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Jeff Mayne

IIB Celebrates with Parkside Lutheran for Third Annual Refugee Thanksgiving Dinner

By Events, In the Community, News
For a third year, staff and volunteers from the International Institute of Buffalo (IIB) and Parkside Lutheran Church provided the first Thanksgiving meal for refugees. The congregation members cooked the turkeys while also assisting with food donations. The dinner was prepared Tuesday afternoon at Parkside Lutheran Church in Buffalo. More than 80 newly arrived refugee clients joined for the celebration.…
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IIB Welcomes 48 New Americans from 26 Countries!

By In the Community, News
We were honored to welcome 50 New Americans from 24 countries while they took their citizenship oaths at the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services Naturalization Ceremony in downtown Buffalo this week. Here are the countries from which these new American citizens traveled: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Burma, Burundi, Canada, China, Congo, Dominican Republic, Eritrea, Ethiopia, India, Iraq, Jordan, Mexico, Russia,…
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Somali Bantu Mural

New Mural Celebrates Somali Bantu Community

By News
International Institute of Buffalo joined Assemblymember Jon Rivera, Buffalo Common Council President David Rivera, representatives from Providence Farm Collective, and other stakeholders to unveil a dynamic new mural recognizing and celebrating Buffalo's Somali Bantu community. The vibrant art includes hues of radiant blue representing the rivers of Somalia, while colors of green and elements of the Somali flag and its…
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IIB's annual winter coat drive provides winter attire to our newly arrived refugee clients.

Donate Winter Coats to Help a Refugee Family!

By Donations
Buffalo winters can be brutal. Please help refugee families with your new or gently used winter coats. For many, this will be their first time experiencing cold weather! At this time, we're accepting donations of Men’s, Women’s, and Children’s Small, Medium, Large, and X-Large coats. For more information and to schedule your drop off, email our donations coordinator:  donations@iibuff.org There…
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Singer Jon Secada

Jon Secada: Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month

By Education
In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, we recognize the scientific, economic, cultural, political, and social contributions of influential immigrants and refugees who’ve helped shape the vibrant tapestry of America. Today, we spotlight three-time Grammy award winner Juan Francisco Secada Ramírez—professionally known as Jon Secada. Born October 4, 1961, in Havana, Cuba, Jon Secada spent his earliest years living amidst…
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New Americans taking the oath of citizenship

IIB Welcomes 50 New Americans from 24 Countries!

By In the Community, News
We were honored to welcome 50 New Americans from 24 countries while they took their citizenship oaths at the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services Naturalization Ceremony in downtown Buffalo this week. Here are the countries from which these new American citizens traveled: Bangladesh, Burma, Burundi, Canada, Congo, Cuba, Eritrea, Iraq, Ireland, Jamaica, Lebanon, Liberia, Pakistan, Portugal, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Thailand,…
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Fernanda Lastra: Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month

By Education, History
In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, we continue to recognize the scientific, economic, cultural, political, and social contributions of influential immigrants and refugees who've helped shape the vibrant tapestry of America. Today, we spotlight Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Assistant Conductor Fernanda Lastra of Argentina. Fernanda Lastra was born in Mar del Plata, Argentina. Her passion for music started at just…
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IIB Welcomes 37 New Americans from 20 Countries!

By In the Community, News
We were honored to welcome 37 candidates from 20 while they took their citizenship oaths at the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services Naturalization Ceremony in Buffalo recently.  Here are the countries from which these new American citizens traveled: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brazil, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, China, Congo (Kinshasa), India, Iraq, Italy, Libya, Mexico, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Syria, United Kingdom, Uruguay,…
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Shakira: Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month

By Education, History
In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, we continue to recognize the scientific, economic, cultural, political, and social contributions of influential immigrants and refugees who've helped shape the vibrant tapestry of America. Today, we spotlight Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, professionally known as Shakira. Born February 2, 1977, in Barranquilla, Colombia, Shakira's passion for the arts started very young. At four…
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