The YWCA establishes the International Institute of Connecticut in Bridgeport to provide language and employment services to new immigrants.
1918
The International Institute of Connecticut (IICONN) becomes an independent organization.
1920s
Portuguese immigration peaks in 1920; thousands of Polish and Russian immigrants arrive in Connecticut, building dynamic and thriving communities.
1935
In the aftermath of the Vietnam War, IICONN assists thousands of Southeast Asian immigrants arriving in the US seeking political asylum.
1940s 1950s
IICONN resettles Italian, Hungarian, and other Eastern European immigrants and refugees in the Bridgeport area following World War II.
1970s
IICONN resettles thousands of refugees from Bosnia, Serbia, Croatia and Kosovo fleeing the conflict in the former Yugoslavia.
1986
1990s
IICONN provides legal services to thousands of immigrants pursuing a path to citizenship under the Immigration Reform and Control Act.
Following the 2017 launch of its new name, the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants (CIRI) celebrates a century of new beginnings in Connecticut.
2006
2018
At the urging of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, IICONN launches Project Rescue to provide legal and social services to survivors of human trafficking in Connecticut.