A sold-out crowd recently enjoyed an evening of laughter, international fare, and music at Buffalo Toronto Public Media's studios—all to benefit the International Institute of Buffalo (IIB). A resounding success, the Refugees of Comedy event featured established Los Angeles-based comedians Thom Tran, Jose Sarduy, and Jose Barrientos. The internationally touring entertainers drew partly from their experiences serving in the United States…
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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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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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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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Join us for a two-hour course that will discuss how to work with ChatGPT or other AI resources as a translator and not against them. Date: Monday, October 28, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Click here to register If you are able, please offer a donation of any amount you'd like to help cover the operating costs of…
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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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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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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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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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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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