IRISH INTERNATIONAL
IMMIGRANT CENTER
Port na Fáilte - Boston’s Welcome Center
2016 Year in Review
2016: A SNAPSHOT
DEAR FRIEND,
Never before has the work of the Irish International
Immigrant Center been so important. Never before
has there been such urgency, fear, and despondency
in the immigrant community. Never before has
there been a greater need for our services.
For an organization that is 100% committed to
working towards a society where all are valued and
welcomed, 2016 was a deeply challenging year. I
am so grateful for everything that our attorneys,
social workers, educators, youth workers, and
administration staff do, day-in and day-out. With their diligent efforts, we
served 3,100 families in 2016 – during a time when the number of people
seeking support is increasing, as is the intensity and complexity of the work.
In mid-2016, we launched a strategic plan that outlined our vision of scaling
up to become Boston’s Welcome Center for immigrant and refugee families
by implementing the following five strategic priorities:
• Expanding our services by further developing our integrated approach to
service and assisting more immigrants, refugees, and young Irish interns.
• Investing in the capacity of our staff, volunteers, Board of Directors, and our
Advisory Board.
Immigration Legal Services
Our attorneys offered over 1,700
consultations and represented
378 families. We also assisted
210 people in becoming US citizens
Wellness Services
Over the past year, our Wellness
Services supported 715 Irish
immigrants and others through
counseling and case management,
educational workshops, and events.
Education Services
In 2016, more than 150 students took
classes in English for Speakers of
Other Languages (ESOL), Computer
Skills and Career Advancement, or
our Citizenship Education Courses.
Learning Exchange Program
In 2016, the IIIC assisted 350 young
Irish men and women in gaining
quality, year-long internships in the
United States and fielded over 1200
new inquires for J-1 visa assistance.
• Identifying and forming key strategic partnerships.
• Launching a marketing campaign to position the IIIC as Boston’s Welcome
Center.
• Moving to a new, fit-for-purpose facility.
We are delighted to have already made good progress with the plan, especially
in expanding our program work, and in moving the Center above ground, and
into One State Street. We all love the new space.
We are especially grateful to the Irish Government, and to the Arbella Insurance
Foundation for their long-standing support, and to the many charitable
foundations – such as The Boston Foundation, Klarman Family Foundation,
the Jacobson Family Foundation, and the Fish Family Foundation –
who stepped up with emergency funding at the end of 2016.
We are grateful for support from the
Irish Government’s Department of
Foreign Affairs and Trade Emigrant
Support Programme, and to Arbella
Insurance Foundation for their
tremendous support in 2016.
Emigrant Support Programme
In 2017, we must be bold and hopeful – as Seamus Heaney once said,
we are inspired to “walk on air – against our better judgement.”
On behalf of all the families we serve, thank you.
ABOUT THE IIIC
Executive Director
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Founded in 1989, the Irish
International Immigrant Center
assists immigrants from Ireland and
around the globe as they integrate
into American society, and provides
learning and work opportunities
for young Irish men and women
who come to the U.S. each year.
We are a vibrant welcome center
that provides legal, wellness and
education services, works for change,
and builds community. Our vision
is of a society where all people are
welcomed and valued and enjoy
equal opportunities and protections.
IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES
In 2016, the IIIC offered legal advice to more than
1,700 individuals and families, provided legal
representation to 378 families and assisted over
210 immigrants in becoming U.S. citizens.
Providing consultation and legal representation, our legal
team of 7 legal staff and 27 pro bono immigration attorneys
help immigrant and refugee families obtain green cards and
citizenship, humanitarian relief, and enabled parents of children
getting medical treatment to remain in the U.S. so their children
could get the care they need. Weekly legal clinics held at our
Downtown Boston Center; the Labouré Community Health
Center in South Boston; Saint Mark’s Church in Dorchester; and
the Green Briar Pub in Brighton provided advice and education.
Helping homeless women and children. In partnership
with Boston Public Schools and Liberty Mutual, our
attorney Cristina Dacchille Freeman supported 64 young
immigrant students who were homeless or near homeless,
helping them determine their options and educating them
about immigration law and their rights. Twenty young
people were provided with full legal representation.
Working on-site at Rosie’s Place, staff attorney Sarah Schendel
offered legal assistance to 220 guests - homeless and
low-income women and children - and provided full case
representation to 40. Through this partnership both organizations
can achieve their goals of supporting those most in need.
Working with immigrant survivors of domestic abuse,
attorney Jackie Kelley helps those who might otherwise stay
in abusive relationships because of immigration status or
they fear that their abuser will report them. Many immigrants
in abusive relationships are unaware that some laws can
provide them with a pathway to legal status and to safety.
An Equal Justice Works fellow, Jackie works in partnership
with Northeastern University’s Domestic Violence Institute
and with Roca’s Young Mothers Program in Chelsea.
Program Staff: Tony Marino, Director of Legal Services
Becky Minahan, Jackie Kelley, Cristina Dacchille Freeman,
Sarah Schendel, Megan Parker Johnson, Erica Snyder-Drummond,
Ronald Claude
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A SEVEN YEAR JOURNEY
After fleeing Uganda in 1994
Hafswa and her family were
granted political asylum, and
seeking assistance with their green
card applications found the IIIC. It
was the start of a long relationship.
As the family became eligible to
apply for U.S. citizenship, they
came to the Center for help. Over
the years, the Center’s attorneys
attended each naturalization
interview, and in 2015 attended
Hafswa’s. It was an exciting
moment for her and her attorney.
Finally this year, the last family
member, Hafswa’s twenty-three
year old daughter, became a
U.S. citizen. Beginning seven
years ago at Temple Place, to
our Franklin Street address and
finally One State Street, the
IIIC legal team is delighted to
have been a part of Hafswa
and her children’s
immigration journey.
WELLNESS SERVICES
Over the past year, our Wellness Services supported
715 Irish immigrants and others through counseling and
case management, educational workshops, and events.
Supporting immigrants working to build healthy lives here
in the US, our clinicians and case managers counsel clients
struggling with depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and the
adjustments of making a life far from home, family and friends.
AN EVENING WITH BRESSIE
Niall Bresslin, (aka Bressie) is a well
known Irish celebrity, an accomplished
sportsman, a multi-platinum selling
musician, and coach on “The Voice of
Ireland” TV Show. One would think that
Bressie could sail through life without
a care. Not so, he courageously tells
us in his best-selling book “Me and my
mate Jeffrey,” through which he openly
shares his journey with mental illness
and empowers others to do the same.
On September 8th, 250 people gathered
at the Somerville Theatre where IIIC
hosted “An Evening with Bressie”. Bressie
spoke passionately and with humor
about his lifelong struggle with panic
disorder, depression, and substance
abuse. He was later joined by an expert
panel with IIIC’s Wellness Director, Rachel
Reisman. A beloved Irish figure, Bressie is
uniquely positioned to connect with Irish
immigrants who have similar challenges
and encourage them to reach out.
The night, filled with enthusiasm and a
positive tone, highlighted a shift in Irish
culture as more people become willing to
speak openly about their emotional health
and needs. In weeks following the event, a
number of Irish immigrants contacted the
IIIC for help maintaining sobriety, managing
anxiety, and stage of life issues, referencing
the Evening with Bressie as inspiring them
“to get in touch and to ask for help.”
“Meeting clients where they are” is the focus of social
worker and program director, Rachel Reisman. She
provides counseling and an empathetic ear to the many
Irish who contact her throughout the year, offering
ongoing support and referrals to resources, or helping
families in crisis as they navigate a difficult situation.
Cultivating Irish culture and well-being, the IIIC collaborated
with Cumainn na Gaeilge to offer Irish language classes.
The popular Advanced and Beginner level classes provide
a source of personal development and cultivate community
for the Irish diaspora here in Boston. For both Irish and
Irish American students the classes are a way to connect
with their heritage and keep it vibrant in the 21st century.
Tús maith leath na hoibre (A good start is half the work.)
Building bridges between communities: one such
opportunity led us to partner with the Brazilian Consulate
and the Greater Boston Coalition for Suicide Prevention
to conduct a workshop on suicide prevention and
education. We also offered a presentation to our English
for Speakers of Other Languages classes about stress
management and accessing health insurance.
Supporting Central American refugee women and
their children released from detention in Texas became
crucial in 2016 as over 120 families came to settle in
Massachusetts. In partnership with Needham Area
Immigration Task Force, the IIIC is connecting families
with the resources they need to stabilize their lives.
Program Staff: Rachel Reisman, LICSW, Director Wellness Services
Siobhan Kelly, Sofia Vergara
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EDUCATION SERVICES
In 2016, more than 150 students took classes in English for
Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Computer Skills and
Career Advancement, or our Citizenship Education Courses.
Beginning a new life in America is intimidating, especially
for those who are not confident speaking English. English
is also essential to becoming a US citizen. This December,
Selma Hamri became the latest student to pass her
Naturalization Exam after enrolling in the IIIC’s Citizenship
Education Program in October of 2016. “The citizenship
class helped me 100%. Everything with the English lessons
and learning about U.S. history and government helped me
so much.” Selma attended her Naturalization Ceremony in
December and is excited to be continuing her studies at
IIIC; she is enrolled in the next semester of ESOL classes.
Building a foundation of marketable skills is the best way to
help our students start a new life in a new country. Computer
literacy can help them get ahead in today’s workforce. This year’s
Computer Skills Course and Career Advancement Workshops
taught basics of computer literacy, as well as job search and
interviewing skills and resume and cover letter writing. Our
students are looking to advance in their careers and secure
good jobs. These goals help them support their families and
also helps them confidently adjust to their new home.
Working together to build a learning community is a large part
of success in the classroom. This past year, our community
included 120 students from around the world, improving their
English fluency at the IIIC. The goals for each individual were
to enhance their communication skills and to thrive in their
everyday lives. A number participated in the IIIC’s Individual
Achievement Program. Students worked one-on-one with
an Education Services staff member in order to reach their
professional, educational, and personal goals, such as obtaining
a driver’s license, securing employment, and preparing for
Massachusetts Teacher Exams in order to work in the public
school system. Our staff truly enjoys assisting our students in any
way possible in order to make their lives in the U.S. successful.
Program Staff: Bonnie Greenwood, Director of Education
Marisa Bennett, Erin Chubb, Malena Lonardo
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CREATING A NEW
CELEBRATION
It was an evening late in autumn,
and the room was filled with
students from all over the world,
proudly sharing their favorite meals
and traditions in celebration of
an American Thanksgiving.
Our evening ESOL class has always
been a fun and lively group, and
this night it was exceptionally so.
Throughout the semester, the students
had discussed cultural celebrations and
traditions, and they wanted to create
a new “family gathering” together.
The day before Thanksgiving was
the perfect opportunity. Students
brought in homemade dishes from
their native countries; they told stories,
and played music. The students
shared their various talents , and
it was delightful getting to learn
from the students themselves!
Personal connections and memories
are made over shared meals in almost
every culture. Hearing songs in
different languages and tasting the
flavors of traditional cuisine brought
our class together in a human way,
beyond textbooks and class projects.
The IIIC’s Education Services team
feels extremely lucky to be able to get
to know each individual and to be able
to make connections with all of them.
LEARNING EXCHANGE PROGRAMS
In 2016, the IIIC assisted 350 young Irish men and
women in gaining quality, year-long internships in the
United States. In the past year, we received over 1200
inquiries from students and graduates seeking help and
advice about traveling to the U.S. and obtaining a J-1
visa. The U.S. Department of State granted the IIIC an
increase in the allocation of visas we can support, which
is now up to 500 talented exchange visitors in 2017.
J-1 IRISH INTERN HELPING
TO SAVE HABITAT
Donal Hogan from County Galway
made the big move to the US after
graduating with a degree in Biodiversity
and Conservation. The wide-ranging
opportunities in the US made it the
perfect place to further his career. When
his friends recommended the IIIC for his
J-1 IWT visa, he applied straight away.
Donal was offered a research role
with The Great Basin Institute, an
environmental non-profit based in
Boise, Idaho. As an associate on the
Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring
project, he conducted rangeland
habitat surveys on the vast public lands
in the Western United States. His work
involved a week long camping trip
to do hands on research with plant
identification and soil characterization.
Following on from the field season in
Idaho, he continued working for the
institute in California for two months.
This brought Donal to the spectacular
landscape of the Pacific Northwest. He
backpacked across Yellowstone, Grand
Tetons, Yosemite and other national
parks. This experience left Donal with
a wealth of great memories, stories,
and gave him the trip of a lifetime.
Building better relationships with employers is important
to us, and in 2016 we increased direct placement of young
graduates into internships. We take pride in all our work but
nothing beats the excitement of hearing from a graduate who
has secured work directly through a lead provided by our team.
Launching a new program in partnership with Queen’s
University and Ulster University has been an exciting time of
dreaming big and looking ahead. The IIIC is placing 50 third
year students in internships. Ronnie Millar said: “This is a great
investment in the future of Northern Ireland as students return
home with confidence, and new technical and leadership skills.”
Supporting J-1 summer students, and making them feel
at home has been a priority at the center for many years.
Though a new provision requires students to secure jobs
before traveling to the U.S., it was business as usual for us
as we helped over 100 students. The IIIC works closely with
the Coalition of Irish Immigration Centers to help young Irish
students gain the most out of their J-1 Summer program.
Thanks to support from the Irish Government’s
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and
Emigrant Support Programme and the
American Ireland Fund.
Program Staff: Jude Clarke, Director of Learning Exchange
Paul Pelan, Helaine-Rose Goudreau, Cherisse Woolard,
Lisa-Marie Nathan, Deirdre Kerins, Thomas Dalton
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COMMUNITY BUILDING
This past year, the IIIC moved to our new Welcome Center in
downtown Boston. We’re delighted to open our doors to people
from around the world, where we can help our friends and neighbors.
The IIIC is proud to create safe spaces for people to share traditions
and stories from their own cultures and to learn more about their
new community.
BLACK AND GREEN
Sarah, a volunteer from Serve With Liberty, and Fatima, a student in our
ESOL class enjoyed time together while working on a writing project.
ADVOCACY
Throughout 2016, our advocacy work included serving as a supporting member of
the Safe Driving Coalition, a grassroots coalition of community, faith, business,
and labor organizations working on legislation that would provide driver’s licenses
for all residents regardless of immigration status.
Our work in late 2016 led to the support of the Massachusetts Safe
Communities Act, legislation that is committed to defending civil rights and
protecting immigrants against discrimination. Our staff has been attending rallies
and community discussions, determined to send a strong message to politicians in
both word and deed. We are standing united with our partners and working to
ensure that all feel welcomed and valued, and enjoy equal opportunties.
On a Sunday afternoon this March,
the IIIC and the Monserrat Aspirers
of Dorchester held their Annual
Black & Green event at Hibernian
Hall in Roxbury. This year, the event
commemorated the centenary of the
1916 Easter Rising, the Montserrat
Slave Revolt of 1768 and the friendship
between the former American slave
Frederick Douglass and the “Great
Liberator” of Ireland, Daniel O’Connell.
This year, 120 people were in
attendance to hear stories and
performances from historians,
musicians, and poets. Highlights
included a dramatic reading of the Irish
Proclamation from 1916 by actor Jason
McCool, a colorful dance performance
by the Montserrat Masqueraders, and
a view into the Douglass-O’Connell
friendship by Dr. William “Smitty”
Smith, Executive Director of the
National Center for Race Amity.
Black & Green was established as
a way to foster trust, healing and
friendship between communities in
Boston, bringing people together from
around the city for an afternoon of
friendly cultural exchange, great food,
music, and discussion. This year was no
different, and the IIIC and Montserrat
Aspirers are grateful to all who made
this special annual tradition possible.
IIIC staff attend a rally to stand in solidarity with immigrant and refugee families.
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REVIEW OF 2016
Take a look back over the biggest events of the year!
Get Involved in 2017
Annual Black and
Green Celebration
Spring
This is one of our favorite annual
events, as we bring the community
together for a night of cutural
exchange. Come experience
great food, music, discussion,
and community building.
8th Annual Business
Leaders Breakfast
Spring
We are hard at work planning our
annual Business Leaders Breakfast,
and it promises to be an engaging
morning as we gather with key
friends in the community to discuss
the pressing issues at hand in our
current social and political climate.
Business Leaders Breakfast | April
Over three hundred people attended the Seventh Annual Business
Leaders Breakfast. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura
Healey, known as “the people’s lawyer of the Commonwealth”,
spoke passionately about the importance of providing legal
services for the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable residents. We
also congratulated Sister Eleanor Martin on her retirement.
Taste of Ireland | April
In April, the IIIC headed to Cape Cod for the 19th Annual Taste of
Ireland. It was an afternoon of music and offerings from some of the
finest Cape restaurants, face painting, and great raffle and silent
auction items.
Solas Awards Celebration | December
Nearly five hundred guests joined us to honor the Solas Award
recipients, including the Irish Ambassador Anne Anderson, the
Rev. Ray Hammond, and UMass President Marty Meehan.
Brian O’Donovan, of WGBH, hosted a wonderful night of celebration
and musical entertainment. Thanks to all who made this our biggest
and best party yet!
Solas Awards Celebration
December
Each year, our Solas Awards
Celebration recognizes the ways in
which immigrants shape America,
promotes ties of friendship between
the United States and Ireland,
and honors leaders who are true
beacons of light. Don’t miss the
IIIC’s biggest party of the year!
IIIC’s Board President Kevin Martin, Ambassador Anderson, Consul General
Fionnuala Quinlan, UMass President Marty Meehan, and IIIC ED Ronnie Millar.
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VOLUNTEERS
Cultivating new relationships is essential to our work and growth.
The support of our dedicated interns and volunteers makes this all possible.
In 2016, Ann Marie Byrne, IIIC’s Volunteer Coordinator, recruited over 130
volunteers who contributed to our programs, services, and events. Connecting
volutneers with our consituents builds our community. We are grateful to our
team of 27 pro bono attorneys, and volunteers who greet guests at our
Welcome Center, teach in the classroom, and offer administrative support in
the office.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Kevin Martin, Board President
Colette O’Neill, Board Vice President
Kevin F. Mawe, Board Secretary
Adler Eliacin, Board Asst. Secretary
Michael Niland, Board Treasurer
Jane Etish-Andrews
Michael Cahalane
Janice Galloway
Anne Carr Geraghty
Susan Glynn
Peter Kelliher
Ryan McCollum
James McGlennon
Kevin Mulcahy
Eoin Reilly
Derek Tobin
Ronnie Millar, Executive
Director
Maureen Bailey
Marisa Bennett
Ann Marie Byrne
Gjergji Cani
Erin Chubb
Jude Clark
Ronald Claude
Cristina Dacchille Freeman
Rachel Goldstein
Helaine-Rose Goudreau
Bonnie Greenwood
Jackie Kelley
Siobhan Kelly
Deirdre Kerins
Tony Marino
STAFF & ASSOCIATES
Guest Services Coordinator, Maureen Bailey, Helaine Goudreau, and Conor Kenny staff the
information table at A Taste of Ireland.
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Ronnie Millar, Executive Director
Maureen Bailey
Marisa Bennett
Ann Marie Byrne
Gjergji Cani
Erin Chubb
Jude Clarke
Ronald Claude
Cristina Dacchille Freeman
Thomas Dalton
Monique Davies
Rachel Goldstein
Helaine-Rose Goudreau
Bonnie Greenwood
Neil Hurley
Jackie Kelley
Siobhan Kelly
Deirdre Kerins
Tony Marino
Rebecca Minahan
Lisa-Marie Nathan
Megan Parker-Johnson
Paul Pelan
Rachel Reisman
Sarah Schendel
Jenn Stark
Erica Synder-Drummond
Janey Tallarida
Sofia Vergara
Cherisse Woolard
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT 2016
John Myers has been providing key administrative support to Immigration
Legal Services since January 2016. After moving to Boston from Connecticut, he was looking for opportunities to volunteer his time with a community organization. When John read through IIIC’s website, he wanted to get
involved to support our mission of a shared society where all people are
welcomed and valued. He’s enjoyed his time at the Center so much that it’s
become a family affair; John’s wife, Barbara, has reached out to start volunteering with us as well.
Malena Lonardo comes to IIIC from Boston University, where she is
majoring in International Relations. She started her internship here in
September of 2016 as an Education Services Assistant. After researching
various NGO’s in Boston, she chose the IIIC in order to gain hands on,
practical experience in working with immigrants and refugees. Malena
appreciates IIIC’s welcoming atmosphere and is pleased to be directly
involved with helping improve the lives of her students. She enjoyed her fall
internship so much that she decided to return for the spring semester.
Michael Diener was introduced to the IIIC through a coworker and has been
volunteering at the Center for two years. His interest in immigration led him
to work on several citizenship projects, but at the IIIC, he found that he could
contribute to a variety of issues on a regular basis. Michael began volunteering
at legal clinics, but now he dedicates every Wednesday to helping Immigration
Legal Services clients. He loves meeting and helping people, especially asylees
and refugees, and he enjoys working with the staff here.
Join our team!
We’re always looking for volunteers to work on events and projects throughout the year. If you’d like
to get involved or learn more, please contact our volunteer coordinator at: [email protected].
Please visit our website for current volunteer opportunities.
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WE ARE THANKFUL FOR
GRANT SUPPORT IN 2016
2016 FINANCES
Income
Foundations
283,620
Corporate 353,700
Individual Donations
332,232
Government Grants
304,175
Program Revenue & Earned Income
531,357
Total
1,805,084
Immigration Legal Services
Expenditures
Direct Services
1,330,572
Fundraising Activities
219,176
General and Administration
114,167
Total 1,663,916
Foundations 16%
Program Revenue &
Earned Income 29%
Corporations 20%
Arbella Insurance Foundation
Boston Bar Foundation
Bushrod H. Campbell and Adah
F. Hall Charity Fund
Eastern Bank Foundation
Equal Justice Works
George H. and Jane A. Mifflin
Memorial Fund
Irish Government Emigrant
Support Programme
Jacobson Family Foundation
Klarman Family Foundation
Liberty Mutual Foundation
Massachusetts Bar Foundation
Massachusetts Office for Refugees
and Immigrants
Mayor’s Office for Immigrant
Advancement
Sisters of Charity of Nazareth
The Boston Foundation
Webster Bank
Wellness Services
Irish Government Emigrant
Support Programme
Greater Boston Council on
Alcoholism
Fish Family Foundation
Education Services
Government Grants
17%
General & Administration 7%
Individual Donations
18%
Fundraising 13%
Programs 80%
BNY Mellon
City of Boston Office of
Workforce Development (CDBG)
Marvin and Betty Borman Foundation
Samuel Rubin Foundation
USCIS Citizenship & Integration
Grant Program
Learning Exchange Programs
Irish Government Emigrant
Support Programme
The American Ireland Fund
We’re also grateful for the generosity of
our individual donors, corporate partners,
and sponsors of our Solas Awards Gala
and Business Leaders Breakfast.
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Port na Fáilte - Boston’s Welcome Center
2016 Year in Review
Irish International Immigrant Center
One State Street, 8th Floor • Boston, MA 02109
617.542.7654 • www.iiicenter.org