International Institute of RI

Our mission is to enable all area residents, especially immigrants and refugees, to become self-reliant, invested participants in our communities, while fostering respect and understanding among all people.

Description:
For eighty-five years, the International Institute Rhode Island has served as a full-service immigration and referral center providing educational, legal, and social services to immigrants and refugees throughout Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. Every year, over 5,000 clients are served.

The Feinstein Center for Citizenship & Immigration Services
In-house US Department of Justice accredited caseworkers and on-staff attorney are trained to deal with issues regarding legal status, including: asylum representation, Green Card applications, family reunification and assistance with citizenship procedures. In addition, outreach specialists conduct community educational sessions on immigration laws, issues, and advocacy.

Refugee Resettlement & Minority Health Promotion
IIRI resettles refugees from troubled regions all over the world. Our multi-lingual staff provides refugee families with cultural orientation, a first apartment, school enrollment, advocacy, and referrals. Health screening, job training, and employment leads are also provided.

Employment Center
Through intensive case management, formal classes, and community referrals, the Employment Center staff provide employment assistance to eligible clients in its three signature programs: Family Independence Program, United Way Career Laddering, and Refugee Match Grant. Collaborations with Network Rhode Island and area employers enable job and job readiness training, follow up on employment leads, and job placement.

Education & Training
Certified instructors of English as a Second Language specialize in individual student-based curricula. We provide day and evening classes in English as a Second Language, GED preparation, job training, computer workshops and citizenship preparation.

Interpreting & Translating
Our nation-wide network of translators and interpreters offers services in more than 60 languages, including all the major languages, 5 dialects of Chinese, and African and Asian languages.

Cultural Diversity Training & Advisory Services
We help area employers and organizations maximize their workforce effectiveness by delivering high quality, professional workshops to managers, supervisors and employees on cultural awareness and competence.

The International Charter School
Established in 2001, The International Charter School is a multicultural, multilingual public elementary school of choice. Located at 334 Pleasant Street, the school has 240 students in grades k-5. Small classes, project-based learning and a sense of family and community are all integral to the multicultural nature of the school, whose curriculum features a two-way dual language immersion model. All students are taught in English and either Spanish or Portuguese.

History:
Housed originally in two rooms on Weybosset Street and dedicated to providing casework and support to a few hundred-immigrant women and their families, we now inhabit a three-story building on Elmwood Avenue in South Providence and recently opened a new Second Home at 334 Pleasant Street in Pawtucket. Our new site serves as a multicultural multilingual elementary school by day, a continuing adult education and service center by night, and a community meeting place for both Pawtucket and Central Falls.

Contact people:

Cindy Mauch, Associate Director, (401) 784-8626, (email) William Shuey, Executive Director, 401-461-5940, (email)

Office fax number: (401) 467-6530

Address:

645 Elmwood Avenue Providence, RI 02907 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.iiri.org

Directions:

Please call for directions   Nearest Bus Stop: Bus #20/Elmwood Avenue, 0 minute walk

Miscellaneous Information

Handicap accessible?
	Yes
Interests Served:
	Building Adult & Neighborhood Independence
Does your agency accept court-appointed volunteers?
	No

Last updated on February 13, 2009