May at IIA: Community Stories, Cultural Celebration, and Continued Advocacy

Thank you for staying connected with the International Institute of Akron. Your continued support helps ensure that immigrant and refugee families in our community have access to the resources, care, and opportunities they deserve.

This month, we’re sharing updates on our community impact, important news, cultural celebrations, and ways to stay engaged.

 

Finding Home, Then and Now

What does it mean to arrive in a new country and build a life that shapes generations?

Our latest blog shares the story of Jon Antalvari’s family, who arrived in Akron as Hungarian refugees in 1957 carrying only a few belongings and an uncertain future. Through resilience, hard work, and community support, they built a life rooted in hope and opportunity.

Their story reflects the experiences of many immigrant and refugee families, both past and present, and reminds us that welcoming communities can shape lives for generations to come.

Read the full story here: Finding Home, Then and Now: Jon Antalvari’s Story — IIA

Celebrating Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of AAPI communities across the United States.

This month, we invite you to explore educational resources that highlight AAPI voices, experiences, and stories while encouraging deeper understanding and learning. You can find these resources below and on our resource page: Self-Education — IIA 

Educational Resources:

Mental Health Awareness Month

Mental health challenges in immigrant communities are often shaped by stigma, cultural barriers, limited access to care, and the lasting effects of displacement and isolation. Creating stronger, more informed, and more compassionate communities starts with education and open conversation.

For Mental Health Awareness Month, we've included resources, tools, and opportunities for self-education on our Resources Page. You can also find these resources below.

 

In the News

Recent immigration news continues to highlight the uncertainty many immigrant and refugee families are facing nationwide.

As policies continue to evolve, IIA remains committed to providing accurate information, legal guidance, and support to the individuals and families we serve.

How to Get Involved 

Support Our Work
Your support helps IIA continue providing immigration legal services, employment support, education programs, and family assistance during uncertain times.

Donate Here

Donate 
We are currently in need of the hygiene and household products listed below.

  • Toothpaste

  • Toothbrushes

  • Shampoo

  • Hand soap

  • Bar soap

  • Deodorant (men’s and women’s)

  • Dish soap and sponges

  • Trash bags

get involved here

Advocate
Stay informed about legislation and policies impacting immigrant communities, including Ohio Senate Bill 172 and other immigration-related developments. Sharing accurate information and raising your voice can make a meaningful difference.

Learn more here

Thank you for staying connected with the International Institute of Akron and for supporting immigrant and refugee families in our community. Together, we continue building a more welcoming and informed Northeast Ohio.

Finding Home, Then and Now: Jon Antalvari’s Story

In 1957, a young family arrived in Akron by train, carrying two small bags and an uncertain future, beginning a journey that would shape generations.

Jon Antalvari was born in 1955 in a small town in western Hungary, where his family had lived for generations and where his father, Paul, worked demanding, dangerous jobs building scaffolding in coal mines to keep tunnels from collapsing. Years earlier, his father had been conscripted during World War II, captured by Soviet forces, and held as a prisoner of war before eventually escaping and making his way back, where he would marry his wife, Mary, and go on to have Jon and his older brother Art.  

In 1956, after Jon’s uncle joined the Hungarian Revolution, Soviet forces crushed the uprising and put the family at risk. Like many others involved in the resistance, Jon’s family fled Hungary to seek safety in a new country.

Their journey took them through Austria and Germany before they boarded a ship bound for the United States. They eventually arrived in New York and processed at Camp Kilmer in New Jersey. From there, everything depended on whether someone would help them start over. Thankfully, a relative in Akron sponsored them, giving them a destination and an opportunity for a new home.

When they arrived, they had very little beyond a couple of bags and clothing provided by the Red Cross, and like so many families, they had to build everything from scratch. Jon’s father found work as a butcher, while his mother took jobs as a housekeeper and as a floor cleaner in downtown Akron. With the help of the International Institute of Akron, they began the slow, often difficult process of learning English, finding stable housing, and adjusting to a new life. It wasn’t without challenges; Jon even remembers the prejudice they faced, but over time, through long hours and careful persistence, things began to take shape. They moved from uncertainty to stability, eventually renting an apartment and later purchasing a small home.

Antalvari family at their U.S. citizenship oath ceremony on January 24, 1963.
Pictured left to right: Mary Antalvari, Art Antalvari, Paul Antalvari, and Jon Antalvari.

Jon grew up in Akron, attending local schools and later the University of Akron, where he worked his way through college with jobs at Akron General before building a career in sales and eventually retiring as a project manager. Today, he lives with his wife and three donkeys on a small farm, a life that reflects the kind of stability his parents once could only hope for.

Jon with International Institute of Akron Executive Director Madhu Sharma, alongside one of Jon’s beloved donkeys.

Still, what stands out most about Jon’s story is not only what his family built, but how he has chosen to carry it forward. For more than twenty years, he has supported the International Institute of Akron, the same organization that helped his family find their footing when they arrived with almost nothing. Recently, when policy changes threatened food access for refugee families, Jon once again stepped in, providing groceries and gift cards to meet immediate needs and continuing a quiet but consistent commitment to giving back.

For Jon, that commitment isn’t abstract, but comes from lived experience, knowing what it means to arrive in a new place without certainty, and understanding how much early support can shape what comes next.

While his story began nearly seventy years ago, it is not just a reflection of the past. The details may look different today, but the experience remains familiar, as families continue to arrive seeking safety, work-demanding jobs, learn new languages, and slowly build lives that offer more stability for the next generation.

Jon’s story reminds us that resettlement doesn’t end when someone arrives in their new community; instead, it continues over time, built through steady support, small opportunities, and the consistency that can change a life’s course.

If you want to support Akron’s next generation of immigrants, please donate. Your help gives families like Jon’s a chance to build a true sense of home.

Support IIA Here

March at IIA: Community Impact, Cultural Celebrations, and Continued Advocacy

Thank you for staying connected with the International Institute of Akron. Your continued support helps ensure that immigrant and refugee families in our community have access to the resources, care, and opportunities they deserve.

This month, we’re sharing updates on our community impact, important news, cultural celebrations, and ways to stay engaged.

Learn more

Thank You to Akron Community Foundation

We extend our sincere gratitude to Akron Community Foundation for their generous support through the Summit County Opioid Healing Fund and general operating funds.

Because of this investment, IIA can continue expanding substance use prevention efforts and providing vital, culturally responsive support to immigrant and refugee families across our community.

IIA Food Pantry Impact

From November 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026, IIA’s emergency food pantry served 922 individuals across 201 families.

This effort was made possible by the incredible support of our community and was created in response to the sudden loss of SNAP benefits for many immigrant and refugee households.

As we begin to wind down pantry operations, our case managers have been working closely with families to ensure continued food security by connecting them with local food banks and community resources. Families have also been referred to additional IIA services, including employment support and English language learning, to help address ongoing needs.

If you would still like to support families during times of emergency, we will continue accepting grocery store gift cards.

Learn more

In the News

Recent reporting highlights ongoing legal challenges surrounding birthright citizenship. The Supreme Court appears inclined to rule against efforts to limit this constitutional right. IIA will update as we hear more. 

Read more: NPR – Supreme Court majority seems inclined to rule against Trump on birthright citizenship

Celebrating International Women’s Day, Eid, and Nowruz
March was a month of meaningful celebrations both here in Akron and around the world.

International Women’s Day (March 8)
This global day recognizes the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, while also serving as a call to action for gender equality.

At IIA, we celebrated the incredible women who strengthen our organization and community every day through their leadership, resilience, and care.

Learn more: PBS News – International Women’s Day

Eid al Fitr (March 20)
Marking the end of Ramadan, Eid is a time of joy, reflection, and community. After a month of fasting, Muslim families gather to celebrate with food, prayer, and connection.

Learn more: What is Eid al Fitr? 

Nowruz (March 21)
Observed the day after Eid this year, Nowruz marks the Persian New Year and the arrival of spring. This 3,000-year-old celebration emphasizes renewal, hope, and new beginnings, and is celebrated by over 300 million people worldwide.

Learn more: Nowruz – Persian New Year (History Channel)

Bonus video: Nowruz traditions and celebrations

Updated Resources Page

Our resources page continues to grow with advocacy updates, Know Your Rights information, and educational content.

We’ve also added a curated list of movies, documentaries, and TV shows that explore the immigrant experience.

Highlights include:

  • Minari (2020) – A Korean American family pursues their version of the American Dream in rural Arkansas

  • Mo (2022 to 2025) – A comedy drama following a Palestinian refugee navigating life in Houston

  • Living Undocumented (2019) – A docuseries sharing the realities faced by undocumented families in the United States

You’ll also find recommended books, articles, and podcasts for deeper learning.

Resources page

Anniversary of the Refugee Act of 1980

This month marks the 46th anniversary of the Refugee Act of 1980, a landmark law that established a more humane and consistent system for refugee resettlement in the United States.

This legislation was shaped in part by the experiences of Vietnamese families displaced after the Vietnam War, whose journeys underscored the urgent need for protection and dignity.

Today, we reflect on that legacy at a time when refugee resettlement is facing significant strain. Over the past year, federal actions have:

  • Paused new refugee arrivals

  • Canceled travel for individuals already approved

  • Restricted eligibility for resettlement

  • Dramatically lowered the annual admissions ceiling

As a result, thousands of refugees remain in limbo, including families separated by sudden travel cancellations and individuals stranded despite years of vetting.

Resettlement agencies across the country have also faced severe funding disruptions, limiting their ability to support newly arrived families.

As we honor this anniversary, we are reminded that the need for safety, dignity, and welcome remains as urgent today as ever.

Learn more

We’re Hiring: Contract Interpreters

IIA is currently seeking contract interpreters to support our growing community.

If you are multilingual and passionate about helping others access critical services, we encourage you to apply.

Learn more: Join Our Team — IIA

How to Get Involved

Donate
Support IIA programs that help immigrants navigate legal, employment, and educational challenges during uncertain times.

Donate Here

Grocery Gift Cards
Help families facing food insecurity by donating grocery gift cards or items from IIA’s donation list.

Learn More

Advocate

Stay informed about SB172 and other policies impacting immigrant communities. Sharing accurate information and raising your voice makes a difference.

Advocate

With Gratitude

We extend our deepest thanks to the greater Akron and Summit County community.

Whether you are a donor, volunteer, partner, advocate, or someone who takes the time to stay informed, your support matters more than you may realize.

We are here because you are here, and we are deeply grateful.