Welcome to the International Institute of Akron July Newsletter! These past four weeks have gone by in a flash, and we’re excited to reflect on what IIA staff, volunteers, and clients have been up to this month.
On June 27th, the Akron community lost Jayland Walter due to a fatal police shooting. IIA Executive Director, Madhu Sharma, released a statement following Jayland’s death, which can be found on our blog or in the image below.
Volunteer Spotlight!
This month, we wanted to give the spotlight to an outstanding IIA volunteer, Kim Burkins. Communications Intern Jamie Brian took the time to interview Kim and learn about her work at IIA.
Kim has been a dedicated volunteer at IIA for four years after recently retiring. She began working as an assistant with Mahananda, one of IIA’s ESL teachers. Kim stated that she had never taught before, but she would learn from Mahananda and watch him closely until she was eventually asked to teach her ESL class. For Kim, the most rewarding part of volunteering at IIA is interacting with students from different backgrounds and hearing how helpful ESL classes are.
To learn more about Kim and her fantastic work at IIA, check out our latest blog post, Volunteer Spotlight: Kim Burkins.
Earlier this month, The Safe Mobility Project partnered with IIA to provide free car seats to refugee families with young children. The Safe Mobility Project works in collaboration with Akron Children’s Hospital and the Goodyear Foundation to ensure the safety of children in Akron.
Thank you, Safe Mobility Project, for your continued support!
Another great community effort in July came from Stow-Munroe Falls High School!
The Bulldogs Taking Action Club collected various office supplies, such as envelopes, stamps, pens, paper pads, calculators, and more, all packaged for distribution to refugees in our community.
Thanks to all the Bulldogs Taking Action Club students for coordinating this fantastic initiative!
Cultural Orientation
IIA hosts Cultural Orientation every couple of months for newly arrived refugees in Akron. In Cultural Orientation, IIA staff gives presentations on subjects that will assist refugees in integrating into their new community. Some topics covered include how to use public transportation, what to do in the case of an emergency, the importance of learning English, and how to navigate public benefit programs.
Cultural Orientation is an excellent opportunity to show newly arrived refugees that Akron is home and they are welcomed here.
Ukraine Updates
On April 25th, 2022, the Biden administration launched Uniting for Ukraine, a program that allows U.S.-based individuals and organizations to sponsor a Ukrainian individual or family in the United States. Once approved, Ukrainians through the program will receive humanitarian parole for two years and be eligible for work authorization in the U.S.
Once in the United States, Ukrainian Paroles will be eligible for both Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) benefits and federal mainstream benefits, such as TANF, Medicaid, and SNAP. ORR benefits include employment assistance, immigration-related legal assistance, refugee cash assistance, refugee medical assistance, and other specialized programs.
To learn more about the Uniting for Ukraine program and how to become a sponsor, check out our blog post, Information on Uniting for Ukraine Program and Temporary Protected Status for Ukraine.
The International Institute of Akron is ready to welcome and offer services to Ukrainians forced to flee their homes due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
IIA is Hiring!
IIA is incredibly excited to expand our team as we are currently hiring for multiple positions!
Click on any of the positions below for more information on applying.
· Immigration Legal Services Staff Attorney
· Interpreter – Dari, Farsi, Pashto, French, Urdu, Hindi, Kinyarwanda, or Swahili
Get involved at IIA!
Looking for ways to get involved with IIA or the refugee and immigrant community? Check out a few suggestions below!
Donate! Stay up-to-date on IIA donation needs on our website at www.iiakron.org/donation-room. We also post updates on our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Volunteer! Since IIA is a small non-profit, we often get more interest in volunteering than we have opportunities for. However, if you choose to apply online, we will keep your application and let you know if a future opportunity arises! Send in your application at www.iiakron.org/volunteer.
Keep Learning! Learning about refugees and their experiences is a great way to stay involved. You can read a new book, watch a documentary, or follow IIA on social media for more suggestions on educational materials!
· Facebook – @InternationalInstituteofAkron
· Twitter – @iiakron
· Instagram - @ii_akron
Thanks for staying up to date on everything IIA, and we look forward to sharing more information soon!