waiting to come here, and our nation owes them the opportunity to do so. As we respond to this disappointing determination, IINE and many of our peer organizations are navigating the loss of SNAP eligibility for refugees and immigrants with legal statuses under the federal policy changes enacted by the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” Instead of further destabilizing vulnerable populations, the United States should seek to build systems that are fair, humane, and representative of the values our nation has held dear since its founding. Read our statement here: https://hubs.li/Q03R94pN0 Please consider supporting refugees and immigrants we have welcomed to the U.S., so they have the opportunity to build a brighter future for themselves and their families: https://hubs.li/Q03R96Kx0 #refugeeadmissions #usrefugeeprogram #refugeeceiling #refugeeswelcome #refugee #usimmigration #immigrationpolicy #refugeeact1980 #immigrantswelcome#givetoday #welcomingcommunities #refugeeresettlement #refugeehope #refugeesuccess #immigrantsuccess

“I have a lot of dreams to achieve...I think by doing LNA, that will get me closer to people. Get to know people better, get to know their stories...” Anifa, an IINE client from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and student in our Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) training program, told New Hampshire Public Radio. Anifa dreams of becoming a psychologist to help people learn how to cope with trauma. For nearly four years, the LNA program has helped English language learners gain credentials for high-demand healthcare jobs, through a partnership with the Manchester Community College. Nearly 50 students have graduated from this program, with 80% of the graduates still working in the field and nearly 100% having renewed their LNA license. Despite ongoing federal funding challenges, IINE is expanding this program after winning a $100,000 grant from the NH Health Force Innovation competition. Read the article to learn more about how the LNA program supports students like Anifa to succeed in the U.S.: https://hubs.li/Q03R1f1L0 #immigrationpolicy #usimmigration #legalpathways #immigrantcommunities #immigrantswelcome #refugeeswelcome #immigrantrights #welcomingcommunities

Building a brighter future ✨ IINE Career Navigator Ashley Ogwang first met Ali, a refugee from Afghanistan who arrived in 2022, when he needed support to advance in his career. In Afghanistan, Ali had worked to advocate for youth, women, and peace and was looking to continue his education and one day become a manager. Ashley helped him apply for a graduate degree program at Tufts University, where he was accepted with a scholarship. “One of the better parts of my job is the opportunity to see my clients grow in their careers and watch them reap the rewards of all their hard work,” said Ashley, “Ali is a wonderful example of that and I know he has an incredibly bright future ahead of him!” Give today to support refugees and immigrants, like Ali, so they can achieve their goals and build a brighter future: https://hubs.li/Q03QQ2Js0 #immigrantswelcome #refugeeswelcome #givetoday #welcomingcommunities #refugeeresettlement #refugeehope #refugeesuccess #immigrantsuccess

Happy #NationalImmigrantsDay ✨In the U.S. we have a long history of welcoming immigrants from all around the world. It's this tradition that has made our nation so diverse, prosperous, and unlike any other. Despite increased anti-immigrant rhetoric, polling shows that the majority of Americans still value immigration and the immense cultural and economic contributions of our newest neighbors. Swipe to learn more and gain some insights on how Americans feel about immigration across the nation. #nationalimmigrantsday #immigrantday #immigration #usimmigration #immigrantswelcome #refugeeswelcome