Welcome to our Autumn Newsletter! Our program staff have been busy supporting those we serve as well as expanding our programs & services.

Our annual Giving Tuesday campaign is TODAY!

Our goal is to raise $7,000 through peer fundraising and all

donations will be matched! Every dollar you give will make a positive impact on the lives of the immigrants and refugees we serve.

Donate NOW

Social Media Toolkit

Education Services | Fall ESOL Class Highlight

In September our educators and students launched into the Fall semester with 68 adult learners enrolled in our English classes. The students from 30 different countries!

Pictured to the right is one of our Fall ESOL students, Suriphan, who is celebrating the completion of her standardized test. According to her teacher, Erin Chubb, Suriphan was a pure joy to have in class! On the last day of classes, she sang a song to the class (pictured below) to share her gratitude and joy.

ESOL Student Suriphan

Individual Achievement Program

Right now were have 25 volunteers providing one-on-one tutoring that supports students on achieving short and long term career goals. Volunteers are helping craft resumes, prepare for job interviews, explore job training programs and more!

Does this sound like something that would interest you? We would love you to join us! Position details are here.

Learning Exchange Program | Reopening J-1 Visa Program

The Learning Exchange Department is excited to announce that the program has begun processing applications for the J-1 Irish Work & Travel visa! The program was paused due to COVID travel restrictions. The U.S. Travel ban has now lifted and the Embassy and Consulate in Ireland have resumed visa processing appointments. Our Director of Learning Exchange Visitor Partnerships, Jude Clarke, has been busy working with Irish universities and with Irish students & graduates to process their visa applications. We look forward to rebuilding the program & helping the applicants on their J-1 visa journey!

Want to host an intern? Is your business or company interested in hosting a J-1 intern or would you like to learn more about Rian’s J-1 program? Visit our website at rianj1.org

J-1 Website

Isabela's Journey | The importance of legal representation

Isabela recently arrived in the U.S. with her 3 year old son Alejandro. They were fleeing Isabela's ex-partner, a police officer in her country who was using his power and status to make it impossible for her to escape him. Isabela came to the US with the intention of applying for political asylum, but had no idea where to start. After being referred by Rosie's Place, a homeless shelter for women, Isabela met with Rian attorney Cristina Dacchille, who identified several upcoming deadlines and immigration appointments of which Isabela was unaware.

Fortunately, Rian was able to support Isabela in attending an appointment with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, preparing for an upcoming hearing with the immigration court, and changing her address with various immigration agencies. Had Rian not identified the hearing date for Isabela, an Immigration Judge would have ordered her removed. The services provided by the consulting attorney gave Isabela a chance to present her case to a judge.

Immigration Legal Services Team | Training Educators

In October, our Immigration Legal Services team provided training on best practices for supporting immigrant youth to almost 200 school staff including teachers, guidance counselors and social workers from schools throughout greater Boston! Done through a virtual training workshop, 91% of participants felt that the training was well organized, engaging, and useful to them as educators. Our ILS team is eager to continue these trainings to empower educators & school staff with supporting immigrant youth.

RESOURCE & SUPPORT SERVICES

Our Resource & Support Services team is centered on providing confidential, culturally competent, counseling, case management and support. Our social workers continue to provide therapeutic counseling via video and phone as well as case management services via phone and email for external and internal clients and students. We have three social workers who look forward to helping you on your journey! Learn more about the resource & support services we offer here. As always our services are free and no health insurance is required.

BEFORE AND AFTER: OUR WELCOME AREA AND A NEW PLAYROOM

We are thankful to a generous grant from the Cabot Family Charitable Trust that enabled us to redo our reception area and build a new play area for the kids who visit our office. We can't wait until it is safe for everyone to enjoy the new spaces.

BEFORE

AFTER

ADVOCACY AT RIAN

We continuously advocate for immigrant and refugee rights by providing services to the community, signing bills and petitions that support causes that match Rian's values, collaborating with other non-profit organizations, and sharing action items on social media.

We recently supported the following bills, petitions & social media campaigns:

Driver's License Bill
Safe Communities Act | Sign the letter
Rian Immigrant Center's statement regarding CBP abuse at Texas border | Letter
Restore Asylum Now | Letter to the Biden Administration
End Title 42 | Letter
REQUEST AND RECOMMENDATION FOR STRATEGIC USE OF TPS AND DED TO PROTECT AFGHAN NATIONALS | Letter
End the war on black immigrants | Letter
Letter to House Judiciary Committee Ahead of Markup | Letter
Defund Hate | Letter opposing CR funding for ICE & CBP
#StopSEAADeportation | SEARAC social media campaign
Welcome with dignity | Restore asylum campaign
No more deportations | Defend black migrants campaign

Thank you to everyone who attended our Solas Awards Celebration on November 9th. We reached our fundraising goal and we are incredibly thankful for all of our sponsors, donors & attendees!

If you missed our Solas Celebration, you can watch a recording of our 30 minute program by clicking on the video or going here

View a full list of our sponsors here