International Institute Rhode Island

Providing high quality educational, legal and social services to immigrants and refugees throughout Rhode Island as well as a full range of interpreting and translating services and cultural training programs.

Join us for IIRI's 89th Annual Meeting

Monday, September 20, 2010 at 4:30 pm

A Celebration of our Newly Renovated Building

Special Greeting from Senator Jack Reed

Remarks from:

Ruth Lal Hmachhuani, Burmese Refugee
Ken Tota, Deputy Director, United States Office of Refugee Resettlement

Ceremony to honor IIRI’s Past Presidents

Recognition of Building Renovation volunteers

Open house and tours of our building facelift

New Computer Labs

Upgrades thanks to Senator Jack Reed and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, The Champlin Foundations and the City of Providence

Don't miss this kick-off to our 90th Anniversary and a year of celebration!

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Rhode Island Citizenship Consortium

Free Information Session on Naturalization

Saturday, September 25, 2010 from 10 a.m. -- 12 noon

St. Edwards Church, 58 Hancock St., Pawtucket, RI -- off Weeden St.

Join staff of the USCIS Providence Field Office to learn how to prepare to become a United States Citizen. A USCIS officer will be answering questions and addressing concerns. Educators from the Citizenship Consortium will be there providing information on where and when to study for the English and civics examinations as well. Complete event information in English or Español .

The RI Citizenship Consortium founded in 1996, has received a federal grant to help more permanent legal residents become U.S. Citizens. The Consortium includes five non-profit agencies-- Progreso Latino, Diocese of Providence, Genesis Center, IIRI, and RI Family Literacy Initiative – all with the organizational experience, skills, and language capacity necessary to serve a diverse population.

More information on the Consortium and how to access services here.

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Call for Volunteer Tax Preparers & Greeters!

Help low income community members by preparing income tax returns as part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA).

Volunteers will attend a 28 hour training program during fall 2010 and need to pass a basic tax preparer certification test. Tax preparers are needed Wednesday evenings and/or Saturday mornings beginning in mid January 2011 through mid April 2011. If you are organized, detail oriented and interested in working with a diverse clientele, this is the volunteer opportunity for you! We are also seeking bi-lingual Spanish/English speaking greeters for the same timeframe. For more information please contact Dale Halburian (or via phone at 784-8647.)

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Home Across Lands: a documentary film

Be inspired by the story of a group of Kumanan refugees from a refugee camp in Ethiopia and their complex journey to a new home here in Providence with the help of IIRI resettlement staff and volunteers.

Home Across Lands now available on DVD!

Purchase a DVD of the film or learn more about the movie. If you would like to have this one hour documentary shown at your organization, please contact Mary Ellen Lynch at melynch@iiri.org.

Watch the 7 minute trailer of Home Across Lands.

a Devlo Media/Visionwink Films co-production

IIRI in the News

08/15/10 International Program a Group Effort - Diversity Spotlight

06/27/10 Bad Breaks, Good People, A New Start

06/09/10 No End of Troubles: Fire Displaces Three Refugee Families

05/29/10 Bill Shuey Op-Ed on Proposed RI Immigration Legislation

03/14/10 RI Gets Ready for the Census

02/19/10 IIRI Students and Staff Raise Money for Haitian Disaster Relief

01/23/10 Legal Assistance for Haitians Available at IIRI

12/03/09 IIRI & Citizenship Consortium Get a Boost to Help Immigrants (NBC News video)

11/02/09 Church Leaders Urging Welcome of Immigrants