Spotlight December 2024 

IIB would not be able to make WNY a better place for, and because of, immigrants and refugees were it not for our team, the community, and those we serve.

Mustafa and Zahra, Refugee Artists

A shoutout to our extraordinarily artistic clients, Mustafa, 11 and Zahra, 13, who we resettled in November. The siblings are originally from Afghanistan, but they lived in Pakistan for several years.

Their case worker, Summer, recognized their talent after looking at their portfolios of drawings and paintings, each with over 30 pieces. She organized an audition for them at the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts (BAVPA) and got a Dari interpreter who offered to interpret at the audition for free!

The good news is both Mustafa and Zahra were accepted as students at BAVPA!

Click here to learn all that is involved with welcoming New Americans. 

Jun Wang-Tiedemann - Chinese Mandarin Interpreter

Jun was born in Anhui, China but has lived in the U.S. for 18 years. She obtained her bachelor's degree in English literature and education in China then traveled to the U.S. to pursue her master’s degree. Jun is currently the Chairperson of the Board of the Buffalo-Niagara chapter of the Asian Pacific American Public Affairs Association (APAPA) and has been involved in translation and interpretation since 2009.

“The most fulfilling moments occur when clients find my services beneficial to their experiences, whether it's for 

students' exams, parent-teacher meetings, clients' medical visits, legal cases for plaintiffs or defendants, or even just everyday phone calls,” says Jun.  ”I had no idea how challenging life could be until I began this work, and I realized how a simple translation or interpretation can significantly alter someone's tough circumstances.”

Jun is currently working to preserve the stories, culture, and history of region’s Chinese community. "Beyond Dim Sum: The Legacy of Chinese in Western New York," has been officially awarded funding by the New York State Council on the Arts and is seeking people willing to share their stories—whether personal experiences, family memories, or reflections.  Learn more about how you can participate.

Click here to learn more about becoming an interpreter or translator--or both!

 Volunteers

Thanks to the volunteers from the advertising agency, Crowley Webb (including our board member Molly Chvala in the center of both photos above). Aside from donating money and goods, they donated their time to help us set up new homes for arriving refugees. 

We also want to thank Sigma Theta Tau – Gamma Kappa Chapter (UB’s Nursing Honor Society) students who helped at more than ten home setups in the last year with advisor Maritess Bernardo (pictured below at the far right).

Click here to learn about donating your time to help immigrants and refugees. 

Mustafa Amiri, Putting His Skills to Work!

This is Mustafa Amiri; he arrived from Afghanistan with his parents and sister in the middle of September. Mustafa was a plumber back in his country, where he started his own business using the skills he had learned from working with his dad. 

Mustafa graduated from the IIB Employment Services Job Club classes that train newly- arrived refugees how to succeed in the American workplace. Then, he went to the IIB job fair, where he met representatives of Volland Electric.

His employment case manager helped him apply for the job, and he immediately got an interview. Mustafa interviewed and was hired on the spot. The company did not have a position for him but wanted him so badly that they said they would figure it out!

In his second month on the job, Mustafa reports that he loves his work, has made friends, and has become much more confident in his English skills.

Click here on how we train motivated people, train them, and connect them with potential employers! 

"The International Institute of Buffalo makes Western New York a better place for, and because of, immigrants and refugees."