2016 Connecticut institute for refugees and immigrants Gratitude Report Formerly the International Institute of Connecticut 2016 Gratitude Report
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OUR LEADERSHIP FROM OUR CEO I recently stood by the water’s edge at Cove Beach in Stamford. I thought back to a year ago, November 2016, when I stood in the same place, watching the sun reflect brilliantly on the Long Island Sound. I remember feeling a sense of hope and optimism. Much has changed since that day. Some weeks, change seems to be the only constant. Nonetheless, the sun shines ever so brightly still. A source of light in darkness, providing hope in adversity, is an apt metaphor for our work at the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants (formerly the International Institute of Connecticut). Our clients – who inspire us daily - our community, our staff, Board, and volunteers, are all sources of light and optimism. With your help, 2016 was a huge year for our organization. We consolidated our strengths and provided a strong foundation for an unexpectedly challenging 2017. In 2016, CIRI: Resettled a record 127 refugees, including refugees from Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea and Syria. Won a new, $586,162 three-year Department of Justice grant for Comprehensive Services for Victims of Human Trafficking. Hired uniquely accomplished managers with international experience to lead our Survivor Services and Economic Empowerment programs. Grew our Immigration Legal Services team and were awarded a license to deliver the Immigration Legal Services Resource Center 40-hour immigration law training. Co-hosted sold-out screenings of Salam Neighbor with the Fairfield Museum and the Fairfield Theater Company. Hosted a stunning and successful Dinner by the Sea, celebrating our many years of strengthening lives in Connecticut.
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At CIRI we are profoundly grateful for the tremendous support and increased stability you helped provide us in 2016. We are grateful to our communities across the state who support our work; to the individuals who are eloquent ambassadors for our mission; and to the hundreds of volunteers who teach and mentor, knit and drum, collect comforters and backpacks heavy with school supplies. Thank you for your unwavering support. Thank you for standing with refugees and immigrants. The sun shines brighter because we stand together. With gratitude,
Claudia Connor President & CEO
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FROM OUR BOARD CHAIR After many years of serving on the Board of Directors, I had the distinct honor of serving as Board Chair of the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants. I had the very good fortune of following Jane Norgren in that capacity and of preceding our current chairman, Jim Rulmyr. Moreover, I was part of a much larger team that includes Claudia Connor, our dedicated Board of Directors who bring diverse talents and backgrounds to our Board and who give countless hours to our agency, a staff that works tirelessly to promote CIRI’s mission and values while serving immigrants, refugees, and survivors of human trafficking and torture, and an expansive group of volunteers who devote a tremendous amount of time and energy to our work and who give so much of themselves to help our clients move forward with their lives. When my maternal grandparents first arrived in Bridgeport they came to IICONN, now CIRI, to find support and to learn how to speak English. After my grandmother passed away, I found her address book with the agency’s name and address carefully written in my grandmother’s elegant handwriting. When I walk through CIRI’s front doors and witness a waiting room crowded with clients waiting for an appointment, I have often thought about my grandparents and what it must have been like for them to arrive in the United States. How fortunate my grandparents were to have CIRI. We must continue to work hard to ensure that our agency is available to those who need us now and will need us in the future. I personally wish to thank everyone on our team who helps CIRI to do its work and achieve its mission. I look forward to our future as we plan our centennial celebration and move into our next century of empowering immigrants and refugees to thrive in Connecticut.
Barbara Green CIRI Board Member, Board Chair 2015-2017
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Ornellie, age 22, Congolese refugee. “I was born in the Congo, and lived there until my father was killed because of tribe issues. When I was 12, we were attacked. I was in my room and heard gunshots. I waited until there were no more noises. I found my dad’s dead body on the ground.” When Ornellie came out of the room, her siblings and her mother were gone. The rebels had kidnapped them. To this day, nearly ten years later, Ornellie has no idea what happened to her family. “We landed in a refugee camp in Zimbabwe, where we lived in the bush. That place was crazy. I knew nothing about poverty. I was sleeping on a bed at my home, but in the refugee camp we had to sleep on floor. Life was hard in refugee camp. To fetch water we had to go 2 miles, stand in a line from morning to afternoon. Just to get 2 liters of water to drink.” Ornellie came to the United States in January 2012. “I’ve been here for 5 years. When I came, IICONN got me into high school. It was hard. I didn’t speak English. They put me in 10th grade.” Ornellie graduated as an honors student in 2014. Today, she works full time, is enrolled at Housatonic, and is majoring in business.
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A SURVIVOR’S STORY Amaka and Winke met in 2003. They are from different ethnic groups in their home country of Nigeria. Winke’s family rejected Amaka and refused to allow Winke to marry Amaka. Their love prevailed, and they married in secret. When Amaka got pregnant, the couple went to a remote hospital out of fear of Winke’s father, a highly influential and well-connected person. Tragically, the hospital mismanaged the birth and the baby died three days later. When Winke’s father learned of the marriage, he flew into a blind rage, threatening Amaka’s life and that of her family. For years, the couple saw very little of Winke’s family, as his father denied Amaka’s existence. In 2008, Amaka became pregnant again. When Winke was in the capitol for work, his father came to their home with a group of young men. The men took Amaka against her will back to their village. In the village, Amaka was accused of having lost the first baby because she had not been circumcised. She was restrained by a group of women while one woman performed female genital circumcision on Amaka - while she was pregnant and without any anesthesia. Amaka survived this torment, and went on to give birth to a healthy baby. The physical harm and pain, however, were extreme, as was the emotional damage. Winke’s family continued to treat her like an outcast. Then in 2014, Winke’s father threatened to have the couple’s young daughter circumcised. Desperate to save their daughter from the torture that Amaka had endured, and acutely aware of the influence wielded by Winke’s father, the couple took their family and fled to the United States, where Winke had been doing graduate studies. Winke reflects: “We fled a life of promise and affluence. But we have peace and that means everything.” In the U.S., the couple was granted asylum. At last, they could secure gainful employment and start to build their lives in America. Yet, even after securing asylum, the couple had challenges. Amaka carries the burden of her trauma, of the self-worth stolen from her. The first few years in the U.S. she thought often about taking her own life. Amaka has a smile that lights up a room, yet underneath she suffered. And on Winke’s salary alone the couple struggled to make ends meet.
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Amaka was referred to CIRI’s Survivor Services Program, where she receives trauma-informed care, has access to psychosocial wellness programs and referrals for counseling. Through CIRI’s Economic Empowerment Program, she found an excellent job with a supportive employer and receives from CIRI ongoing support to ensure her success in the workplace. Today, Amaka and Winke work fulltime. Their three children are in school. The family is no longer on public assistance. Most importantly, they are safe and have hope for the future of their children. “In my country, I was always so scared. I could not sleep at night,” Amaka says. “Now, I feel safe. I sleep with my two eyes closed.”
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our BOARD OF DIRECTORS PROFILE: CAROLINE PECH LESLIE My husband, Jack Leslie, first inspired me to get involved with refugees when he spoke of his involvement with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and his trips to refugee camps in Kosovo, Pakistan and Africa. It was both stirring and disturbing to hear the heartbreaking stories of families suddenly forced to flee, and their arduous efforts to find safety in camps that would become their home for endless years. Often these camps had no formal schooling for children or jobs for the adults, leaving these families in limbo as they desperately tried to build a new future for themselves. My need to help was further reinforced as the Syrian refugee crisis escalated and the number of displaced people worldwide grew to over 65 million. When I learned of a local refugee resettlement agency in our own backyard, I saw this as an ideal opportunity to help make a difference on both a global and local level. Given my career spent in marketing, my first project was to help rebrand CIRI, formerly IICONN, and develop a communications plan to launch the new name. Working on a committee composed of a diverse team of professionals, we conducted primary research across core constituencies, created a competitive positioning statement, developed a name that better telegraphed the agency’s mission and secured pro bono work from one of the world’s largest advertising networks, McCann. In September of 2017, we successfully launched the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants (CIRI). Today, I am involved in a number of marketing and fundraising initiatives that mark CIRI’s Centennial year. I am constantly impressed with the expertise, passion and steadfast commitment of the CIRI senior management team, staff and board members. I have been lucky to meet a number of CIRI’s refugee, survivors of torture and immigrant clients, and I have witnessed firsthand the tremendous impact CIRI has made on their lives. Whether it was interacting with students from CIRI’s Beauty School and ESL classes, or experiencing a holiday party for our clients, I saw gratitude, hope and determination in their faces.
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2016 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Barbara F. Green, Esq., Chair Jane Norgren, Vice Chair James R. Rulmyr, Secretary Youssef Boutros, Treasurer Rafael Aparicio Kathleen Freis Gary Holmes Robert Maresca, Esq.
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Jeff Mayer Alex Meyerovich, Esq. Robert J. Smith III Caroline Pech Leslie Peter Penczer, Esq. George Paik Faith Fennelly Daniel Trust Richard Ryscavage, SJ
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OUR STAFF PROFILE: ELHASSAN AITELQADI I am the Workforce Readiness Coordinator and Matching Grant Case Manager at Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants (CIRI). Throughout the Economic Empowerment Program, we serve refugees, asylees, and Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) clients by providing intensive case management immediately upon enrollment to the federally funded Matching Grant early employment program. We ensure that services are provided in a planned, effective and timely manner to eligible clients. I lead CIRI’s Job Club, a four-part weekly workshop series through which we prepare our clients for the American workforce. During Job Club, we teach clients about different aspects of job readiness, including job search and interview skills, understanding the job application process, resume writing, banking and basic financial literacy. I came to CIRI initially as a volunteer interpreter. I am from Morocco and am fluent in Arabic and French. I still provide interpretation for our Arabic and French speaking clients. I got involved with CIRI as I wanted to help the vulnerable people we serve. It is very important to me to know that what I do makes a difference in other peoples’ lives. The main driving force that inspires me to work at CIRI are the dreams and the goals that I have in life. I love that each day is new and different and there is a new challenge and new people to work with. It makes me feel great that we are helping very vulnerable people. Lastly, I want to make my family proud and happy as a repayment for their unconditional love for me.
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2016 STAFF Aileen Abrams Doyin Adedapo Daniela Aguila Elhassan Aitelqadi Dima Akach Merari Antunez Judith Baez Souad Bechalany Samantha Bremer Caitlin Burke Deo Byakisaka Christina Castellani Claudia Connor Leonela Cruz
Oscar Cruz-Machado Ashley Darnley Daniel Dauplaise Ann DeJesus Helen Dekorne Stephanie Dieudonne Amanj Dze Kirill Elin Agnes Farkas Marisabel Fernandez Maria Garcia Carmen Goiricelaya Daniel Golenbock Raquel Goncalves
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Edward Greenwood Kelly-Ann Guy Noel Haddock Jennifer Hancock Laura Herrera Jane Himmel Adriana Jimenez Bonnie Kern Jonathan Kibwe Alicia Kinsman Thyda Korng N’sira Kourouma Ellen Messali Athanase Mwamba
Cecilia Orihuela Sue Pathammavong Phyllis Pierce Adriana P Podesta Heather Powell Evelyn Rios Donna Santos Susan Schnitzer Caroline Sennett Luke Sharples Eva Simon Jessica Suarez Amanuel Tefferi
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A YEAR IN REVIEW
THE NUMBERS
REFUGEE SERVICES Resettled clients from 9 different countries: Afghanistan Honduras Colombia Iraq DRC Syria Eritrea Rwanda Ethiopia Provided service to: 158 newly arrived refugees Approximately 50 refugees who arrived in previous years and were still in need of extended case management services 120 refugees were paired with 50 mentors through the targeted Refugee Mentor Program
SURVIVOR SERVICES 40 survivors of torture aided via Survivor Services 2 survivors won asylum cases 27 Beauty School sessions providing psychosocial wellness and community building
IMMIGRATION 3,105 new immigration cases opened by legal services 319 Lawful permanent residents guided through the citizen application process 465 Individual trainings conducted on “Know your rights” 19 principal clients approved for T-Visas for survivors of human trafficking
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ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT 80 clients were prepared for the American workforce, employment placement, and financial literacy
PROJECT RESCUE 45 victims of human trafficking from 18 different countries received case management services 819 people trained on human trafficking issues 34 unaccompanied minors provided home study care and support
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2016
financials 2016 REVENUE 47% Government & Related Grants
29% Professional Service Fees
6% Individual Contributions 18% Corporate & Foundation Grants
2016 EXPENSES 7% General & Administrative 13% Project Rescue
3% Fundraising 30% Immigration Services
1% Language Services
39% Refugee Services
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7% Survivor Services
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GRATITUDE
FOR OUR DONORS 0 - $99 Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Maria Arenas Association of Fundraising Professionals. Fairfield County Chapter Frances Baldwin Carol Ball Jon and Alice Bauer Sara Bedford Phyllis Bethel Stevan Bodiroga Samantha Bremer Eileen Buleza Letitia and Donald Burton Brandon Capuano Lisa Clarke Lucas Codognolla Jamie Collins Erica Colmenares Barbara Daley Marie Dallas Helen DeKorne Brooke Dojny Amy Dunstan Charlotte Dzujna Richard Earls Ellen Fertig Lily Fesler Synchrony Financial Janet Fisher Ashley Gaudiano Chris George Mary Goodbody Judy Green
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Carl Greppin Michael Gudricza Emily Hannah Optimus Healthcare Linda and Theodore Hoskins Bonnie Indeck Lisa Jacoby Marjolijn de Jager Renee Jarusinsky Laura Jones Jocelyn Keith Jenine M. Kelly Bonnie Kern Chanmaly and Bounnhon Khamhoung Alicia Kinsman Janice Kozlowski Tom Kreitler Bruce Kueffner Charlotte Lara-Russack Marianne and Kevin Lawlor Eileen Leo Hili and Mir Lewis Ava and David Little John Loprinzo Lorna Cynthia Mais Farah Martin Maureen Martinelli Katherine McKenzie Pamela Miakos Elaine Mintz Kevin Molinelli Caleb Oglesby
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gratitude • shukrani • la reconnaissance • gratitud • Jonathan Orell Ben Orell Josh Orell Gail Ostrow Richard Pancoast Tanya Parker John Pech Angela Pellegrino-Grant Donald Peterson Phyllis Pierce Micaela Porta Mathilde Poupee Mike Prescott Michael Prescott Pamela Quach Hal Reed Joan Rosenbaum Sam Rost Beth Royer Cynthia Russell Karen Sanger Ann and James Scarboro Marsha Jean Shendell Julian Silver Charles Spencer Meghan St. John Melanie Strout Sr. Rose Mary Sullivan David Thoman Elizabeth Torres Fairfield University Stacie Van Deusen Randy Vidal Ralph Vuolo Mark Warren Debra Wayne Joan Webster Eleanor Mary Weinstein Marilyn Wiegman Gregory Wildeman Steven Wisensalw Stephen and Heather Woodworth
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$100-$499 Rafael Aparicio Whitney Ball Jennifer Bangser Sue and Emile Bechalany Kay Bellor and Michael Myers G. Kenneth Bernhard Joel Bernor Michael Blair Raymond and Jo-Ann Burrows Liesbeth Carballo Bruce and Audrey Carlson Leonard Carr Laura and Alberto Casellas Gabrielle G. Chautin Lee Chautin Rosinne Chlala Ann Cohen Trinity College Donna Craft Laurie Curtin Virginia Dean Clayton DeKorne Sandra Dennies Diane and Steve Dicostanzo Nannette Dufour David Ellis Gay and Ray Empson Alison Estabrook Elizabeth Estridge Faith Fennelly Leslie Flinn Elizabeth Fox Rose H. Goldman Lisa Gonzalez Judith Green and Michael Blumenthal Bailey Haas Hope Hageman Charles and Susan Harris Leticia and James Hashem Christopher and Kimberly Heyn Sean Higgins Margaret and Wayne Hiller Fiona K. Hodgson Margery B. Irish Evelyn Isaia Gary Johnson Joanne and Lawrence Judd Christina Kazanas Marlene and John Kimberly
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• pasasalamat • lòng biet on • Jason Koulouras Janice Kozlowski and Jeffrey Alpert Carleen Gunther Kunkel Meghann LaFountain Ann Lathrop Sharon Lauer Mary Leigh Ruth and Robert Lesser Edwin Lewis Jaime and Martine Longhi Marie and Justin Maccarone Karen Macdonald Anna and Sean Mahon Julia Mally Daniel Marcus Eileen Marks Peter M. Marschalk *in honor of Lily Scheyhing Ric Meyer Lana and Alan Miller Melanie Miller* *in honor of Roger Miller and Gaye Sandler Adrienne Miller Troy A Miller John Moeling Amanda Montgomery Tanya Murphy New Haven International Festival of Arts & Ideas Yuvaneath and Tea Yin Norodom Ryan and Tom Odinak Raymond Oliver Orthopaedic Orthopaedic Surgery Associates, P.C. Gezahegne Chegano and Lailla Mudasir Osman Joan Panagos Krishna Patel David and Melissa Pearlstone Peter and Lynne Penczer Barbara Peterson Marianne Pollak Regina Priest Jill Quentzel Doug Rankin Antoinette Reed
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• gratidão • zahvalnost • mirënjohje • gratitude Irene Reynolds Beth Rhame Cristin and David Rich Katherine Roberts Sabino Rodriguez Abby Safirstein Peter Scheyhing Robert and Carol Semanchik Nancy Sheed Karen Sherman Noah Spaulding Jean Ames Sturges Jessica Suarez Jeffrey and Anna Kate Taylor Caroline Temple The Theodore P. and Bonnie M. Cohen Charitable Foundation, Inc.* *in honor of Anna Cohenuram Christel H. Truglia Daniel Trust Sara Van der Voort David Vita John Warburg James Whitcomb Jr. Laura Wilbur Melanie Wyler $500-$999 Andrew and Florence Lozyniak Foundation Anonymous Bigelow Tea Youssef Boutros Natalie and James Burston Claudia and Sam Connor Josh Empson Faith Congregational Church Jonathan and Karin Fraade Kathleen Freis and Ed Pirnik Thadd and Lyudmila Gnocchi Beth Kaufman Jurgen Link Darryl Manning Jill and Ralph Norgren Stephen and Suzanne Polmar Premier Accounting Group Gloria Silverstein The Bannow-Larson Foundation Inc. The Charlie and Georgia Adams Family Fund Valley United Way, Inc.
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gratitude • shukrani • la reconnaissance • gratitud • $1,000-$4,999 AGM Acquisitions Corp. John and Sally Bassler Motunrola Bolumole Keith Bremer Sandra Brown Diane and Kevin Connolly James M. Corgel Fairfield Rotary Club Foundation, Inc. First Congregational Church of Darien Andrea Goodman Patrick Gray* *in honor of Michael Fass Barbara Green and Jeffrey Orell Mary Halloran and James R. Rulmyr Lou and Nelson Heumann Gary and Meg Holmes Jewish Federation Association of Connecticut Karen Krupnik and Alexander Zaharoff Susan and Peter Lawrence Caroline Pech Leslie and Jack Leslie Ellen Levinson Lone Pine Foundation Inc. Brenda and Gerritt Lydecker Bob Maresca Esq. Jeff Mayer and Nancy Diamond Alex Meyerovich Barbara and William Murphy New Canaan Community Foundation Newman’s Own Foundation Norfield Congregational Church Jane Norgren George and Janice Paik Peter Penczer Esq. Pequot Family Foundation Phillip and Carla Reed Mike Rodriguez Select Equity Foundation Robert and Tanya Smith Monica Smyth and Michael Schlessinger Sound Cyclists Bicycle Club, Inc. Sherri Steeneck Stanley D. and Hinda N. Fisher Fund Timothy and Tracy Stuart The Fred R. & Hazel W. Carstensen Memorial Foundation Inc.
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The Greenfield Hill Congregational Church The Master’s School The United Illuminating Company Kimberly and Mark Tsocanos Unitarian Church of Westport United Way of Western Connecticut Lisa Walker $5,000-$9,999 City of Stamford CDBG Katherine Matthies Foundation Near & Far Aid Frances Rowland Sherry and Jonathan Schreiber Debbie and Alan Steckler The Claire L. Helsing Foundation The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven The Inner-City Foundation for Charity & Education $10,000-$24,999 General Electric People’s United Bank Pitney Bowes Foundation Robie and Scott Spector St. John’s Community Foundation Carl Zuanelli, Nuovo Pasta Productions LTD $25,000 and above Apple Picker’s Foundation Citi Community Development Gould Family Foundation Hartford Foundation for Public Giving The Jeniam Foundation Vincent J. Coates Foundation Virginia B. Squiers Foundation
*Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of these lists. If you feel that an error has been made, we apologize and ask that you call (203) 336-0141 so that we may correct our records.
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OUR TRANSITION
from iiconn to ciri
For 100 years, the International Institute of Connecticut has built a legacy of leadership, compassionate service and effective advocacy for immigrants, refugees and survivors of human trafficking and torture in Connecticut. Today, we continue this proud heritage under a new name: Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants. Our New Name celebrates a century of vital services that empower refugees and immigrants to thrive in Connecticut. Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants: Strengthens lives and Connecticut communities. Demonstrates resilience in meeting the evolving needs of generations of immigrants and refugees into Connecticut. Sustains an enduring presence in the community. We are a humanitarian organization that serves people from over 90 countries, each with an individual journey, and hope for a future filled with promise. The faces in our new logo look toward the future, as do we.
Learn more at www.cirict.org @CIRICT
Main Office: 670 Clinton Ave. Bridgeport, CT 06605 203-336-0141
/ConnecticutInstituteforRefugeesandImmigrants
Stamford Office: 34 Woodlawn Ave. Stamford, CT 06902 203-965-7190
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Burroughs Office: Hartford Office: 2470 Fairfield Ave. 175 Main St., 2nd Floor Bridgeport, CT Hartford, CT 06605 06106 860-692-3085 860-692-3085
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