International Institute of Buffalo (IIB)

Mar 20
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Maureen O’Hara: Irish History Month and Recognizing Irish Immigrants and Refugees

By Education
In celebration of Irish American Heritage Month, we are recognizing the economic, cultural, political, and social contributions of notable immigrants and refugees who’ve helped shape America’s vibrant tapestry. Today, we spotlight Hollywood Golden Age actress Maureen O’Hara. Maureen Fitzsimons, later known as Maureen O’Hara, was born in Ranelagh, Ireland, in 1920. The second-oldest of five siblings, she credited her close-knit…
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Mar 19
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Chien-Shiung Wu: Women’s History Month and Recognizing Women Immigrants and Refugees

By Education
In honor of Women’s History Month, we recognize the economic, cultural, political, and social contributions of influential immigrant and refugee women who’ve helped shape America's vibrant tapestry. Today, we spotlight trailblazing physicist Chien-Shiung Wu. Wu was born in 1912 in Liuhe, China, the same year the Republic of China was founded. Her father, an intellectual and engineer, encouraged her to…
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Mar 19
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Student Participation Again Sets New Record at Model United Nations Competition

By Model UN, News
The International Institute of Buffalo hosted its most successful Model United Nations competition to date, its 21st year of sponsoring the event. This year’s gathering topped last year’s competition as the largest ever, registering 883 students from 47 area high schools. The delegates represented 76 countries. The students gathered at Knox and Norton Halls on SUNY Buffalo's North Campus. “There…
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Mar 12
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Augustus Saint-Gaudens: Irish History Month and Recognizing Irish Immigrants and Refugees

By Education
In celebration of Irish American Heritage Month, we are recognizing the economic, cultural, political, and social contributions of notable immigrants and refugees who’ve helped shape America’s vibrant tapestry. Today, we spotlight preeminent American sculptor, Augustus Saint-Gaudens. Augustus Saint-Gaudens was born in Dublin in 1848 to working-class parents – his father was a local shoemaker. When he was just six months…
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Mar 12
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Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell: Women’s History Month and Recognizing Women Immigrants and Refugees

By Education
In honor of Women’s History Month, we recognize the economic, cultural, political, and social contributions of influential immigrant and refugee women who’ve helped shape the vibrant tapestry of America. Today, we spotlight Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, America’s first female physician. Elizabeth Blackwell was born in Bristol, England, in 1821. When she was 11, her family relocated to America for better economic…
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Mar 06
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Liam Neeson: Irish History Month and Recognizing Women Immigrants and Refugees

By Education
Photo Credit: John Russo In celebration of Irish American Heritage Month, we are recognizing the economic, cultural, political, and social contributions of notable immigrants and refugees who’ve helped shape America’s vibrant tapestry. Today, we spotlight award-winning actor Liam Neeson. Born William John Neeson in June 1952 in Northern Ireland, Liam Neeson was raised by modest parents. His father was an…
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Mar 05
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Theresia Gouw: Women’s History Month and Recognizing Women Immigrants and Refugees

By Education
In honor of Women’s History Month, we recognize the economic, cultural, political, and social contributions of influential immigrant and refugee women who’ve helped shape the vibrant tapestry of America. Today, we spotlight trailblazing entrepreneur Theresia Gouw. Theresia was born in 1968 in Indonesia to parents of Chinese descent. Due to rising political tensions In Indonesia at the time, her and…
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Mar 04
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IIB Welcomes 39 New Americans from 19 Countries

By In the Community, News
We were honored to welcome 39 New Americans from 19 countries while they took their citizenship oaths at the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services Naturalization Ceremony in downtown Buffalo. Here are the countries from which these new American citizens traveled: Argentina, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Canada, China, Congo, Germany, Greece, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Jordan, Mexico, Netherlands, Philippines, Russia. Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, Vietnam. Click…
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Feb 26
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Dr. Thomas Mensah: Black History Month and Recognizing Notable Black Immigrants and Refugees

By Education, History
As Black History Month comes to a close, we continue to recognize the economic, cultural, political, and social contributions of influential black immigrants and refugees who’ve helped shape the vibrant tapestry of America. Today, we spotlight Ghanaian American inventor and engineer, Dr. Thomas Mensah. Born in Ghana in 1950, Thomas Mensah was known as a bright and inquisitive child who…
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Feb 25
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Vadym Kolesnik: Celebrating Team USA, Immigrant Athlete’s Imprint on Olympic Games

By Education, Events, History, News
As the 2026 Olympic Games in Milan recently came to a close, we’ll  highlight our last world-class immigrant athlete who competed for Team USA in Italy. Today, we spotlight Ukrainian American skater Vadym Kolesnik. Born in Ukraine in 2001, Vadym Kolesnik was three years old when his grandmother first laced up his skates. As a teenager, he immigrated to Detroit,…
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