International Institute of Buffalo

06/21/2021

HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who joined us last weekend for our A Walk in Their Words meet up at Five Points Bakery!

You can still listen to the 18 refugee stories from around NYS while supporting our services by registering at www.awalkintheirwords.org/register

HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who joined us last weekend for our A Walk in Their Words meet up at Five Points Bakery!

You can still listen to the 18 refugee stories from around NYS while supporting our services by registering at www.awalkintheirwords.org/register

06/21/2021

The WNY 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge - United Way of Buffalo and Erie County

We are so proud to have been a community partner for United Way of Buffalo & Erie County's 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge!

Join us in taking this challenge as we learn how to build a more equitable Erie County!

Learn more and register here:

United Way brings people, organizations, and resources together to create systemic change.

06/20/2021

Happy Father's day to all, especially the survivor and refugee fathers who risk everything for their families.

Today we're highlighting one of our caseworkers Kham's father, Gin Khen Pau, a refugee from Burma who spent almost 10 years working to bring his family back together in Buffalo. Since then, Gin has spent his life seeking safety and opportunity for all of his children.

Kham, a recent graduate of Buff State, with a Masters in Public Administration and Nonprofit Management and a Case Manager at the Institute says, "My dad is the most entertaining person and very calm."

This father's day consider donating to our services, the same ones that resettled Gin and countless other fathers who take tremendous risks and work tirelessly for a better future for their family.

You can also listen to Kham and Gin's and Kham's mother, Cin, tell their refugee story by registering for A Walk in their Words: awalkintheirwords.org/register

Happy Father's day to all, especially the survivor and refugee fathers who risk everything for their families.

Today we're highlighting one of our caseworkers Kham's father, Gin Khen Pau, a refugee from Burma who spent almost 10 years working to bring his family back together in Buffalo. Since then, Gin has spent his life seeking safety and opportunity for all of his children.

Kham, a recent graduate of Buff State, with a Masters in Public Administration and Nonprofit Management and a Case Manager at the Institute says, "My dad is the most entertaining person and very calm."

This father's day consider donating to our services, the same ones that resettled Gin and countless other fathers who take tremendous risks and work tirelessly for a better future for their family.

You can also listen to Kham and Gin's and Kham's mother, Cin, tell their refugee story by registering for A Walk in their Words: awalkintheirwords.org/register

06/18/2021

Join us for our A Walk In Their Words celebration TOMORROW at Five Points Bakery and get a FREE coffee (registrants only).

For a minimum donation of $30 you can access these resilient stories and learn more about our refugee neighbors! Find our premade routes here: https://iibuffalo.org/awitw/

Register today and make sure to choose IIB as your recipient organization for the donation! https://www.awalkintheirwords.org/register

Join us for our A Walk In Their Words celebration TOMORROW at Five Points Bakery and get a FREE coffee (registrants only).

For a minimum donation of $30 you can access these resilient stories and learn more about our refugee neighbors! Find our premade routes here: https://iibuffalo.org/awitw/

Register today and make sure to choose IIB as your recipient organization for the donation! https://www.awalkintheirwords.org/register

06/18/2021

The International Institute will be closed today to recognize the federal holiday of Juneteenth, tomorrow on June 19th, which is a day that celebrates the emancipation of African-Americans who had been enslaved in the United States.

The history of Juneteenth and the implication of what true freedom means is a complex and developing issue. We celebrate Juneteenth as a symbol of hope and progression, with a recognition that so much more has to be done to reach equity in our country.

You can learn more about the full history of Juneteenth by listening to Lettie Shumate, a black historian, who explains the events leading up Juneteenth, the misunderstandings, and how it relates to current day: https://buff.ly/3q0pI9i

To commemorate the holiday, please consider donating to our Survivor Support program, where 30% of our clients are Black Americans healing from domestic violence or human trafficking.

The International Institute will be closed today to recognize the federal holiday of Juneteenth, tomorrow on June 19th, which is a day that celebrates the emancipation of African-Americans who had been enslaved in the United States.

The history of Juneteenth and the implication of what true freedom means is a complex and developing issue. We celebrate Juneteenth as a symbol of hope and progression, with a recognition that so much more has to be done to reach equity in our country.

You can learn more about the full history of Juneteenth by listening to Lettie Shumate, a black historian, who explains the events leading up Juneteenth, the misunderstandings, and how it relates to current day: https://buff.ly/3q0pI9i

To commemorate the holiday, please consider donating to our Survivor Support program, where 30% of our clients are Black Americans healing from domestic violence or human trafficking.

06/17/2021

Support needed to offset trauma of displaced students

"The trauma of displacement may negatively affect the physical, mental and emotional health of both students and educators, UB research has found.

The researchers recommend that schools implement alternatives to standardized tests for resettled students to graduate, develop new policies to confront gender-based violence and sexual trauma, provide support to school staff to prevent educator burnout, and increase multilingual and mental health support staff."

The trauma that refugees face on their journey does not disappear once they reach their destination. Schools can be an outlet and resource for refugee students working through trauma, but these services cannot work if they are not accessible; meaning they must be multilingual and they must be thoughtful in the way that they help refugee students-- full article below!

UB researchers suggest portfolio assessments as an alternative to standardized tests for resettled students to graduate.

06/17/2021

Last year brought an intense upset to refugee resettlement, from the damage caused by the prior administration to the resettlement system, to the limitations of the pandemic, we could not resettle any individuals and countless cases were left unheard, countless families left separated.

We are beyond grateful to announce that the tide has turned, and we are finally receiving families again. Currently, we have a young woman and another small family reunifying with their family members who were settled through the institute a few years ago. Both of these cases were approved last year, then put on hold; forcing the families to go another year without seeing each other.

Now the families can finally be together again, and not have to worry about the safety and journey of half their loved ones. We want these families to worry less about furnishing homes and stocking cleaning supplies, and more about catching up and feeling secure in their family unit!
However, with the long year of no arrivals, our stockpile of certain donations is very low and everything we can't get donated will have to come out of the family's limited budget. Can you help us prepare for the numerous cases like these we have on the horizon? Anything you donate off our Amazon Wishlist from mops to fans to clocks helps each family tremendously: https://a.co/flW60gh

*Please fill out your name on the Amazon site in order to receive a specialized thank you from the Institute!

Last year brought an intense upset to refugee resettlement, from the damage caused by the prior administration to the resettlement system, to the limitations of the pandemic, we could not resettle any individuals and countless cases were left unheard, countless families left separated.

We are beyond grateful to announce that the tide has turned, and we are finally receiving families again. Currently, we have a young woman and another small family reunifying with their family members who were settled through the institute a few years ago. Both of these cases were approved last year, then put on hold; forcing the families to go another year without seeing each other.

Now the families can finally be together again, and not have to worry about the safety and journey of half their loved ones. We want these families to worry less about furnishing homes and stocking cleaning supplies, and more about catching up and feeling secure in their family unit!
However, with the long year of no arrivals, our stockpile of certain donations is very low and everything we can't get donated will have to come out of the family's limited budget. Can you help us prepare for the numerous cases like these we have on the horizon? Anything you donate off our Amazon Wishlist from mops to fans to clocks helps each family tremendously: https://a.co/flW60gh

*Please fill out your name on the Amazon site in order to receive a specialized thank you from the Institute!

06/16/2021

We are hiring a Director of Programs!

The Director of Programs (DOP) will collaborate with the Executive Director, Finance Director, and Development/Communications Director to ensure alignment with mission in all programs throughout the International Institute, as well as the achievement of the Institute’s strategic goals.

Find more information and apply here: https://iibuffalo.org/careers/

We are hiring a Director of Programs!

The Director of Programs (DOP) will collaborate with the Executive Director, Finance Director, and Development/Communications Director to ensure alignment with mission in all programs throughout the International Institute, as well as the achievement of the Institute’s strategic goals.

Find more information and apply here: https://iibuffalo.org/careers/

06/15/2021

“Transnational human smuggling and trafficking networks pose a serious criminal threat. These networks not only seek to profit from the exploitation of migrants, but also routinely expose them to violence, injury, and even death,” Attorney General Merrick Garland wrote in a memo to U.S. attorneys on Monday.

Since October of last year, DHS has rescued more than 4,000 migrants at the southwest border who were abandoned by smugglers."

The new Joint Task Force will work to lower these numbers and hold dangerous smugglers accountable, in an attempt to protect those who are manipulated by them. While the task force is a start, it is not a full solution. Individuals will continue to rely on smuggling and other dangerous tactics to cross the border in desperation until we create a functioning and humane system of immigration.

“Transnational human smuggling and trafficking networks pose a serious criminal threat. These networks not only seek to profit from the exploitation of migrants, but also routinely expose them to violence, injury, and even death,” Attorney General Merrick Garland wrote in a memo to U.S. attorneys on Monday.

Since October of last year, DHS has rescued more than 4,000 migrants at the southwest border who were abandoned by smugglers."

The new Joint Task Force will work to lower these numbers and hold dangerous smugglers accountable, in an attempt to protect those who are manipulated by them. While the task force is a start, it is not a full solution. Individuals will continue to rely on smuggling and other dangerous tactics to cross the border in desperation until we create a functioning and humane system of immigration.

06/15/2021

We are ecstatic to announce that the Institute is growing! Due to additional grant funding and programming awards, as well as a marked increase in refugee arrivals, The International Institute of Buffalo has several immediate positions available covering different program areas!

Visit iibuffalo.org/careers to learn more information and apply!

Please note: qualified applications from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply, in particular those from the New American Community.

We are ecstatic to announce that the Institute is growing! Due to additional grant funding and programming awards, as well as a marked increase in refugee arrivals, The International Institute of Buffalo has several immediate positions available covering different program areas!

Visit iibuffalo.org/careers to learn more information and apply!

Please note: qualified applications from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply, in particular those from the New American Community.

06/14/2021

We are beyond excited to welcome an Afghani family of four to Buffalo THIS WEEK!

This family, a husband and wife, have a three-year-old daughter and six-year-old son, who have already been braver than any child should have to be, cannot wait to start school in Buffalo and work on their English skills!

The process of refugee resettlement is difficult and boggled down with endless amounts of paperwork, interviews, and procedures. However, when a family is approved everything moves fairly quickly, meaning we often don't have much time to prepare the apartment for our family!

Anything you donate off of our Amazon Wishlist goes DIRECTLY to making these families feel comfortable and welcomed as they arrive to our city. And everything we cannot get donated must come out of the family's limited budget, meaning they will have less to spend on groceries, bus passes, and other necessities. You can find our Amazon list here: https://buff.ly/31BJJqV

We are beyond excited to welcome an Afghani family of four to Buffalo THIS WEEK!

This family, a husband and wife, have a three-year-old daughter and six-year-old son, who have already been braver than any child should have to be, cannot wait to start school in Buffalo and work on their English skills!

The process of refugee resettlement is difficult and boggled down with endless amounts of paperwork, interviews, and procedures. However, when a family is approved everything moves fairly quickly, meaning we often don't have much time to prepare the apartment for our family!

Anything you donate off of our Amazon Wishlist goes DIRECTLY to making these families feel comfortable and welcomed as they arrive to our city. And everything we cannot get donated must come out of the family's limited budget, meaning they will have less to spend on groceries, bus passes, and other necessities. You can find our Amazon list here: https://buff.ly/31BJJqV

06/14/2021

A Walk in their Words stories are LIVE!

Register now to listen to 18 refugee stories, from Chobani Founder and CEO, Hamdi to one of our case workers at the Institute, learn more about our refugee neighbors while supporting the services that uplift them!

Register here: www.awalkintheirwords.org/register

A Walk in their Words stories are LIVE!

Register now to listen to 18 refugee stories, from Chobani Founder and CEO, Hamdi to one of our case workers at the Institute, learn more about our refugee neighbors while supporting the services that uplift them!

Register here: www.awalkintheirwords.org/register

06/13/2021

Registration for A Walk in their Words is open!

For a minimum donation of $30 you can access these resilient stories and learn more about our refugee neighbors!

Everyone who raises $30 or more will get a free Institute water bottle and if you donate $50 or more you’ll get an Institute Swag Bag. Sign up as an individual or a team: https://www.awalkintheirwords.org/register

Registration for A Walk in their Words is open!

For a minimum donation of $30 you can access these resilient stories and learn more about our refugee neighbors!

Everyone who raises $30 or more will get a free Institute water bottle and if you donate $50 or more you’ll get an Institute Swag Bag. Sign up as an individual or a team: https://www.awalkintheirwords.org/register

06/12/2021

Buffalo Neighbors:
We need your help. We are expecting many arrivals this summer. We already have arrivals for the month of June and we are in need of safe and affordable housing.

We are looking for rentals in the city, Riverside, Cheektowaga, Kenmore , and other areas accessible by bus.

The Institute works with our clients on home care and maintenance, we pay security deposit and 1st and sometimes second month rent through a federal program, and we work with our clients on finding employment and setting up bank accounts and doing personal budgeting,

If you know of any rental properties (specifically 2-4 bedrooms) with rent that is under between 650 - 850 per month, please email [email protected].

Buffalo Neighbors:
We need your help. We are expecting many arrivals this summer. We already have arrivals for the month of June and we are in need of safe and affordable housing.

We are looking for rentals in the city, Riverside, Cheektowaga, Kenmore , and other areas accessible by bus.

The Institute works with our clients on home care and maintenance, we pay security deposit and 1st and sometimes second month rent through a federal program, and we work with our clients on finding employment and setting up bank accounts and doing personal budgeting,

If you know of any rental properties (specifically 2-4 bedrooms) with rent that is under between 650 - 850 per month, please email [email protected].