Iiakron

The International Institute of Akron (IIA) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to serving immigrant and refugee populations in Akron, Ohio, and the surrounding Summit County community. Founded in 1916 by the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), its initial purpose was to help foreign-born women integrate into American society. The organization's scope expanded to include men and women affected by World War I and later evolved to assist families fleeing World War II. In 1958, it was rechartered as the International Institute of Akron, and in 1979, it formally established a Refugee Resettlement program.

The organization's business model is centered on providing a wide array of programs and services funded through state and federal contracts, grants, and donations. Its primary clients are refugees, asylees, and immigrants in Northeast Ohio. IIA's core services include refugee resettlement, which involves assistance with housing, school enrollment, and cultural orientation within the first 90 days of a refugee's arrival. The institute offers extensive employment services, including counseling, skills assessment, and job placement, boasting relationships with over 80 local employers. In 2023, these programs helped 79% of refugee clients achieve self-sufficiency within 180 days.

Further services include Immigration Legal Services, with full-time attorneys providing low-cost assistance for family immigration, asylum, citizenship, and removal defense cases. The organization also provides education programs such as ESL and citizenship classes, interpreting and translation services for various local entities, and social services to help individuals with physical or mental barriers navigate systems like healthcare. In 2023, IIA resettled 518 refugees and provided 5,400 hours of interpreting and translation services. The organization is recognized by the United States Department of Justice Board of Immigration Appeals to represent the foreign-born.

Keywords: refugee resettlement, immigrant services, legal aid, social services, workforce development, translation services, interpretation services, community integration, non-profit, Akron Ohio, asylum assistance, citizenship classes, cultural orientation, employment counseling, humanitarian relief, refugee advocacy, immigrant rights, family immigration, social integration, self-sufficiency programs