February at IIA: Community Support, Advocacy, and Cultural Celebrations

Thank you for staying connected with the International Institute of Akron. Your support, compassion, and willingness to stay informed make an enormous difference for immigrant and refugee families in our community.
This month, we’re sharing updates from IIA, immigration news, a client story, resources, and ways to stay engaged.

Supporting Families Through Our Food Pantry


Food insecurity continues to affect many families we serve, and thanks to community support, IIA has been able to help meet these urgent needs.


In February, 15 families representing 44 individuals received food and grocery gift cards through our temporary pantry.


Since launching the pantry in November 2025, more than 100 families totaling 461 individuals have received food assistance from IIA.


These numbers represent more than meals. They reflect neighbors coming together to ensure families have the stability and dignity they deserve during difficult times.


Thank you to everyone who has donated food, grocery gift cards, and resources to make this possible.

Support IIA's Pantry Here

Immigration News Update: DHS Memo Affecting Refugees


On February 18, the Department of Homeland Security issued a memo stating that individuals who have not applied for permanent residency, also known as a Green Card, by the time they reach one year in the United States may be subject to re-examination and possible detention.

This guidance has created confusion and concern for many refugee families. Under current law, refugees cannot apply for permanent residency until they have been in the United States for at least one year. As a result, the memo raises significant questions about how the policy may be implemented.

IIA released a public statement in response to this policy, highlighting its potential impact on refugee families.

If you would like to learn more, you can read the following resources:

We will continue monitoring developments and sharing updates as more information becomes available.

Client Story: Finding Hope Together

 
Recently, our team at IIA had the privilege of supporting a Ukrainian neighbor who endured more than a year of uncertainty while awaiting re-parole approval. This long wait brought not only stress and worry about her immigration status, but also financial challenges.

When her re-parole was conditionally approved, she was faced with a $1,000 approval fee. Our staff stood by her side, helping her navigate the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website to submit the payment, and worked with her every step of the way to bring more stability to her life.

Her case manager enrolled her in IIA’s social services program, helped with medical bills, and worked closely with hospital billing departments to resolve outstanding charges. We also assisted in transferring her benefits case to Summit County Job and Family Services. There, her immigration status was updated, and she was approved for Medicaid, easing the burden of many prior medical bills.
 
Meanwhile, we helped her set up a USCIS online account to track her employment authorization application and stay informed about her case. Not long after, she received the good news: her approval and updated immigration documents had arrived!
 
Support didn’t stop there. We encouraged her to join ESL classes and showed her the bus route from Kent to Akron, making sure she felt welcome and able to attend regularly.
 
Now, she’s looking forward to starting work as soon as her new employment authorization card arrives.
 
Her story reminds us that, while the path through immigration can be overwhelming and complex, no one has to walk it alone. By coming together, we can help our neighbors find hope and stability, even in uncertain times.

Support IIA Social Services Here

Celebrating Lunar New Year and Ramadan
February was also a meaningful month for cultural and religious celebrations within our community.

This year, Lunar New Year was celebrated on February 17, marking the beginning of a new year in many East and Southeast Asian cultures. The holiday is often celebrated with family gatherings, traditional foods, and wishes for health and prosperity in the year ahead.

Shortly after, Ramadan began on February 18. Ramadan is the holiest month in Islam and is observed by Muslims worldwide through fasting, prayer, reflection, and community.

If you would like to learn more about these important holidays, here are a few resources:

About Ramadan -

About Lunar New Year - 

 

We wish a joyful Lunar New Year and a peaceful and meaningful Ramadan to all who celebrate.

Resources 

Here are a few additional resources that help provide context about immigration policy and detention in the United States:

These resources explore the systems and policies that shape immigration enforcement and detention in the United States.

Ways to Stand With IIA

Donate
Support IIA’s programs and services that help immigrants navigate legal, employment, and education challenges during uncertain times.

Food and Grocery Gift Card Donations
Help families facing food insecurity by donating grocery gift cards or food items from IIA’s donation list. These donations allow families to access food and household essentials with dignity and flexibility.

Advocate
Stay engaged and informed about SB172 and other policies impacting immigrant communities. Raising your voice and sharing accurate information helps create meaningful change.

Check in on Immigrant Friends and Neighbors
What is happening in our communities is frightening and isolating for many. Reaching out, showing care, staying informed, and standing together truly make a difference.

With Gratitude


We would like to extend our continued gratitude to the greater Akron and Summit County community.

Whether you are a donor, volunteer, partner, someone who shares IIA posts, or someone who takes the time to stay informed about issues affecting immigrants and refugees, your support matters more than you may realize.

We are here because you are here, and we are deeply grateful.

This Month at IIA: Gratitude, Resilience, and Standing Together

Dear Friend of IIA,

Welcome back to our first newsletter of 2026 and thank you for being part of the IIA community. Whether you have supported our work for years or are newly connected, we are truly grateful. We could not do this work without you.

This month, we are sharing updates from IIA, stories from our community, immigration news, resources, and ways to stay connected and involved.

Thank You for Showing Up 

We want to begin with a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has shown up for our immigrant community in recent months.

During our holiday fundraiser, you helped raise $38,640, ensuring we can continue serving immigrant families and keep our doors open.

When we shared that many community members would be losing SNAP benefits, you responded immediately and generously. Between October 21, 2025 and now, IIA has provided food donations and grocery gift cards to 85 immigrant families, representing 417 individuals.

Your care and solidarity made this possible, and we are incredibly grateful.

We are still accepting food and grocery gift card donations. If you would like to help or learn what items are most needed, visit iiakron.org/donation-room.

Learn more

Celebrating Our Dora Gordon Scholarship Recipient

Each year, IIA awards the $1,000 Dora Gordon Scholarship to a current or former IIA client or family member pursuing higher education. The scholarship honors Dora Gordon, who volunteered as a teacher at IIA for 22 years and believed deeply in the power of education for immigrant families.

This year, we are honored to recognize Rose Etungano.

 

Rose shares

“My name is Rose Etungano, and I was born and raised in Tanzania. I am a diverse individual whose cultural background and life experiences have shaped my academic journey and personal growth. I had the opportunity to attend a private Christian school, which played a significant role in building my strong foundation in education, and inspired me to pursue higher education. I am currently working toward my bachelor’s degree at The University of Akron, where I continue to grow academically and personally.

Receiving the Dora Gordon Scholarship will greatly ease the financial burden of tuition and allow me to focus more fully on my studies and academic goals. I am truly grateful to the International Institute of Akron for this support, as it enables me to continue pursuing my education with confidence and determination. This spring, I will be volunteering with Open Arms Hispanic Ministries to further serve and support my community. This scholarship not only supports my academic journey but also motivates me to keep pushing forward and striving for success.”

Immigration Updates: What We Are Seeing 

Immigration policy continues to change quickly, creating uncertainty and fear for many families in our community.

Expanded travel bans: People from 75 countries are currently not receiving decisions on immigrant visa applications while these bans remain in place, leaving many families waiting with no clear timeline.

Paused USCIS cases: Many immigration cases handled by USCIS for individuals from affected countries are still on hold, which means applications are delayed and people may be left without updates for long periods of time.

Loss of humanitarian protections: Some temporary humanitarian protections, such as Temporary Protected Status (TPS), continue to be rolled back, putting individuals and families at greater risk of losing legal protection and stability in the U.S.

If you would like to support IIA’s immigration legal work and help families navigate these ongoing changes, please consider clicking the button below.

Support IIA's LEgal Services

Finding What You Need, All in One Place

We have updated our Resources page to make it easier to find information quickly and clearly. The page now includes advocacy tools, educational materials, immigration news, and Know Your Rights information in one accessible space.

We will continue adding new resources and updates as things evolve.

Visit www.iiakron.org/resources

If there are topics or resources, you’d like for us to add, let us know. We are always happy to help!

Client Story: Persevering Through Uncertainty 

An IIA client had been working at Amazon for about a year when, over the Summer, she was unexpectedly terminated along with other members of her community following changes to work authorization policies.

She went five months without being able to work and relied on savings to get by. During this time, IIA staff learned that she, along with others, had been impacted by an investment scheme, resulting in a loss of five thousand dollars.

Despite these setbacks, she continued attending English classes consistently and made significant improvements in her language skills. Ongoing changes to work authorization made employment options difficult to identify, but her Employment Case Manager worked closely with IIA’s Legal team to understand her options.

After applying for asylum, she received new employment authorization. Her case manager connected her with an employer who offered her a position and provides transportation to and from work.

Through her persistence and the coordinated support of IIA staff, she is once again working and rebuilding stability in her life.

Whistles Available at IIA 

Exciting news! A generous supporter donated 3D-printed whistles for the International Institute of Akron to share with our community.

These whistles are part of a grassroots effort to help community members signal to each other and raise awareness of federal immigration enforcement activity, allowing neighbors to alert one another and mobilize support when needed. Learn more about them here: How whistles became a 'tool of resistance' against ICE raids

Want one? Stop by our office during work hours at:

530 S Main St, Floor 6, Akron, OH 44311

Ways to Stand With IIA 

Donate
Support IIA’s programs and services that help immigrants navigate legal, employment, and education challenges during uncertain times.

DOnate Here

Food and grocery gift card donations
Help families facing food insecurity by donating grocery gift cards or food items from IIA’s donation list, giving families access to food and household essentials with dignity and flexibility.

Learn more here

Advocate
Stay engaged and informed around SB172 and other policies impacting immigrant communities. Raising your voice and sharing accurate information helps create meaningful change.

advocate here

Check in on immigrant friends and neighbors
What is happening in our communities is frightening and isolating for many. Reaching out, showing care, staying informed, and standing together truly makes a difference.

With Gratitude 

To our donors, volunteers, partners, and community members, thank you for standing with immigrant and refugee families during a challenging time. Because of you, our community continues to find care, stability, and hope.