International Institute of Akron (IIA) will move its offices to the Summa - St. Thomas campus, at 20 Olive St., Suite 201, effective Oct. 1. Planning for the move has been under way for some time in response to the state of Ohio’s plan to reconfigure the intersection at the site of the Institute’s longstanding location on Tallmadge Avenue at Dayton Street. The nonprofit … [Read more...]
Akron, Summit County release Phase I of Welcome Plan to integrate new Americans
Today, Akron and Summit released the first phase of its Strategic Welcome Plan, the culmination of 16 months of work to help better integrate refugees and immigrants into the community. Leaders and local nonprofits hope this can help boost our economy and improve quality of life, as the plan calls for enhancing the public and private partnerships that serve resettled … [Read more...]
Music equipment donation drums up lively celebration for Akron’s Congolese refugees
No matter how far from home you may find yourself, one thing you’ll always have is your music. The group Congo to Akron, a band comprised of resettled Congolese musicians on North Hill, proves this to be true as the band began making music using plastic buckets. However, just in time for Congo’s Independence Day, Tommy Bruno, general manager of Akron radio station “The … [Read more...]
International Institute hosts Rep. Tim Ryan, publishes report on spending power, impact of refugees, immigrants
Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, paid a visit yesterday to International Institute of Akron, which was coordinated with a new report on Ohio Congressional District 13 that points to significant spending and voting power among foreign-born residents. The report points out that these residents also are critical to home ownership and the local workforce. During the visit, Ryan heard … [Read more...]
International Institute seeks tutors, conversation partners to help English learners
Refugees, immigrants and others can be tutored in the English language through the new Tutoring and Conversation program developed by the International Institute of Akron. This program allows participants to further their English speaking skills, learn about different cultures and help achieve self-sufficiency and success. Tutor and student pairs, or conversation partners, … [Read more...]
The price of freedom: a couple’s refugee journey from Iran to Akron (Guest Column)
Editor's note: After Kurosh and Jular converted to Christianity in Iran, they feared for their safety. When the pastor of their underground church was arrested, they decided to flee the country. Now the couple lives in Cuyahoga Falls and they both attend college: Kurosh wants to work in computer networking and Jular aspires to be a pharmacist. Below is an essay that Kurosh … [Read more...]
International Institute of Akron hosts Welcoming Week 2016
Events take place Sept. 16 through 25 Starting Sept. 16, the International Institute of Akron will celebrate Welcoming Week 2016. This annual series of events brings together immigrants and U.S.-born residents in a spirit of unity to raise awareness of the benefits of welcoming everyone – including new Americans. Last year, there were 245 events in over 80 … [Read more...]
Refugee employees prove profitable for local businesses
Many of Akron’s resettled refugees were restricted from working during their time in the camps. Now that they’ve resettled, they’re excited to enter the workforce and form a sense of identity and independence, says Tiffany Stacy, regional manager of employment services for the International Institute of Akron (IIA). “A lot of our clients come from situations where they were … [Read more...]
Inquiring Minds debate program boosts speaking skills for internationally born students
A number of Akron children for whom English is a second language will improve their critical thinking and public presentation skills thanks to a two-week speech and debate camp created by International Institute of Akron. The refugee and immigrant resettlement agency launched the pilot program for about 20 middle school students this summer, called Inquiring Minds. Funded by … [Read more...]
Path to citizenship can be rocky for refugees, immigrants
Naturalization offers sense of identity, purpose for residents -- As a detainee in a refugee camp, Hsathablay Moo had no sense of belonging, no notion of self. “It seems like you’re an alien,” she says. “As a refugee for 24 years, I’d been through a lot, so much struggle, so much trauma, so many hardships; the one thing that was missing from my life was my identity.” Once … [Read more...]
