I R ISH I N T ER NAT I O NAL I M M I G R AN T CEN T ER
COMMUNIT Y NEWSLET TER
SUMMER 2013
TOGE THER FOR ALL.
Working for a Pathway to Citizenship
HOPE FOR COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM
Written by Janey Tallarida
With comprehensive immigration
reform the primary focus of immigrant
organizations around the country, the
IIIC is doing its part to advocate for fair
reform so that immigrant families can
stay together, and a pathway to
citizenship will be possible. With the
Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee
Advocacy coalition (MIRA) and other
partners in the “Keeping Families
Together” campaign, we are working
hard to raise awareness about what
reform could mean to the immigrant
community.
This St. Patrick’s Day, IIIC’s Irish
Outreach and Case Manager Ciara Lavery
spoke about the impact immigration
reform could have on people like her.
Once an undocumented immigrant
from Ireland, Ciara shared her experience during a transatlantic video press
conference with Migrant Workers Centre
Ireland (MWCI). MWCI seeks justice for
undocumented migrants in Ireland who
often live under stress and fear similar to
many undocumented immigrants in the
U.S.
IIIC is hopeful that legislation for
immigration reform recently introduced
by a bipartisan group of Senators will
pass this year, and that our neighbors
living in the shadows can finally come
out and become citizens. As Mayor
+page 7
Irish Wider Horizon's program
empowers local children
Menino stated, “Here in Boston, we call
v
immigrants
Mom and Dad.”
Although we don’t know what the final
legislation will look like, we do know that
immigration law will dramatically change.
If it passes, an unprecedented number of
people will seek assistance from legal
experts on applying for immigration
relief. Already, we are experiencing an
increase in demand for our legal services.
With years of experience and a solid
service model in place, the IIIC is preparing to scale up our legal clinics and
case representation to help immigrant
families get the concrete advice they will
need. However, we will need additional
staff and volunteers to take on this extra
work.
According to IIIC’s managing attorney
Jeannie Kain, “We want to be sure that
immigrants have access to affordable,
quality legal services so they will not seek
the services of unscrupulous “notarios”
who are not qualified or authorized to
practice immigration law. If the law
passes, we hope to assist the community
in benefiting from it, including providing
information sessions, consultation, and
full representation where needed.”
Says Ciara, “I truly hope that other
immigrants have the opportunities that
I now have to build a new life in the
United States.”
+page 3
IIIC Provides Crucial Legal Service
in Medical Emergency
 Staff and volunteers at the Time is Now for
Comprehensive Immigration Reform rally in
Fanueil Hall
ABOUT THE
Drawing upon the experience of Irish
immigration to the United States, our mission
is to assist immigrants from around the world
as they integrate into American society. We
also promote diversity, integration, reconciliation, career advancement, and leadership
development programs
in Ireland with partner
organizations. The IIIC
is a vibrant, multiservice center that
provides a range of
services, advocates for
systemic change, and
facilitates cross-cultural community building.
Our vision is of a shared society where all
people are welcomed and valued and enjoy
equal opportunities, protections, and respect.
+page 5
Course Helps Irish Home Health
Aides Prepare for Work
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Michael Buckley, President
Michael J. Niland, Treasurer
Anne Healy, Secretary
Paul Caron
Jane Etish-Andrews
Nuala Friel Wright
Janice Galloway
Anne Geraghty
Patricia Gray
Peter Kelliher
Ryan McCollum
Alicia Mooltry
Eoin Reilly
Peter Rice
Clare Saunders
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Ronnie Millar
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EMERITA
Sister Lena Deevy, LSA
STAFF
Erika Bareiss
Evelyn Brito
Ann-Marie Byrne
George Cani
Megan Carroll
Sarah Chapple-Sokol
Jude Clarke
Diana Crane
Ann Marie Cugno
Katherine Donnelly
Marie Ericson
Kristina Hare
Kim Jorgensen
Jeannie Kain
Mary Kerr
Ciara Lavery
Eric Lockwood
Sister Eleanor Martin
Julie Martin
Dennis McCoy
Johanne Meleance
Rebecca Minahan
Kielan O’Boyle
Danielle Owen
John Rattigan
Caitlin Slavin
Janey Tallarida
Theophile Tanis
Chris Tegmo
Dear Friends,
I am honored to follow in the footsteps of such a compassionate and
committed leader as Sister Lena Deevy, L.S.A. as the executive director of the
Irish International Immigrant Center. As a way of introduction, I grew up in
County Antrim, and moved to the US in 1993 with Digital, and then completed
an evening degree program at the the College of Community and Public
Services, UMass Boston. I changed careers into youth and community work in
2000 and returned to Ireland in 2005 to serve as the director of the Corrymeela
peace and reconciliation center for five years. It has been wonderful working
alongside such a talented and dedicated group of staff and volunteers as deputy director since
March 2011, and I am energized about the future opportunities and challenges.
The IIIC has many true friends, and for the past 24 years you have supported our work through
your kindness, partnership and commitment in helping immigrants from Ireland and from other
countries integrate smoothly into their new homes here in the United States. Thank you!
Our legal, wellness and education services are needed now more than ever before. Emigration out
of Ireland has not been as high since the Great Famine - an Gorta Mór - and in our weekly legal clinics
we continue to meet many low-income immigrant families, refugees and asylees from all over the
world desperately seeking our help.
We are also seeing an increase in the number of Irish university students and graduates who
are coming to the United States full of dreams hoping to launch their careers with our assistance
through our J-1 Irish Work and Travel Visa 12 month internship program.
As negotiations for comprehensive immigration reform continue in our capital, immigrant
families collectively are holding their breath in hopeful anticipation. The IIIC along with our local
and national partners are calling for a fair path to citizenship, for families to be kept together, and a
commonsense solution to the future flow of immigrants. The time is now for us all to work with our
legislators to make this happen. One phone call or letter from you could make the difference.
As poet Richard Blanco wrote, “Hope--- a new constellation waiting for us to map it, waiting for us
to name it---together.” This resonates with IIIC’s motto of “Together for All.”
Thank you for all your support. May you have a wonderful summer. Please keep in touch, and visit
with us in our downtown Boston Center when you are next in town.
Sincerely,
Ronnie Millar
Executive Director
GREATER BOSTON CITIZENSHIP INITIATIVE
PARTNERSHIP UPDATE
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR
CURRENT VOLUNTEERS
Gail Bartutis
Katie Burke
Alice Campenell
Aishling Finnegan
Sean Hansen
Neil Hurley
LETTER FROM THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Kendell Johnson
Michael Keady
Mairead Kiernan
Ben Levy
Kati Miller
Judy Weiss
2 www.iiicenter.org
The IIIC is delighted to be part of the Greater Boston Citizenship Initiative (GBCI), a collaborative
project funded by the Fish Family Foundation that helps immigrants along the path to citizenship.
This year we are helping 2,000 people become US citizens in the greater Boston area. GBCI partners
provide a range of support services, including legal services, citizenship preparation classes and
guidance on the application process. The Center thanks the Fish Family Foundation and our GBCI
partners: Centro Latino, the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, Jewish
Vocational Services, Boston Chinese Neighborhood Center and Mass Alliance of Portuguese Speakers.
I M M I G R AT I O N L E G A L A N D C I T I Z E N S H I P S E R V I C E S
IIIC PROVIDES CRUCIAL LEGAL SERVICE IN
MEDICAL EMERGENCY
LORENC AND ANILA BETA are dentists
from Korce, Albania. They ran a successful
dental practice and were happily raising their
two young daughters. Three years ago, they
decided to take a short trip to the U.S. to visit
Lorenc’s parents. They brought their younger
daughter, Daria, age 3, with them while their
older daughter Fiona, age 7, stayed behind with
Anila’s parents. The family stopped in Boston to
visit some friends, and that’s when Daria became
seriously ill. Much to the family’s heartbreak,
she was diagnosed with a lesion on her brain.
Over the next two years, Daria was hospitalized
several times, had to undergo risky surgeries,
and received chemotherapy. Luckily, they were
in Boston, one of the few places that offered the
sort of specialized care that she needed.
While they had entered the U.S. with tourist
visas, the Beta family needed to stay longer than
their visas would allow. There was no treatment
available for Daria back in Albania, so returning
there was not an option now. Last summer,
the IIIC’s managing attorney, Jeannie Kain, met
with them and carefully prepared and filed
their applications for deferred action, a status
that would allow them to live temporarily in
the U.S. and have permission to work. Jeannie
worked with them through the fall, attended
their Immigration interview, inquired with
Immigration when the case dragged on, and
finally, in early January, the case was approved.
Employment authorization cards were issued
shortly thereafter, and Lorenc was finally able
to get a driver’s license and a job as a dental
 “We are so grateful and happy to have you and
IIIC helping us in this crucial time of our life.” Lorenc
with his daughter, Fiona and their Attorney Jeannie
Kain
assistant. Jeannie also helped them petition for
Fiona, now ten years old, to come to the U.S. and
be reunited with the family. The humanitarian
parole application was quickly approved and
Fiona joined her family this May after three years
of separation.
While Daria continues to receive intensive
medical care, her symptoms seem to have
improved now that she is reunited with her big
sister. Anila and Lorenc are hopeful about the
future and thankful to be together with both of
their young daughters.
- Jeannie Kain
IIIC runs weekly, confidential immigration
clinics to provide legal consults to immigrants
from Ireland and from 120 different countries. To
find out the dates of our clinics, call 617-542-7654
or visit us at www.iiicenter.org.
SENATOR WARREN ENGAGES WITH BUSINESS LEADERS
ON MAY 13, 160 local leaders attended IIIC’s 4th
Annual Business Leaders Breakfast at the Seaport
Boston Hotel; raising over $100,000 to support the
work of the Center. Keynote speaker Senator Elizabeth
Warren expressed her confidence that comprehensive
immigration reform will become law this year if
members of the public act as vocal advocates.
The morning also included words from Kevin O’KellyLynch of Covidien, whose company hosts Irish interns
 Senator Elizabeth Warren with Oumou Traore as part of IIIC's J-1 Irish Work and Travel program, and
Oumou Traore, who has lived in the United States since
childhood and received Deferred Action Status because of IIIC’s assistance.
THANK YOU TO ALL
OUR SUPPORTERS
The IIIC is grateful for its foundation and
government support in 2012:
American Ireland Fund
A.M. Fund
Barr Foundation
Boston Bar Foundation
Claneil Foundation
Community Development Block Grant –
City of Boston
Fireman Charitable Foundation
Fish Family Foundation
Greater Boston Council on Alcoholism
Irish Government, Department of Foreign
Affairs and Trade
Jacobson Family Foundation
Kevin Kelley Charitable Fund
Massachusetts Bar Foundation
Massachusetts Office for Refugees and
Immigrants – CNAP
OneWorld Boston, a Cummings
Foundation affiliate
Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Ministry
Fund
The Boston Foundation’s Haiti Fund
Western Province Ministry Fund
Thank you also to our 2013 Business
Breakfast Sponsors:
Platinum
Arbella Insurance Group | John and Frances
Donohue
Gold
Eastern Insurance Group LLC | Hogan Lovells |
Ironshore Insurance | The Law Offices of Gerard
F. Doherty | Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky
and Popeo, P.C. | Rasky Baerlein Strategic
Communications, Inc. | Safelite Group
Silver
Greenough Communications | John Cullinane
|The Boston Beer Company | Comcast Sports
Network | Eastern Diversified | Full Contact
Advertising | General Reinsurance Corporation
Geraghty Associates | The Geraghty Family
Guy Carpenter & Company, Inc. | Synergy
Investment & Development | Zelle, McDonough
and Cohen, LLP | John Hancock | Peter Heaney |
Hobbs Brook Management | Ernst & Young
Patron
Michael Buckley and Hollie Baker | Fish Family
Foundation | JBM McCue Company | Webster
Bank | Essex Builders Corporation | Timothy
Smith Network | Catholic Association of
Foresters | Invest Northern Ireland | Iandoli and
Desai, P.C. | Bank of New York Mellon
The IIIC gives special thanks to the Irish
Government for its continued support to
Irish people living abroad.
Thanks to all who supported this fantastic event!
www.iiicenter.org
3
C R O S S C U LT U R A L
FILM SCREENING HIGHLIGHTS HAITIAN
CHOLERA PLIGHT
BEST WISHES FOR A SAFE AND
ENJOYABLE SUMMER IN BOSTON TO
ALL THE IRISH J-1 SUMMER STUDENTS...
COME VISIT OUR CYBER CAFE!
ANGILA CHADA
SEAN PETTIS
Springboard Opportunities
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Corrymeela, UPStanding: Stories
of Courage from Northern Ireland
SPEAKER SERIES ON IRELAND
For upcoming dates, visit www.iiicenter.org
ON TUESDAY, APRIL 23RD, the IIIC screened
“Baseball in the Time of Cholera,” an awardwinning documentary about the tragedy of
Haiti’s Cholera epidemic through the eyes of
a young Haitian baseball player who plays in
Haiti's first little league baseball team, and a
Haitian lawyer, who is seeking justice against the
United Nations (UN).
The event was a tremendous success with a
diverse crowd of nearly 100 people attending.
The screening helped raise awareness about the
crisis and was both eye-opening and heartbreaking. Some audience members learned about the
outbreak for the first time. Others knew people
personally affected by the outbreak.
The epidemic began shortly after the
earthquake in 2010 and has infected hundreds of
thousands and killed over 7,000 Haitians in just
18 months. Following the screening, expert panelists spoke about the current situation in Haiti.
Panelists included Karen Ansara, co-founder of
The Haiti Relief and Reconstruction Fund, Betsey
Chace, Development and Operations Manager of
the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti,
Rev. Eno Mondesir, Senior Pastor for the Haitian
 L to R: Leon David, Rishi Rattan, Ronnie Millar,
Johanne Meleance, Rev. Eno Mondesir, Karen
Ansara, and Betsey Chace
Baptist Church of Cambridge, Dr. Rishi Rattan,
Advocacy Chair for Physicians for Haiti and Leon
David as moderator.
- Johanne Meleance
The aim of the Inclusion and Integration
Project at the IIIC is to examine and address
prejudice, racism, and discrimination internally,
externally, and through advocacy. For more
information, contact Johanne Meleance at
617-542-7654 ext. 13.
ENGLISH FOR SPE AK ERS OF OTHER L ANGUAGES
NEIL HURLEY AND JOHN RATTIGAN
have 30 years of combined service with the IIIC
supporting hundreds of immigrants
from Ireland and other nations over the years.
They're pictured here continuing their great work at
Brighton's Green Briar pub.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE
COALITION OF IRISH IMMIGRATION CENTERS
on the launch of their new website.
Check it out and sign up
today for their e-newsletter.
4 www.iiicenter.org
ESOL CLASSES OFFER KEYS TO SUCCESS
ERIKA arrived in Boston from Bolivia five years
ago with her husband and young son so that they
could be closer to her husband’s family. In Bolivia,
Erika was a healthcare worker putting her love of
helping others into practice. Since arriving in the
United States, her hope has been to return to this
work, but she quickly discovered that she needed
to improve her English in order to enter the field
once again.
Erika began taking English for Speakers of
Other Languages at the Center, working diligently
to improve her English. She fully believes that
“learning English opens all the doors.”
Once comfortable speaking English, Erika
sought help from the Center’s Citizenship Services.
In Citizenship Class, she learned about American
history, government and civic engagement, and
felt prepared to take the naturalization exam.
Erika greatly enjoyed her experience in IIIC’s ESOL
and citizenship classes, commenting, “If I become
a citizen, I want to vote and make a difference.”
Like many of our clients, getting involved with
our services is
a family affair.
Erika’s husband
also took the
Citizenship
class, and on
April 25th, he
became a U.S.
citizen. Erika
has completed
her application
for citizenship
and is now waiting for news. She is grateful for the
help she’s received from the IIIC staff, and with her
improved English fluency, is confident that she
can get back to her work in healthcare.
- Sarah Chapple-Sokol
To enroll in our ESOL or Citizenship classes,
please come into our office in downtown Boston
or call 617-542-7654.
STAFF NEWS
WELLNESS SERVICES
Welcome to New IIIC Staff Members
COURSE HELPS IRISH HOME HEALTH AIDES
PREPARE FOR WORK
2013 MARKS THE 4TH YEAR that our Home Health
Aide course has been running. Over 460 students
have graduated since our first class in 2009, and
since 83% of these go on to obtain employment
upon receipt of their pre-CNA certification, we
continue to be very proud of the success of this
skills building program.
We recently celebrated the graduation of our
first class of 2013, which was held in the Hancock
Park Day Adult Center in Quincy. With 31 mostly
Irish students graduating, it was a wonderful
evening full of great food and rousing Irish music.
Maureen McNally and Max Courtney provided the
entertainment by getting the crowd going with
some classic Irish ballads.
Students thanked teachers Maureen McNally,
Bridget Giovanello and Norah Lavelle who worked
tirelessly to give students the best experience
possible. “The teachers really cared about the
class and understand so well what is best for our
clients,” said one student. There was a great sense
of community and camaraderie between the
students as they journeyed through the course
together. This was not a surprise as most of our
graduates (67%) noted on their evaluations that
one of their favorite parts of the course is meeting
and getting to know new people. One of the
overall goals of this program is to allow people to
network and build a “home away from home” in
a field of work that can be isolating. Ronnie Millar,
IIIC’s executive director, praised the courage and
IRISH OUTREACH AND
CASE MANAGER
 L to R: Home Health Aide Instructors Maureen
McNally, Norah Lavelle, and Bridget Giovanello with
three recent Irish graduates
commitment of the students as they collected
their certificates.
With our fall Home Health Aide class already
filling up there is no doubt that the benefits of
this class will continue to be felt. “It has reinforced
my desire to become a nurse. I have begun to
research colleges and all that goes with it as
a result,” said one participant who hails from
Galway. “It has given me the confidence to care
for others without second-guessing my skills.”
Congratulations to all our graduates!
- Aishling Finnegan
To register for our next Home Health Aide
course, please contact Ciara Lavery at 617-5427654 ext. 32.
E D U C AT I O N S E R V I C E S
COMPUTER SKILLS KEY TO A BETTER LIFE
LEENA BRAHMI, a recent graduate of our career
advancement course, came to the United States
in 1997 with her parents in search of a better
life. After seeing a flier at her local library, Leena
decided the course was a good opportunity to
gain computer skills and keep up with technology.
As a stay-at-home mom, her three little boys also
provided motivation. “If kids ask me a question
about computers I want to be able to answer
them. And I want to find a good job.”
Leena has greatly benefited from the 12-week
course she says. “It has meant a lot to me to gain
valuable computer skills and also to get out of
the home and get back into society again.” She
knows this class will help her with her ambitions
of finding a good job.
Career advancement teacher Chris Tegmo was
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Julie Martin comes to the IIIC
after five years working in
development at YWCA Boston,
where she most recently served
as Annual Fund Manager. She
decided to embark on a career
supporting social justicefocused nonprofits after serving
as a City Year Boston Corps Member ten years ago.
instrumental
in the success
of the students.
Says Leena, “I
thank him so
very much for
all the help and
understanding
he gave to
us.” She is also
grateful to the
rest of the staff
at IIIC and the Timothy Smith Network, which
provided funding for the program.
In Leena's words, “Thank you to everyone who
helped us succeed.”
- Sarah Chapple-Sokol
Ciara Lavery came to the
United States from County
Armagh fifteen years ago. After
working as a waitress in an Irish
bar for 13 years, she began
volunteering at the IIIC. Inspired
by the Center’s work, she knew
she wanted to be part of the team. Ciara enrolled in
the IIIC’s Career Advancement Course and with new
skills to offer, was hired with the Learning Exchange
Programs for a three month position then applied to
be Irish Outreach and Case Manager.
EDUCATION COORDINATOR
Sarah Chapple-Sokol graduated
from Lesley University with a
Master’s degree in Intercultural
Relations. Sarah has previously
worked as an ESOL teacher and
at the front desk of a homeless
services agency. She is thrilled
to be working at IIIC, where
she can follow her passion of supporting Boston’s
immigrants.
CITIZENSHIP ATTORNEY
Eric Lockwood, a dual citizen of
the U.S. and Brazil, grew up in
a bicultural household and was
always drawn to working with
people from other cultures.
Prior to joining the IIIC, Eric
provided legal assistance
to immigrants in southern
California for two and a half years. From 2008 to
2009, he lived in São Paulo, Brazil and worked on
human rights and access to justice issues. He is
thrilled to be a member of the IIIC team.
STAFFING CHANGES
Ann Marie Cugno has served in our Wellness
and Education Services for the past 3 years and
will now be transitioning into our Development
team. Thank you Ann Marie for all your hard
work and good will.
www.iiicenter.org
5
ALUMNI CONNECTION
After nearly 24 years as executive director
of the IIIC, SISTER LENA DEEVY, LSA
celebrated her tenure as executive director
with a party at Florian Hall surrounded
by the IIIC family. Friends, both old and
new, danced to music by Erin’s Melody and
enjoyed a rousing performance by Tenor
Ciaran Nagle and violinist Tara Novak.
Guests included Irish Consul General
Michael Lonergan who presented a letter
from Ireland’s President Michael Higgins to
Sister Lena, Boston Globe columnist Kevin
Cullen who that day recognized Sister
Lena in a column, and Patrick Riordan,
former IIIC Board Chair who offered gifts
of an iPad and charitable donations to
Project Hope and OneFund on behalf
of the board. Also present were Boston
Mayoral candidates Marty Walsh and John
Connolly and Lt. Gov. Tim Murray. Thanks
to all who came to celebrate!
VOLUNTEERING
VOLUNTEERS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE
EACH WEEK, dozens of immigrant families
and individuals line up at IIIC’s free, weekly
immigration legal clinics. At the clinics, they are
able to consult with immigration attorneys in
English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Haitian
Creole on a wide range of immigration issues.
This would not be possible without our volunteer
attorneys, interpreters, and note takers.
Volunteers usually attend at least one clinic a
month. Some come to our in-house clinics while
others are regulars at our community clinics in
Dorchester, Brighton and South Boston. It is a
great way to give back to the community and
gives low-income immigrant families much
needed access to quality immigration advice and
representation.
As a way to thank our pro-bono attorneys and
to benefit from their wisdom, the IIIC hosted
a reception and round table discussion with
them on May 14. Discussion focused on ways to
improve clinics, and ideas about addressing the
needs of the community if the Comprehensive
Immigration Reform bill is passed into law.
At the IIIC, we are committed to making it
 Neil Hurley and Attorney Dan Harrington, two
of our dedicated legal clinic volunteers
easy for immigrants to obtain accurate legal
advice about immigration matters, and with the
help of our volunteers we are able to provide
the community with the immigration assistance
it needs. We are very grateful for their time,
dedication and talent.
- Jeannie Kain
For more information about volunteering
with the IIIC, contact Kielan O'Boyle at
617-542-7654 ext. 42.
ADVOC AC Y
STRIVING TO KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER
IN COLLABORATION with local, state and
national organizations, the IIIC has been
participating in events that highlight and garner
support for legislation supporting immigration
reform introduced in April. A path to citizenship
is a key component of the bill which seeks to
“modernize and streamline our current legal
immigration system, while creating a tough but
fair legalization program for individuals who are
currently here.”
Staff and volunteers from IIIC participated
 Time is Now Rally in Washington, DC
in numerous events as part of the “Keeping
Photo Courtesy of MIRA
Families Together Campaign” and attended
from Ireland and around the world smoothly
a rally at Faneuil Hall on April 6th that drew
integrate into life in the U.S. We will remain
hundreds in celebration of Immigration Reform
actively engaged in advocating for legislative
National Week of Action (organized by The
reform. You can help. Call or write your legislaAlliance for Citizenship). Managing attorney
tors and tell them you support comprehensive
Jeannie Kain, who is the Chair-Elect of the New
immigration reform and keeping immigrant
England Chapter of the American Immigration
families together. - Janey Tallarida
Lawyers Association flew to Washington D.C. to
meet legislators and to advocate for comprehensive immigration reform.
To find out more about the Keeping Families
Together Campaign, visit www.miracoalition.org.
The IIIC is committed to helping immigrants
6 www.iiicenter.org
LE ARNING E XCHANGE PROGR AMS
WIDER HORIZONS PROGRAM PARTICIPANT
EMPOWERING LOCAL CHILDREN
 Chris McKevitt says a final farewell to his
students at the Boys and Girls Club of Dorchester
IN JUNE, a young man from County Down and
participant in the Wider Horizons Program, Chris
McKevitt interned at the Boys and Girls Clubs
of Dorchester in the music clubhouse, teaching
children to play guitar. The children loved Chris
and flocked to him as he turned the first 30
minutes of every shift into a private concert. His
supervisor, Ayeisha Mathis, enjoyed the experience just as much as Chris, saying “He is the best,
most proficient intern you could ask for.” He will
be missed greatly by the Boys and Girls Club. Most
of all he will be missed by the kids, who loved
everything from the way Chris played music to
the way he said “helicopter.” “No one wants him
to leave,” reports Ayeisha.
Chris truly learned to open his mind to new
experiences during his time in Boston. “Before,
I didn’t really have any goals. Now I’ve got
direction. The world is a big place, it’s not just my
wee corner of Ireland.”
The Wider Horizons Program gives young
adults, aged 18 to 28, from Protestant and
Catholic communities the opportunity to get
to know each other while providing them with
essential skills and practical work experience
to apply when they return home. The program
is funded thanks to the generosity of the
International Fund for Ireland. The IIIC manages
the overseas phase of the program in Boston and
collaborates with local organizations and host
families to make the program a success.
The IIIC facilitated the same opportunity for over
50 other young adults this year and looks forward
to the final group of this year in September,
welcoming 21 more young adults from Newry,
Dundalk and surrounding towns.
- Sean Hansen
LE ARNING E XCHANGE PROGR AMS
J-1 IWT VISA PROGRAM HELPS YOUNG IRISH
SUCCEED IN THE U.S.
SINCE 2008, the IIIC has helped 520 Irish graduates find quality internships in their field of study
in the US. Graduates share their stories:
Maria says, “The J-1 IWT programme has
allowed me the opportunity to work and learn in
one of the leading neuroimaging research facilities in the world... the IIIC has been immensely
helpful and proactive from helping me to secure
the visa to getting me settled in an exciting
position, in a hassle-free manner.”
Susanna returned to Dublin and got a job as an
assistant lawyer. She says “The program gave me
a valuable experience, introduced me to different
cultures, a different system of work, and it gave
me independence . I had a positive experience.
I’m doing pretty well now, doing what I want to
do.”
Ian is from Dublin. He studied Property
Economics at Dublin Institute of Technology,
worked at TD Bank while in Boston and is now a
Trust Associate at BNY Mellon in Dublin.
Barry says, "The IIIC were excellent in preparing
WIDER HORIZONS BY THE
NUMBERS
Over 17,000 young people from
Northern Ireland and Ireland have
completed the Wider Horizons
program in internships around the
world.
75% of participants furthered their
education or secured good jobs at
home as a result of the program.
Since becoming the Boston “overseas partner” in 2004, the IIIC has
managed 23 programs and served
over 450 participants.
Partner organizations in Northern
Ireland include Border Horizons in
Derry, Tyrone Donegal Partnership
in Omagh, Clanrye Group in Newry,
and Springboard Opportunities
Limited in Belfast.
 Grainne Conefrey, a native of Sligo, spent her
J-1 IWT year with Hill Holliday in Boston
my J-1 visa, they are very easy to work with and
will talk you through the J-1 process. The processing of my visa was quick and effortless. The IIIC
are only a phone call or email away, which is
reassuring should I have any questions or queries."
- Kim Jorgensen
For more graduate testimonials, please see www.
iiicenter.org.
Nearly 150 organizations in the
Boston area have benefited from
Wider Horizons participants serving
in six week internships.
120 Boston area families have hosted
Wider Horizons participants in their
homes since 2004.
www.iiicenter.org
7
SAVE THE DATE
SOLAS AWARDS CELEBRATION
Friday, December 6, 2013
6:00pm: Reception
DANCE PARTY
Malden Irish American Club
October 4, 2013
IRISH THEATRE
IIIC Vault
October 18 & 19, 2013
Featuring Rod Stewart impersonator,
Rick Larrimore
Selections from the works of James Joyce
7:30pm: Awards Program
JFK Library and Museum in Dorchester
Please plan on joining us for this wonderful annual
event to honor local community leaders.
For further details contact Mary Kerr
at 617-695-1554
or at [email protected].
For more information about our programs or events, please contact Evelyn Brito at
617-542-7654 ext. 43 or [email protected], or visit www.iiicenter.org. You can also
find us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
Immigration and Citizenship Clinics
Career Advancement Courses
Suicide Prevention Workshops
Computer Skills Courses
Home Health Aide Courses
Health Screenings
CPR Workshops
Citizenship Classes
ESOL Classes
Smoking Cessation Support Group
Cross Cultural Community Building
Immigrant Organizing & Advocacy
NEWSLETTER EDITORS: Kielan O'Boyle and Janey Tallarida
We welcome your feedback on the newsletter, please send comments to [email protected].
PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING A
DONATION TO SUPPORT OUR WORK
WITH LOW INCOME IMMIGRANT
FAMILIES.
Donations can be made using
Paypal through our website.
www.iiicenter.org/donate
SUMMER 2013 NEWSLET TER
Address correction requested.
I R I S H I N T E R N AT I O N A L I M M I G R A N T C E N T E R
100 Franklin Street, Lower Level 1, Boston, MA 02110
617.542.7654 iiicenter.org