International Institute of Boston
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The International Institute of Boston is a non-profit serving immigrants, refugees and asylees in the metro Boston area. There are affiliate branches in Lowell, MA and Manchester, NH.
The very first International Institute was founded by the YWCA in 1911 in New York, NY. The International Institute of Boston was founded in 1924. Today there are many International Institutes across the United States. All of them serve their immigrant populations, though the institutes are not necessarily related to each other.
The International Institute of Boston (IIB) is one of many non-profit government subcontractors. Refugees resettled by the US government, via the MA Office of Refugees and Immigrants, can be assigned to IIB.
Today, IIB has several departments, each serving a different need in the immigrant community. The Resettlement department helps new refugee families assigned to the Institute. Refugees are provided housing help, access to a food pantry, and given case managers to ease their transition. The Workforce Development department provides English language classes, job search and job readiness workshops, and job counselors to help clients find, maintain, and advance in their jobs. The Social Services department provides mental health services to clients who need help adjusting to their new lives in the US, especially those who may have experienced violence and torture in their home countries. The Legal department runs a clinic that is open to the public. They provide legal advice, help in filing immigration forms, and on a limited basis, representation for asylum seekers.
