As we enter into the month of April, we want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible work our agency has done over the past few weeks and other important happenings that took place in March! The IIA team has been working tirelessly to provide critical resources and services to those we serve in our community, and we’ll be sharing some of the latest updates and stories from our resettlement efforts, as well as ways that you can get involved and support our mission.
International Women’s Day
At IIA, we’re lucky to know some remarkable women making a positive impact in our community every day.
On March 8th, International Women’s Day, we celebrated these women and thanked them for sharing their talents and cultures, and for continuing to make Akron and the world a better place for women and girls to thrive.
Voices of Unity: Afghan woman’s harrowing story of service, escape
On March 21, Fox 8 News released a segment from their “Voices of Unity” series, sharing the inspiring story of Lida Ahmadi, a mentor at IIA.
Lida came to the U.S. from Afghanistan after assisting dozens of Afghans in evacuating their country once the Taliban overtook Kabul. Not long after her own resettlement, Lida was asked to work part-time at IIA as an advisor and mentor to Afghan youth through the Afghan Refugee School Impact Program (ARSI). In this role, she works with young Afghan girls to help them adjust to U.S. culture.
Fox 8 News shared Lida’s experience to the U.S. and her final days in Afghanistan. It also highlighted her incredible work with Afghan youth.
To view Lida’s interview, you can follow this link to the Fox 8 News website: Voices of Unity: Afghan woman’s harrowing story of service, escape.
Happy Nawroz
Nawroz, the first day of the Afghan New Year, is celebrated on March 21st, when friends and family come together to enjoy the holiday. One of the traditions of Nawroz is the serving of a special mixture of dried fruit and nuts known as “haft mewa,” along with desserts and green tea.
This month, the IIA team had the opportunity to experience this beautiful tradition firsthand, thanks to the thoughtful efforts of staff members Tamana and Samsor. They brought the spirit of Nawroz to our office and shared this lovely tradition with our team, creating a welcoming atmosphere that left a lasting impression on all of us.
Trauma-Informed Care Staff Training
This month, the entire team at IIA had the privilege of participating in a comprehensive training session on providing trauma-informed care to the populations we serve. Our staff enjoyed learning from Michelle Kriedler, who holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree and is a Licensed Independent Social Worker-Supervisor (LISW-S).
During the training, our team received an in-depth overview of trauma and its impact on our clients’ day-to-day lives as they work to rebuild their lives in new communities. The training was specifically designed to equip our staff with the knowledge and skills required to provide the best possible support to all our clients, regardless of the challenges they may be facing.
We would like to extend a special thank you to Michelle for her invaluable contribution to this informative training.
Join our Team!
IIA is excited to announce that we are currently seeking to fill the positions of Staff Attorney, Communications Intern, and Refugee Resettlement Intern. If you are interested in applying for any of these opportunities or wish to learn more about them, visit our website at www.iiakron.org/join-our-team.
We encourage all qualified candidates to apply and look forward to hearing from you!
Donations Needed!
We are currently seeking for donations to support our efforts in assisting refugees and immigrants in integrating into their new communities.
If you can donate anything on the list of needs below, please contact IIA’s Housing and Donation Specialist, Dan Hennon at dan.hennon@iiakron.org.
Current Needs:
- Blankets
- Comforters
- Towels
- Pillows
- Pots
- Pans
Thanks for staying up to date on everything IIA, and we look forward to sharing more information soon!