In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we recognize the economic, cultural, political, and social contributions of notable immigrants and refugees who’ve helped shape America’s vibrant tapestry. Today, we spotlight trailblazing Japanese American and Academy Award-winning actress Miyoshi Umeki. Born in 1929 in Otaru, Japan, Miyoshi Umeki developed a love for music at an early age. She learned to play multiple…
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Recently, Buffalo Spree magazine spotlighted the essential role IIB clients have played in the local restaurant industry over decades. The feature is presented from the vantage point of Waxlight Bar A Vin, the prestigious James Beard-nominated restaurant located in Buffalo's Black Rock neighborhood. The feature espouses the virtues of newly arrived refugees and how their hard work, passion, zeal, and…
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In honor of Jewish American Heritage Month, we recognize the economic, cultural, political, and social contributions of notable immigrants and refugees who've helped shape America's vibrant tapestry. Today, we spotlight Russian-American novelist Anzia Yezierska. Anzia Yezierska was born in the Russian-Polish village of Plinsk between 1880 and 1885, the youngest of nine siblings. At 13, she and her family immigrated…
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Recently, WBFO featured an interview with Jérémie Boroy, advisor to the Mayor of Paris on people with disabilities and chairperson of France’s National Advisory Council for Persons with Disabilities. Mr. Boroy and his colleagues visited Western New York last month as part of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), facilitated by our International Exchanges and Education…
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We were honored to welcome 48 New Americans from 25 countries while they took their citizenship oaths at the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services Naturalization Ceremony in downtown Buffalo this morning. The countries from which these new American citizens traveled are: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Canada, China, Congo, Dominican Republic, Ghana, Haiti, India, Iraq, Jamaica, Liberia, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Pakistan, Peru,…
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Update: We are no longer holding open donation hours on site. To coordinate your drop offs please contact our Donations Coordinator Cara at: donations@iibuff.org or call (716)883-1900 extension 329. In May, we are expecting to resettle 25 refugees, including six families. They’ll be arriving from Iraq, Somalia, Eritrea, Pakistan, Nicaragua, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Burma. This month we'll have several small and individual…
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In honor of Arab American Heritage Month, we continue to recognize the economic, cultural, political, and social contributions of notable immigrants and refugees who’ve helped shape America’s vibrant tapestry. Today, we spotlight Iraqi-American and former IIB client, Durgham Alyasiri. Durgham Alyasiri left Iraq as a young child, along with his mother, brother, and sister, after gaining temporary asylum in Jordan.…
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It’s National Volunteer Week and we want to recognize and celebrate the integral role our dedicated team of volunteers play in our mission to make Western New York a better place for, and because of, immigrants and refugees. Throughout the year you’ll see IIB volunteers give their time in numerous ways to support our important work we provide in the…
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Local non-profit Wheels for Workers 716 stopped by our location on Delaware Avenue to generously donate 13 bicycles, along with helmets and locks. They’ll now be given to our newly arrived refugee clients to help them get to and from work, school, grocery shopping, and other essential destinations. Since this past September, Wheels for Workers has now donated a total…
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In case you missed it! Spectrum News Reporter Kevin Hayes’ deep dive into this year’s record-breaking Model UN General Assembly recently hit television screens. The day of lively debates hosted by the University at Buffalo marked the International Institute of Buffalo’s 20th year of presenting the marquee event to high school students across Western New York. This year drew over…
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