Dear Friend,

As an organization that has for more than 30 years fought to advance equitable opportunities and protections for all, we are devastated today to see our country take such a monumental leap backward. Today’s decision to overturn 50 years of protections provided by Roe v. Wade is a shameful exercise of political power by the country’s highest court.

While states like Massachusetts have already codified Roe on the state level, in many other states, abortion is effectively banned as a result of today’s decision. History tells us that banning abortions doesn’t stop them from happening–it just makes them less safe.

These bans will have a disproportionate and discriminatory impact, further restricting access and worsening health outcomes for those already at a disadvantage because of systemic racism. And it will further criminalize people in those communities already disproportionately targeted by the criminal justice system. While this decision directly impacts people who can become pregnant, the implications for limiting individuals’ rights are potentially wide-reaching.

The Rian Immigrant Center stands in solidarity with those whose rights are under attack. We will stand shoulder to shoulder with all of our neighbors in the long fight ahead.

Welcome to our June Newsletter

Rian Hosts Ambassador Daniel Mulhall

This past Thursday, we were honored to host the Ambassador of Ireland, Daniel Mulhall, at our welcome center! We had a wonderful conversation about the impact of covid on the Irish immigrant community, as well as other immigration related issues.

MIC Celebrates Second Anniversary!

Earlier this month, the Massachusetts Immigrant Collaborative, of which Rian is a founding member and fiscal sponsor, celebrated our two year anniversary! Having successfully provided emergency cash, food, and vaccine access to more than 100,000 immigrants, the Collaborative is now launching a centralized and culturally competent immigration legal services support system.

Funded by the Klarman Family Foundation, the City of Boston Mayor's Office for Immigrant Advancement, and the Fish Family Foundation, all 15 partners in the Collaborative will be able to refer families to Rian, Agencia ALPHA, and the Mabel Center for Immigrant Justice, to provide legal services over the next two years. These services include legal outreach, free legal consultations, and attorney representation on immigration cases. Rian is excited to be a part of this project along with our partners.

We are pleased to announce that the Rian Immigrant Center’s 2022 Solas Awards Luncheon will take place on Thursday, October 6th at The State Room, 60 State Street. We hope you will join our event! Solas is the Irish word for light, and the Solas Awards are presented to inspirational individuals and beacons of light whose values resonate with Rian’s mission to create a society where ALL are welcomed, valued, and enjoy equal opportunities and protections.

Ron O'Hanley

It is our privilege to present State Street’s Chairman and CEO Ron O’Hanley with the 2022 Solas Business Leader Award in appreciation of his bold leadership, commitment to inclusion, and support for refugees, especially at a time of such global unrest.

Jules Latouche

We are proud to honor Jules Latouche as the 2022 Solas Courage Award Honoree. Jules, an immigrant from Haiti, has shown immense strength and resolution in overcoming systemic barriers while advocating for her medically-complex toddler. Today, she supports other immigrant parents who face similar institutional obstacles to accessing life-saving care for their children.

Lenita Reason

Chrystel Murrieta Ruiz

Finally, Rian is honored to present the 2022 Solas Community Leader Award to Lenita Reason, Executive Director of the Brazilian Worker Center, and Chrystel Murrieta Ruiz, Political Coordinator at SEIU Local 32BJ – New England District 615, for their unfaltering leadership in advancing the Work and Family Mobility Act as Co-Chairs of the Driving Families Forward Coalition. This bill will enable Massachusetts residents, regardless of immigration status, to apply for a standard state driver’s license.

Click here to learn more and/or register for Solas!

Expansion of Our Learning Exchange Program

Our Learning Exchange Program has been busy helping Irish university students and graduates obtain their J-1 visas, issuing 83 travel documents since January and supporting 36 exchange visitors currently in the US. We hope to sponsor 275 J-1 visas by the end of the year!

Ellie Carver

After the travel ban was lifted, Rian began rebuilding our LEP team. The first new hire was Ellie Carver, who joined the team in January as the new Director of Learning Exchange Programs. She is a passionate relationship builder and has spent most of her career in the nonprofit space focused on educational equity.

Jude Clark

The growth of our program since last November is due in large part to Jude Clarke, the Senior LEP Manager, who has been a part of the Rian Immigrant Center since February 2009. He has been a steadfast supporter of J-1 Exchange Visitors and their dreams. We are so grateful to Jude for keeping the J-1 program alive during the pandemic and shutdown.

Nora Grow

The next step of growth for Rian J-1 was hiring Nora Grow as the new Program Associate for the Learning Exchange Program. She is excited about assisting J-1 Exchange Visitors as they embark on an exciting moment in their lives. On the weekends, you can catch her at the skatepark or creating art.

Just this week, Adelina Harvey joined Rian Immigrant Center as the Manager of Internship Placements (see her photo in the new staff section!). We are excited to have her on the team and for the increased support we will be able to provide J-1s!

Are you a business interested in hosting a year-long J-1 graduate? Please complete this form; we would love to work with you!

Spring Semester Education Classes Finish & Virtual Potluck!

Congratulations to all of our students upon completion of the Spring semester!

This past week, one of our education classes did a virtual potluck with ESOL instructor, Erin Chubb. Students "brought" traditional dishes from their country to the class via a Google image. We had Ajiaco from Colombia, Moroccan Couscous, Sabzi Polow Mahi from Iran, Tom Tom from Haiti, and Poulet Dg from Cameroon, just to name a few. Students explained when they make it, what ingredients they use, how they make it, and who taught them how. This was such a fun way to get to know each other and share our diverse cultural backgrounds. We wish all of our Summer education students a wonderful semester!

Citizenship & Individual Achievement Program - Volunteer Expansion Highlight

Elena Ruiz, Cristina Aguilera Sandoval, and Ronnie Millar recently met with representatives from Arbella Insurance Group to review progress of the first year of our online learning project, and to plan how Arbella employees will become volunteer tutors and coaches on resume preparation, in addition to mock interview coaches. We are truly grateful to Arbella for all their partnership and support of our online learning, career, and citizenship programs.

As Boston's Welcome Center for immigrants and refugees, Arbella’s partnership has assisted hundreds of immigrants on the pathway from being welcomed as a newcomer to entering the workforce. Without their support during the pandemic, our students would not have the resources to transition so smoothly into online learning and career coaching.

Family Work & Mobility Act PASSED & SIGNED!

We join our friends and colleagues in celebrating a momentous victory for the residents of Massachusetts— the passage and signing of the Work and Family Mobility Act.

At Rian, we are proud to have supported the efforts to pass similar legislation for decades, and we congratulate immigrants, activists, and organizations whose years of hard work means MA residents will be able to pick their kids up from school, even if they were born somewhere else.

We especially want to congratulate and thank Lenita Reason, Chrystel Murrieta Ruiz, and everyone at Driving Families Forward Coalition for their incredible and tireless advocacy efforts to get this passed. We are proud to have joined in your leadership and in your work to fight for this victory. Also, please take a minute to thank the legislators who took the side of justice and fairness, and voted in favor of immigrants and public safety!

With the override vote, the Work and Family Mobility Act formally became a law. Starting July 2023, immigrants in our community will be able to apply for driver’s licenses at the RMV with the documentation from their country of origin.

De-stress and Decompress with Mindfulness and Art

On June 16th, the Resource & Support Services team hosted a workshop in collaboration with Lupita Castillo, Mindfulness & Art Facilitator. The interactive event took place virtually, where the audience got to experience some meditation with music, and learned about what happens to our brains during both creative and grounding activities.

The event also featured a flute solo performed by Sarah Bayer, the Director of Resources & Support Services. The flute itself is hand carved by a Native American artist of Nipmuc lineage from Eastern Woodland Trees. When played during the session, it provided beautiful background music for attendees to reflect on their own experiences, and explore the connection to ‘our roots,’ wherever they may be from.

Boston Unity Cup 2022

We wanted to make you aware of a really cool event happening again this year, after a 2-year break due to Covid, the Boston Unity Cup! The Boston Unity Cup is a city-wide adult soccer tournament celebrating Boston’s diverse immigrant communities around a shared passion for sport. Come and join in the fun by supporting your home country, or the team of your choice!

The Group Stage Games are happening from July 12-14 at Carter Fields, Boston, and the Tournament Weekend is taking place July 22-24 at Madison Park, Boston. You can find all the information here!

If anyone is interested in playing on the Ireland team, a few spots have opened up.

Please email [email protected] ASAP to sign up!

Welcome to Our New Staff Members!

Welcome to Rian's Summer Interns!

Spring Campaign

Our Spring Campaign is running until June 30th! Please support our Spring fundraising campaign so that we can continue to provide vital services for immigrants and refugees on the pathway to safety, stability, and success. We are very close to our goal of $75,000! By donating $5 or $10 today you can help us get there! Donate now!